Observe the paradoxes built up about capitalism. It has been called a system of
selfishness (which, in my sense of the term, it is)—yet it is the only
system that drew men to unite on a large scale into great countries, and
peacefully to cooperate across national boundaries, while all the collectivist,
internationalist, One-World systems are splitting the world into Balkanized
tribes.
Capitalism has been called a system of greed—yet it is the system that raised
the standard of living of its poorest citizens to heights no collectivist
system has ever begun to equal, and no tribal gang can conceive of.
Capitalism has been called nationalistic—yet it is the only system that
banished ethnicity, and made it possible, in the United States, for men of
various, formerly antagonistic nationalities to live together in peace.
Capitalism has been called cruel—yet it brought such hope, progress and
general good will that the young people of today, who have not seen it, find it
hard to believe.
As to pride, dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem—these are characteristics
that mark a man for martyrdom in a tribal society and under any social system
except capitalism.