▶ Key Takeaways
- Socialism as an economic system is becoming increasingly popular in America, especially among younger politicians and younger voters.
- Socialist candidates are winning elections in greater numbers.
- Bernie Sanders, AOC, Mamdani and other socialist leaders claim that socialism is a morally superior economic system over free-market capitalism.
- Social media, traditional media and the public education system all teach and advocate socialism over capitalism.
- When you examine the characteristics of the two systems, free-market capitalism creates a more moral and benevolent society than government-controlled socialism.
- Free enterprise creates more financial opportunities, more businesses, more jobs, more wealth, and an expanding economy compared to government-controlled, centrally planned socialism.
- The socialist goals of equality of income and equal outcomes are not moral principles.
- Socialism relies on government confiscation of wealth, which is theft, and redistribution based on coveting what rightfully belongs to others.
- Socialism therefore violates two of the Ten Commandments: You shall not steal, and You shall not covet.
- Free enterprise markets create higher-quality products and a greater variety of products through competition, which better serves the needs and desires of consumers.
- Greed and self-interest, two of the so-called “moral evils” of capitalism, are a part of human nature and exist in every society and economic system. In socialism, greed and self-interest lie with government planners and with those who receive government benefits.
Political candidates are advocating socialist policies… and are winning their elections.
Social media and traditional media are advocating candidates that want to impose socialist policies on all Americans.
Teachers are indoctrinating kids on the “moral virtues” of socialism and the “moral evils” of capitalism and free enterprise.
Bernie Sanders, AOC, Zohran Mamdani and other socialist leaders are claiming the moral high ground.
They say socialism is a morally superior economic system.
So, what is more moral? Capitalism or Socialism?
- Freedom or servitude?
- Private ownership or forced confiscation?
- Personal responsibility or government central planning?
- Voluntary wealth-sharing or government-controlled wealth distribution?
- Economic expansion or economic stagnation?
- Private charity or government-controlled tax-funded welfare?
You be the judge…
Which of these concepts is more benevolent toward the poor and disabled?
Or is there any difference at all? Or do these questions even matter?
The debates rage continuously.
But do you know how and why you should support capitalism over socialism?
We have to choose one or the other… and we have to anticipate the long-term consequences of our choices.
Free-market capitalism creates a more moral and benevolent society than government-controlled socialism.
Here are 6 reasons why:
1. Free-market capitalism creates more economic benefits for more people than socialism.
In a free-market capitalist economy, anyone can start a privately-owned business if they have the motivation and the self-discipline to do so.
Private businesses create jobs.
Jobs cause the economy to grow.
The free market determines whether the business is successful or not based on the quality of the product or service created.
Private ownership allows successful businesses to expand, creating even more jobs.
Unemployment drops.
The economy continues to expand.
Total wealth increases.
Government revenue increases through taxation of higher incomes.
The government benefits without controlling the economy.
Here’s an example:
In 1963, Dick Portillo invested his life savings of $1,100 to open a 6X12-foot trailer hot dog stand in Villa Park, Illinois.
He didn’t even know how to cook a hot dog when he first started.
But he had motivation and determination.
He expanded his business into Portillo’s – the largest privately-owned restaurant company in the Midwest.
In 2014, he sold his company – with no outside investors or franchises – for Berkshire Partners for nearly $1 billion.[1]
Socialists hate scenarios like this because they believe that a market-based economy creates inequality.
2. Equality of income and equal outcomes are not moral principles.
Socialists believe that income inequality is immoral.
They believe that government-determined allocation of wealth and resources is more benevolent to the poor, the elderly, and the disabled.
They believe that government must own the means of production so that it can distribute the wealth produced in the most equitable manner.
All of these statements contradict Biblical morality.
The book of Proverbs is full of the principle that work results in greater income than non-work.
“Hard work means prosperity; only a fool idles away his time.” (Proverbs 12:11)[2]
“Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering.” (Proverbs 13:4)[3]
Income inequality is a fact of life because people do not have equal skills or equal abilities or equal motivation to work hard.
At the same time, it is immoral to ignore the poor, the elderly and the disabled.
But taking care of them is an individual responsibility and a responsibility of the church, not a responsibility of the government.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus reaffirmed the two greatest commands in the Law of Moses:
- Love God with all your heart, soul and mind
- Love your neighbor as yourself
This means loving the neighbor who needs help – including widows and orphans, the poor, the elderly, and the disabled.
