The pretzel work is refusing to deal with Marx and instead trying to use a different term as a form of evasion. The term is just fine. People are simply unwilling to state that they are capitalists because they value long term human freedom and flourishing.
"I'm a free market kind of guy..."
I'm a proud capitalist and won't hide from Marx by avoiding his terms. It's weak and I'm calling it out. Do whatever you want, obviously, but that doesn't mean I haven't investigated the topic.
People, companies, and tribes who have accumulated a lot of capital under the fractional reserve system are a mix of people who have really benefited us by their inventions etc., and others who have engineered or gamed a very crooked money system. Some figures are in both camps. A lot of folks see this system, and the rule of these groups, as capitalism. Others have a definition of capitalism as a sort of purist libertarian/freedom ideal which has never existed.
I would define capitalism as a credit based system that's inflationary.
And I would define a free market system as deflationary.
If you want to be a capitalist and ensconce yourself in a centralized socialist banking system that's always going to fail, murder and starve millions and rob them of the value of their work and savings, have at it.
I think it's a better idea to build one's life on a free market system that's deflationary, where prices are always going down, and that give hope to humanity, based on Bitcoin.
You're not NOT hiding from Marx by embracing his word. You're adopting his worldview and empowering those parasites who benefit from the Cantillon effect.
The irony is you're becoming weaker, thinking you're becoming stronger.
But if you insist on adopting the title capitalist because you think you're engaging in intellectual pretzel work if you don't, have at it.
Personally, I'm not interested in empowering socialists.
But you do you.
