Simply put, communism isn't even an option. It's so awkward and artificial that it can never respond to the demands of the consumer. Also, given the virtual lack of incentive to excel in a communist society, whatever does get produced is so poorly made that it was basically a waste of money to produce in the first place.
Capitalism, on the other hand, is essentially the only way a society can manage itself without fear of ultimately collapsing. People actually have motivation to get ahead and can achieve things on their own merits; earning rewards through hard word. Consumers essentially vote with their dollar and ultimately decide what gets produced. Capitalism goes hand in hand with democracy in that both are rooted in individual freedoms and the power each person holds to accomplish goals.
Yet, capitalism has a very dark side to it and, I believe, must be regulated so as to prevent the worst excesses of the system from occurring. Time and time again, it has been shown that money can only extend one's quality of life so far and is not an end in of itself. There's a reason why, reportedly, the happiest countries in the world are the ones with excellent social safety nets. Everyone should have the same equality of opportunity and the dignity of every individual ought to respected. That poverty continues to be a major issue in such wealthy countries is indicative of a "not my problem" mentality, when really we should all help each other out in times of need. Perhaps this sounds especially socialist, but I believe no one deserves to wallow on the streets regardless of how they got there.
So basically, a social democracy is my ideal form of government, though, as with any political system, it has its own share of inadequacies.