“He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)[4]
If this isn’t motivation enough, there is a warning in Proverbs 28:27, “He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.”[5]
The responsibility of government is to administer justice by punishing those who do wrong and rewarding those to do right (Romans 13).
It is not government’s responsibility to control the economy or the means of producing goods and services.
3. Socialism is not capitalism minus greed and self-interest.
Socialists dislike capitalism because they claim it is based on greed and self-interest.
In a memorable television interview with Phil Donahue in 1979, economist Milton Friedman answered that objection to capitalism.
He said, “Well, first of all, tell me, is there some society you know that doesn’t run on greed? … What is greed? Of course none of us are greedy, it’s only the other fellow who’s greedy.”
“The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way.”
In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty you’re talking about, the only cases in recorded history, are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade.”
If you want to know where the masses are worst off, it’s exactly in the kinds of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by the free-enterprise system.”[6]
Greed and self-interest are universal.
Every society runs on them.
In socialism, the greed and self-interest are at the government level.
Unelected bureaucrats and elected leaders crave power over the citizenry.
Their greed is for power; their self-interest is to stay in power for as long as possible.
In capitalism, greed and self-interest are at the individual level.
Greed for success and wealth drive improvements in product quality and variety: traits that are absent in socialist economies that seize the means of production and eliminate the profit motive.
Under capitalism, self-interest produces innovation, which drives advances in science, medicine, living standards, and more.
Concentrating power and control in political leaders or bureaucracy doesn’t eliminate greed or self-interest.
It just changes who exhibits these behaviors – which brings worse results to the general public.
4. A competitive economic system is more moral than a non-competitive one.
This may sound counter-intuitive until you think about the consequences.
Competition in a free-market system is about who does the best job of serving the customer.
Service to customers means two things:
- Best quality
- Best variety
Unlike sports – in which there is only one winner – multiple businesses and companies can thrive in a free-market capitalist economy.
Competition always guarantees product improvements – often at lower prices.
When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001, the 10GB version 2,000 songs and the battery lasted 10 hours.
It sold for $499.
By 2007, the top iPod held 40,000 songs and the battery lasted 30 to 40 hours.
The price? $299.[7]
The quality didn’t improve and the price didn’t drop because Steve Jobs was a nice or kind person.
Apple improved the iPod and lowered the price because of competition from competitors who were improving their own products.
Serving customers more efficiently with higher quality products at lower prices are all positive moral goals.
These goals are never met in a top-down, government-controlled socialist economy.
5. Capitalism produces much more teamwork and cooperation than socialism.
Money isn’t the only reason people start businesses.
There is often a large nonmonetary component: a desire to experience partnering with others to create a great product or service that customers will value and benefit from.
Investors cooperate with entrepreneurs in setting up new businesses.
Entrepreneurs and managers cooperate with employees to create a great product or service.
Sales and customer service personnel cooperate with buyers to meet their needs and fulfill their expectations.
In a socialist economy, everything is centrally planned, dictated and controlled.
The personal relationships and interactions fostered by free-market capitalism are severely reduced – and sometimes eliminated altogether.
6. Socialism violates the two economic commandments in the Ten Commandments.
The 8th commandment says, “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Government-controlled wealth confiscation and redistribution is theft of income.
Seizing the means of production – which is the stated goal of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other Democratic Socialists – is the theft of property.
The 10th commandment prohibits coveting “anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17)
The perceived legitimacy of coveting the wealth and property of “the rich” is socialism’s justification for wealth confiscation and redistribution.
Barack Obama famously told “Joe the Plumber” during the 2008 presidential campaign:
“I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”[8]
Free-market capitalism promotes neither coveting nor stealing what belongs to entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate CEOs, or private citizens.
It’s a much more moral economic system than socialism.
Conclusion:
Surveys show that a majority of GenZ voters prefer socialism over capitalism.
It’s because they have not been properly educated in public schools.
They haven’t been taught about the long-term consequences that each economic system produces.
They haven’t been taught that free-enterprise capitalism is the only economic system in recorded history that has lifted the masses out of poverty.[9]
They haven’t been taught that every socialist economy and every socialist government throughout history has failed.
You can help fill the education gap by being prepared to defend free-market capitalism using these 6 facts.
Be sure to start any conversation by showing love for those you interact with.
First and foremost, demonstrate your love for Christ, for family and for friends.
What do you think? Email me at [email protected].
Action:
- Get my Voter Guide for the 2026 midterm elections. Click HERE.
- Pray for America. Pray for President Trump, his Cabinet members, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
- Pray for the midterm elections this fall. Pray that the pro-socialist Democrats won’t gain control of Congress.
