Captialism is a carrot-on-a-stick engine for generating prosperity. The carrot is the wealth and glory of winning. You outcompete all other players, you're the only game in town, you get to set the rules.

Except the carrot is only dangling on the stick and as a donkey, you're not allowed to ever get it - because the moment you do, you stop moving forward. Hence it's imperative to a) convince people they can win, and b) ensure they don't. Because it's not the players that are socially useful, but the game itself.