Socialism / Free Market Capitalism

       Does anyone know the real difference between pure Socialism and pure Free Market Capitalism? See the words Social (ism) and Capital (ism). Socialism has to do with what is seen as being best for society, all of us. Free Market Capitalism has to do with profits, money. FMC in it's purest form cares nothing about people except where it can return income on investments to investors, people.
       Let's take a hypothetical example. Bobby Joe, of West Virginia has a wealthy uncle who dies. The uncle leaves Bobby Joe $100,000. Bobby Joe, being a smart fella invests the 100 grand in a coalmining company. The company is profitable because it started using the so called Mountaintop Removal Mining process. The top of a mountain is bulldozed off into the valley below to reveal a seam of coal which is then easy to dig up. That makes for more profits and a bigger check for Bobby Joe.
       There's a problem though. The toxic waste dumped into the valley has polluted the stream there. That stream is the source of Bobby Joe's drinking water. Soon his whole family becomes sick. That's the social issue of this example. When companies are left to focus only on profits, people get left out.
       Yes, people are the ones who are the investors and yes they profit from FMC, but not everyone gets the opportunity to invest. Many people can only invest in their day to day living expenses. But even investors can be harmed by the unfettered drive for higher and higher profits. True believers in FMC simply don't see an objection to any of that. More money allows them to do whatever it is they want to do with that extra money. Unless, of course, they find themselves harmed by the FMC.
       Socialism on the other hand cares nothing for profits or losses, but only for the best interests of people. Better care, better living and working conditions, all of that is all that counts for the true Socialist. Neither system is anywhere near perfect. What's needed is an amalgam of the two ideas. The problem is that, like our government, neither side will consider the valid points of the other side.