First of all, no one can really tell what communism would be like in practice, because there has never been a single country that really tried it. All systems that have been called "communism" were in fact socialist, if anything.

The situation with capitalism is similar to a certain degree. As far as I know, there has never been a truly capitalist system, strictly obeying to the concepts of capitalism.

Take america for example. Many people would say that America is truly capitalistic, while in practice, it's far from being so. For example, they'll stick to capitalistic "free market" ideals only where it suits them. When it doesn't, they'll be using protectionism (subsidies, import duties etc. etc.) instead - and people will consider it a good thing, nobody would cry "Hey, that's against the concept of capitalism!"

Especially these days, with emerging nations like China, India etc., I believe the fastest way to ruin the USA (or any other wealthy western country) would be to actually enforce true capitalism.

U was just asking what people though of both systems. I don't really endorse either communism or capitalism. A system that has the best features of both systems is better i think. 

Anyway, i'm only 17 and see capitalism in a bad state because of a bit of greed and dodgy dealings. I'm sure capitalism is great when everyone has a job, but that is a while off, so nevermind. 

To add my 2 cent, communism will never work as long as human nature is envoled. Work is pain and humans will naturally avoid pain as much as possible. If certain people can get away with avoiding that pain they will. Communism allows that while capitalism doesnt for the most part. Just like at the welfare system of America and the communities that have a high density of welfare recipients. Look what government dependence does to people. Capitalism is the best form of government as long as human nature is envoled. Keep in mind that the majority of arguments that people have of capitalism is not a result of capitalist principals. It's a result of communism being mixed into a capitalist system.

The elites at the top regardless of the economic system still end up with the lion's share of the nation's wealth, very little is left over for the people who are not part of the ruling elite. It is in human nature to be greedy, selfish, corrupt and evil. The corrupt Socialist dictatorships and social engineering in Nazi Germany, China, Soviet Union, etc have proven that the Utopian world of equality, peace and people acting together for the common good is an unattainable dream.

The important question is "What is wealth?" ...

While a "unit" of wealth can be represented in different forms and have different values (Dollar, Euro, Yen, Pound, etc.) it is the ability to allocate a portion of the productive capacity for your own benefit.

In capitalism the accumulation of wealth is typically the result of getting people to exchange more of the productive capacity they have control over for a product or service than that product or service requires to provide; essentially creating a profit by selling a product for more money than it costs to produce. This means that capitalism generally allocates productive capacity to those who have demonstrated the best ability to manage it best, and the total wealth of the nation grows faster than under any other system.

While their "slice of the pie" may generally be small, the poorest people are generally far better off under capitalism because the pie is so much bigger; and one of the questions that has to be asked is whether the economy would be better off if more of these people were allocating resources within the economy.

6 x 60 second guide to beginner economics

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/philosophy/concepts/60-second-adventures-economics

"Communism works well in small groups". How about groups of 2? Isn't that effectively what marriage is? Tell me, what's the divorce rate?

In pure capitalism, there are no rulers. Only rules.

If you think the current world of "ruling banking elites" is anything like capitalism, you couldn't be further from the truth. It's a product of statism, nothing more.

Everybody wants profit.

And what's wrong with outsourcing jobs to Asia? Do Asians not deserve jobs? Thanks to excessive regulations, taxes, benefits, etc., employers can employ multiple Asians for the price of one Westerner.

If people don't work in China, they starve. If people don't work in Cihicago, they collect foodstamps.

Really, which option is more moral to you?

America got rich because it embraced capitalism in the 19th century. It decays now, because it fares away from it. The "emerging nations" are doing so because they are embracing more and more capitalism today. To argue that the way to "ruin" somewhere is to have capitalism, is to argue against history.