The most dynamic part of capitalism is supply and demand. There is not much demand for underwater basket weavers - what reward/handout/minimum income should underwater basket weavers receive when there is no demand? In 1999 there was a LOT of demand for Y2K programmers - when supply of y2k programmers got low - the wage people were willing to pay went up.  When hurricane katrina destroyed LA - food, water and gasoline was in scarce supply - those who demanded the products had to pay more - some people called it gouging - some people called it absolutely necessary to prevent hoarding.

That really is the underlying problem in our country - we are based on capitalism - we didn't become the biggest economy and producer in the world through any other mechanism - Yet we are on the threshold of a possible dramatic change in the country. Which path we walk down next will have dramatic effects - some for the greater good - some perhaps not.