Gary Charter made a good counterpoint about this:
Advocates of Liberty Should Abandon the Term "Capitalism"
https://fee.org/resources/advocates-of-liberty-should-abandon-the-term-capitalism/
Capitalist-entrepreneurs drive the economy forward in their desire to satisfy the demands of consumers. Capital goods themselves are the causes of economic growth and progress. Everything we see around us is the fruit of capital accumulation and saving by capitalists.
Rather than decry the term “capitalism,” we should be more willing to use the term than ever. Capitalists and capital are the cause of growth and progress. The whole of the market system relies upon them. Capitalism should be readily embraced by all defenders of free markets as a descriptive term. Capital is a central part of society. The term that Marx gave as a mark of derision is, in fact, a perfect descriptor of the benefits of the market system—one that advocates of free markets should make a term of pride.
https://mises.org/mises-wire/yes-we-should-defend-term-capitalism
Discussion
In practice, I agree it comes with a lot of baggage, which is why I usually use 'voluntaryism' when talking to most people.
That said, I share the view from the Mises article that, economically speaking, it’s still the correct term.
Maybe it’s time we reclaim it? 🤷
Yes, I prefer the term "voluntarism" or "free-market anarchism" over this weird term "anarcho-capitalism".
Anyway I agree 99% with people who declare themselves "anarcho-capitalists"
"The word (capitalism) is tainted. And when people in the streets of countries throughout the developing world chant out their opposition to “capitalism”—meaning, in reality, not genuine freedom but rather unjust dominance by Western powers and their privileged corporate cronies—I think it’s vital for advocates of liberty to be able to make clear that the system of statist oppression the protestors are naming isn’t the system we favor."
Why not reclaim it?