: You seem to be viewing the satisfaction of *all* needs (including whims) from a "planned economy" perspective. I think a community could come up with some form of prioritization without too much hassle - such as food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, for starters. As for producing purple gullywizards, go for it.But not for whom should do what - see my response to RD
: "it" [capitalism] does NOT produce for "mutual gain", it produces for PROFIT. "Mutual gain may, or may not be a derivative.
Mutual gain is the profit. You dont sell you spade unless what you get in return is worth more to you than the spade. The fellow wont buy your spade unless getting the spade is worth more to him than not buying it. Both parties 'profit' from the other in *free* trade.
: The clearest example of this is the U.S. Managed Health Care System designed to enrich insurance companies.
I wonder if it was intended to help the needy and protect the patients, or whether the intent was always to extract more money via medicine and to control people who need medical help, and those who are able to give it, and in consequence install more government controls and jobs to 'cure' the self made problem.
