The problem is the ambiguity of language. Far too many people have become accustomed to using terms like "capitalism," "socialism," "fascism," "communism," etc. to describe nothing more rigorously defined than, "things I don't like."

Free markets are the best system if you recognize individual liberty and choice as your highest principles. However, people with ill intent will take the rhetoric of liberty and twist it to get gullible people to support authoritarianism. That is how our regulation-choked economy where everything requires licenses, permits, tax payments while tied up with red tape, regulatory capture, and cronyism is confused with a free market.