> "You don't seem to understand the fundamental contradiction. Demanding growth/capital accumulation, where there is no growth can only be satisfied by taking from one group and giving to another."

the irony... you've literally just described greed. it can, and does, happen in any economic system (communism, mercantilism, socialism, all devolve because of greed); capitalism isn't special in that regard. it just happens to be more efficient at it (and in general) than other systems. you must account for greed in any and every economic system.

americans generally don't realize that our 'innovation' wasn't capitalism or democracy (rah-rah words), but it was the intrinsic separation of power and wealth that formed the basis of our eventual prosperity (along with resource-rich, isolated, and plentiful land). unfortunately, we've allowed that separation to be corrupted from both directions in the last half-century.