The problem isn't capitalism or the free markets though. Honestly, the reason why these institutions are dominant is probably because they are the economic/choice systems that are the best at managing complex and large societies. Judging from what we see in nature, the reciprocity involved probably corresponds to our deepest instincts of social cooperation.
No, the problem is greed and entitlement that has become central to our lending system. It's the average individual's fault for thinking he "deserves" a certain type of lifestyle that neither he nor the economy can afford. Consumption levels need to go down and we need to get more in touch with the true costs of the products we purchase.
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