Capitalism itself relates to the process of putting savings to work, and investing for greater future returns.

As we have examined in previous lessons, all tools come from savings and investment.  The existence of any tool that multiplies human energy and effort, reveals the existence in some measure of capitalism.

The continuing question of our time relates to the ownership and control of property, particularly productive property - or, who is to own how much of what?

As Og our caveman predecessor might ask, who is to own or control the stone axes that multiply human energy and effectiveness in the hunt?

Who is to own and control the factories, the houses, the automobiles, the mines, the fields, the uranium, and all the various multitude of products created and made by individual human ingenuity?

We are in truth no longer questioning whether or not there should be an investment of capital in the tools and methods of production.  Wherever there is innovation or advancement in the methods and tools of production, capitalism has occurred.

The real question then before us is the choice between private capitalism and state (government) capitalism.

That is to say, will the tools, means, resources and methods of production be privately owned and managed by individuals or groups of individuals voluntarily and willingly acting together in common interest, or will the tools, means, resources, and methods of production be collectively (governmentally) owned and managed - in truth by a rather small group of men and women who have nothing more or less than the legal use of force at their disposal?

Asked another way, the question might be - do you prefer competing (private) capitalism, or monopoly (socialist) capitalism.

A recent argument has emerged asserting that government must enter the marketplace in order "to bring competition to the market".

This is nonsense.  The market IS competition. 

Government does not bring competition into the market.  Government is monopoly.  Government is force.  Government in fact cannot tolerate competition with itself in any field of endeavor into which it enters - for if it does, it ceases to be government. 

Therefore for government to enter a market or industry in "competition" with private businesses is to give voice to an utter and unsustainable fallacy.  Government in reality is the most ANTI-competitive, ANTI-market force on earth!