Hi Indy,
We had a State Debate Organization that had a contest more than 50 years ago. Topics were assigned by a blind draw process and the only reference material you could have is what you brought. We had 1 hour to prepare. My draw was defend free market/capitalism vs socialism/communisim.

The person that drew socialism/communism complained that this draw was patently unfair and that I had been given an advantage against which there was no defense. Out of a sense of fairness and a certain amount of arrogance, I suggested that we debate one way and then switch.

I won both by distilling the fundamental difference between capitalism and socialism to this: “In capitalism power flows to money, in socialism money flows to power.” That makes it an argument that can be danced either way.

Milton Friedman nailed it when he said that all economic systems operate on greed, and when that greed is held minimally in check by government, unmatched prosperity happens.

Thanks for listening,
J R