I managed to get myself embroiled in an argument w/ some right-wing idiots that

[0rganism]

43. plenty of failed capitalist states you could counter with

that kind of tit-for-tat pretty much misses the point though. 100-to-1 your "friends" aren't interested in any serious discussion of issues, economic systems, or even politics per se -- it's likely just tribalism and metaphysical junk-waving as promoted by hucksters like Hannity and Limbaugh. no amount of argument on your part, no matter how concise or soundbite-worthy it is, will end it. and, unfortunately, the existing counter-arguments tend to be neither.