People keep confusing capitalist economy with the state, and keep blaming the big bad of "capitalism" for shortcomings of the Big State, namely corruption and c

People keep confusing capitalist economy with the state, and keep blaming the big bad of "capitalism" for shortcomings of the Big State, namely corruption and collusion of our politicians and lobbyists. Also, calling whatever economic model we have in our Western countries a "free market" is an oxymoron at best. There is no free market if politicians are allowed to force it to bend one way or the other with laws and trade restrictions. Like many words put on slogans and coopted to drive some agenda, "capitalism" and "free market" have lost all their meaning. Anyone uses those words to refer to their favourite scapegoat.