A different view to consider:
A. Capitalism - Socialism... is actually a myth.There is no country on earth that currently meets any of the definitions you will find in dictionaries, encyclopedias or academic work.
B. A Better Version For Dialogue... two spectrums - multiple layers. At either end of each spectrum is a) "collectivism" - political policy/government control that is best for society - is best for the individual too and b) "individualism" - political policy/lack of government control that is best for the individual - is best for society as a whole. Place those spectrums against different layers of a society and you get a more realistic evaluation than "capitalism and socialism". These layers include: economic, healthcare, shelter, safety /laws, freedom of general choice, education, etc.
For example - if on a spectrum - with "1" being collectivism and "10" being individualism - you might consider China as healthcare = 2; shelter = 2; safety = 1; freedom of general choice = 4 but trending lower; and economics = 4 (up from a 1 - 20 years ago.)
For example - if on a spectrum - with "1" being collectivism and "10" being individualism - you might consider United States as healthcare = 8 - 20 years ago, trending towards a 5 (Obamacare); shelter = 9 - 20 years ago trending towards an 8 (min. low income housing in developments); safety = 7 - 20 years ago trending towards a 4 (i.e. class action suits - individual not responsible for decisions - like smoking); freedom of general choice= 9 trending towards a 6 (abortion; guns) and economics = 9 - 20 years ago to a 7 (OSHA Rules; Government Filings; etc.); and military has been a "1" for years (collectivism) - which by the way - people like Jefferson were against - wanted militias. And - as a reality of history - one of the reasons "right to bear arms" is such a watered down - different interpretations topic is that it was compromise wording allowing collaboration between an organized military (including even the founding of West Point) and those who did not want an organized military as the primary defense - but wanted country defense primarily by militias.
The United States has never had pure capitalism (total freedom of choice in purchasing and production without government interference - but it was more free than most. What I find interesting is that most of the top ten countries in the world on economic / business freedom - closest to capitalism (Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, etc.) - and are much more free than even the US - are on the other hand considered "socialists" (I'd say collectivism) on education and healthcare.
Net/net. I find it easier to evaluate/consider societies based on the layer of the country - and to what degree policy and government control is primarily what's best for society versus what's best for the individual. Simplicity of capitalism and socialism as ways of looking at a society as a whole are not effective.
Hope this is helpful for some - and in their healthy dialogue with others.
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