We are in the core of capitalism, the country where it all happened: The U. S. ; and I live in the U. S.
That capitalism is individual/private is the core lie of this country (or society). And then the idea that everything is going to self-regulate, or operate — all by itself!
We have been carefully trained, and so we are conditioned to believe that everything is okay or alright. But I would like to point out one particular problem. This is that we have active totalitarians walking amongst us. They believe in a society where one group is in control and another group obeys the first group.
Innovations such as Facebook(.com) in no sense counteract this tendency toward a totalitarian society. While FB may seem to believe in an idea of having social contact, it would be just as accurate to say that FB is the avoidance of any genuine social contact. Superficially it might not seem that way. But it is not a commitment to social contact or human communication.
It is commitment to a ruse. It is as if Zuckerberg was looking around himself, at society around him, and said, “Hey, I can get away with this.” He is seeing an opportunity – and taking it. But that leaves us in the lurch as far as having any real community.
check out this one took, Cleary: https://substack.com/home/post/p-190671773
Money is exchanged for "goods" but the word "items" is better than the word "products." Maybe "items" should replace "goods," as well? I reckon that money is not the same as a "good." And it is not a physical or distinct "item." So "money" is not "item." Money is a peculiar entity. It is used to trade with, but do not just assume it is in a general category of what is called a "good". Even the linkage with gold (which obviously makes some intuitive sense) is gone, so no I do not really find that money is a "good" or product or item. This sort of item-free money is of course often called "fiat" money. A lot of persons discuss that and use that term. But, after having said all of this, I find your basic point correct. And it is clear (not only to a man named Cleary) but strangely there is no social discussion at all about the fact that everyone's freedom (another word with many meanings) in the economics sphere is greatly endangered in this stage of the capitalistic economic system historically. We are under continuous assault, with all kinds of restrictions placed on you, from needed to register an account in order to obtain a slight discount, etc. There are ever more restrictions on the individual, starting with getting a job on the so-called fake "job market" which is not market that I can understand although of course I could be stupid (and I am poor so I must be, right?) . A person cannot do anything in a "free" way in economic life anymore. So, sure, I can walk down the street, even through the alley sometimes! What I cannot do is go into any retail trade establishment. I can cross my fingers and go to a cafe, maybe. Hard to enter the portals of any institution with the expectation that you will act like a slave, without any freedom to innovate or do something different. I got thrown out of Kahwah and she (the barrist/authority) did not even say why. Just said in a flat, unemotional way that I cannot get served there. NO explanation. Just the words "you have to leave here." I cannot interact with these stores or institutions, including the hospital. That goes for hospitals, too. I got stiches after the jail attack (after being arrested in an utterly senseless way the police in St. Pete where other inmates mentioned that this police dept is "corrupt." I walked into a hospital emergency room to have the two sutures (stiches) taken out. They too wanted obedience. We are in a period of real crisis to the economic structures that our society depends on. (And nobody has correct economic theory). The businesses themselves are afraid. I got mad (I have little control over this) at the hospital after being told that "we do not do things that way here" and I cussed 'em and then walked out with the little employees parroting the calling for "security, security."
And it is not just "capitalism" that is not working. It is our whole way of life in America. It is dying. This has been (in Dylan's words) a 'Slow Train a-Coming' but quickening death now and when all our freedoms are wiped out it will the worst debacle ever known to mankind. At least in recent centuries, or in this modern age.