Jim:

I'm surprised you bother to live in Scotland. As I recall, that great country gave birth to half the mechanical inventions and contrivances that led to the rise of the United Kingdom before the world wars which followed years later. It is obvious you are content to argue the socialist line despite the freedoms you enjoy. Without capitalism, the engine of invention in Scotland would never have emerged. You, my friend would now be living as a vassal to England.

I know from your past expressions that you embrace athiesm as well as socialism... and that is your business but one of your countrymen, a former slave ship captain, wrote the hymn most revered in nearly all the world... "Amazing Grace."

I would argue that the United States was not "built" on slavery although it did exist even in Dutch Colonial times here... with slaves provided by English and Scottish Traders. Then, of course, there was the "civil war" here that resulted in the emancipation of the slaves. The emergence of the United States as a world power did not occur until the period prior to WWI.
Many former slaves or children of slaves made valuable contributions to that new found prosperity. George Washington Carver comes to mind.

Finally, those awful capitalists who dared to enter WWII to defend your country and others from Nazi Tyranny made it possible for you to stand over there and decry our ways.

Consider this, please... America does not make a practice of occupying or incorporating the countries it defeats in war. (The only nation I can recall to achieve the distinction of being permanently occupied... is the Confederate States of America.) Germany and Japan are strong industrial nations. Even the former Soviets realize that democratic principles will eventually free them to prosper.

Jim, it is unfortunate that each individual is not born into this world with complete equality including wealth. The awful truth is that 75% of those individuals would squander their wealth in short order in foolish endeavors of many descriptions.
Probably a good 10% of them would be paying song sharks to take them to the next level... LOL!