- Volunteer to help with a campaign.
- Get my book, The Great Deception: 10 Shocking Dangers and the Blueprint for Rescuing the American Dream. Read the Preface: “The Epic Battle: Statism and Collectivism vs. Freedom and Prosperity.” Also pay close attention to Chapter 2, “The Road to Socialism.”Click HERE to order the book online.You can order the book on AmazonOr get the audiobook version HERE and on Kindle HERE.
You can also get an autographed edition online HERE or by phone at 615-814-6633 (M-F 10 am to 3 pm).
You can also send a check for $26.13 (including shipping) payable to Media Specialists and send it to this address:
Media Specialists
1313 4th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37208 - Get my book, The Christian Voter: 7 Non-Negotiables for Voting For, Not Against, Your Values. Click HERE to order the book online.You can order the book on Amazon HERE.Or get the audiobook version HERE, or on Kindle HERE.You can also get an autographed edition online HERE or by phone at 615-814-6633 (M-F 10am to 3pm).
You can also send a check for $26.13 (includes shipping) payable to Media Specialists and send it to this address:Media Specialists
1313 4th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37208
FAQs:
Q: What is the central claim of this article?
A: Free-market capitalism creates a more moral and benevolent society than government-controlled socialism. Capitalism better serves the poor and disabled through voluntary exchange, personal responsibility, and economic growth, while socialism relies on coercion, concentrates power, and produces worse long-term outcomes.
Q: How does free-market capitalism create more economic benefits for more people?
A: In a free-market system, individuals can start private businesses based on motivation and self-discipline. Successful businesses create jobs, expand the economy, raise total wealth, and increase government tax revenue without requiring government control of production.
Q: Isn’t income inequality immoral? Doesn’t that make socialism more just?
A: No. Equality of income and equal outcomes are not moral principles. People differ in skills, abilities, and work ethic, so unequal results are natural. Caring for the poor, elderly, and disabled is an individual and church responsibility (rooted in “love your neighbor”), not a government duty to seize and redistribute wealth.
Q: Doesn’t capitalism run on greed and self-interest?
A: Greed and self-interest exist in every society. Milton Friedman explained that every system runs on them; the question is how they are channeled. Under capitalism, self-interest at the individual level drives innovation, better products, and rising living standards. Under socialism, the same motives shift to unelected bureaucrats and politicians who seek power and permanence in office—often with worse results for ordinary people.
Q: Why is competition considered more moral than a non-competitive system?
A: Competition focuses on serving customers through higher quality and greater variety, often at lower prices. Multiple companies can succeed simultaneously (unlike sports). Top-down socialist systems lack this incentive structure.
Q: In what way does socialism violate the Ten Commandments?
A: Socialism violates the 8th commandment (“You shall not steal”) and the 10th (“You shall not covet”). Government-mandated wealth confiscation and redistribution, or seizing the means of production, is theft of income and property. Socialism’s justification often rests on coveting the wealth of “the rich.” Capitalism, by contrast, does not require or promote either.
Q: What is the proper role of government according to the Bible?
A: According to Romans 13, government should administer justice—punishing wrongdoers and rewarding those who do right. It is not the government’s role to control the economy or the means of production, nor to assume primary responsibility for caring for the poor (which belongs to individuals and the church).
Q: Is capitalism is perfect?
A: No. People can still act greedily or fail to help the needy under any system. Free-market capitalism, with its emphasis on voluntary exchange, personal responsibility, and competitive service to customers, is more moral and more beneficial to ordinary people—especially the poor—than government-controlled socialism.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and publisher of The Huey Alert and Direct Marketing Update. Craig appears on national media such as FOX, FOX Business, Newsmax and more. He also co-hosts The Huey Alert Podcast with his wife Shelly and helps business leaders, Christians, conservatives, libertarians, young people and more understand the intersection of faith, politics, and freedom.
[1] Sherin Shibu, https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/he-started-a-hot-dog-business-50-years-later-he-became-a-millionaire
[2] The Living Bible Paraphrased, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 1971.
[3] Ibid.
[4] New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California, 1995.
[5] Ibid.
[6] https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/tgif-free-markets-and-greed/
[7] Russell Roberts and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Personal Freedom and the Moral Case for Capitalism, essays from The Human Prosperity Project, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, 2026
[8] https://www.fitsnews.com/2017/01/27/barack-obama-really-did-spread-the-wealth-around/
[9] https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/tgif-free-markets-and-greed/