Capitalism is not the opposite of cooperation. Free trade, mislabeled as “capitalism”, is the embodiment of cooperative effort. With free trade, individuals and cooperative groups own the means of production (capital).

It is true that under free trade business groups compete with each other. Competition prompts efficiency and keeps prices down.

Under Communism governments own the means of production. Governments are notoriously inefficient, creating useless jobs galore. The only incentive a bureaucratic has is to cover his ass and justify ever more money for his department. Productivity is not a concern.

We need government for some tasks, but since government produces nothing and is generally a burden on the public, it must be kept as small as possible.

The wealthiest and most productive countries in the world embrace private initiative and free trade. The most dismal economic failures have occurred under authoritarian communist governments.