I don't think that people in countries like Denmark or Norway would agree with your definition of capitalism, or that all progress is dependent upon it. This is especially true in a nation that uses a floating fiat currency and can afford anything that is available and priced in the currency the government creates at will.

People are suffering in the richest country in world history because the people in power want them to suffer. It has nothing to do with economics and is only to keep the people subservient to capital. That is the difference between capitalism in the US and almost anywhere else.