Capitalism is a social system based on private ownership of the means of production. It is characterized by the pursuit of material self-interest, while being subordinated to and circumscribed by natural rights. And it rests on a foundation of the cultural influence of reason.
Based on its foundation and essential nature, capitalism is further characterized by:
-saving
-capital accumulation
-voluntary exchange
-money
-financial self-interest
-profit motive
-freedoms of economic competition and economic inequality
-price system
-harmony of the material self-interests of all the individuals who participate in it.
All economic activity requires energy consumption. Money is just an abstract representation of energy. The free market is super energy efficient, with the greatest rewards going to those that use energy the most wisely. Big government is maximum energy inefficient. As a government interferes with the free market, short circuits and resistive loads develop, and energy efficiency quickly goes out the window. Economics is really an overly abstract way of studying energy. It's sort of important to think of it that way, as Demonrats attack our limited energy resources on all fronts.