Another point (accentuated by the article) is that Smith and Ford are both considered archetypes of "free market capitalism"
They are being used here as symbols of the idea. We are talking about capitalism, not about Smith or Ford.
Unfortunately this turns into its own feedback loop. Simple intros to Smith talk about free markets, so people associate the name to the idea.
Re:The queen does not rule
by ArkyBeagle on Friday December 23, 2016 @09:23PM
(#13248258)
Smith espoused free markets as an improvement over the then-dominant Mercantilism. What came of "free markets" after him isn't his fault :)
Not in the interest of those who rule. Whatever you know is significantly affected by what people with money and power want you to know. Despite all the rhetoric about freedom of thought, etc. Knowledge is socially engineered all the time.