Capitalism works for more than "just a few people" "some of the time".
Highly debatable. Fly to a third world sweat shop and toss this idea around a bit. I don't think the folks there will be nearly as willing to listen to you as people here have been.
"No system is perfect."
Refusing to acknowledge the flaws in said systems is not a virtue.
"and why have they benefited from it? Because they were all born rich? Capitalism benefits people that want to put the time and effort into it."
They have benefitted from it because by and large, we are all upwardly mobile, well paid individuals working in an industry currently experiencing strong market demand. They have also benefitted simply by virtue of being born in America, where they are wealthier than most people in the world by virtue of simply being here (see, I can acknowledge the strengths of Capitalism as well).
Also, this statement is essentially the just-world hypothesis.
"All of your responses so far have been you, crapping on capitalism. Where is your alternative?"
Crapping on capitalism would be silly, since I've benefitted enormously from it. That said, it would be equally silly to be blind to it's many short comings.
I never said I have an alternative, but no one will ever have one if we don't admit some of the short comings to ourselves. Just because a person can't propose an alternative, does not mean that their observations on short comings are incorrect or off base.
Capitalism works for more than "just a few people" "some of the time". No system is perfect.
"Since the majority of folks on HN have benefited from capitalism, it's not surprising that they are not as open to hearing criticisms of it."
and why have they benefited from it? Because they were all born rich? Capitalism benefits people that want to put the time and effort into it.
All of your responses so far have been you, crapping on capitalism. Where is your alternative?