There is a connection between a free market - capitalism - and manners, and it is not what most people think. Contrary to those wrongheaded views that capitalism encourages nasty, selfish, and rude behavior, capitalism actually fosters decency and respect. By contrast, socialism, or any form of economy or government control that limits competition, engenders disrespect and contempt.
In order for individuals to function in a capitalist society, individuals must offer something that helps their fellow individuals so the customer will want to voluntarily buy a product or service, or cooperate with, that individual. Thus, it is only in the spirit of cooperation and free choice that people interact in a capitalist society. Some might argue that workers will not have any choice in a free market system, and that they will be underpaid and oppressed by those who own equipment and other valuable resources. Not so, because in a capitalist society those same workers can work for a competitor or start a similar business themselves and reap higher rewards from their work if indeed they are being underpaid for the product they are producing. Competition will raise their wage to its market price. Thus, in order to function in a capitalist society, one must serve the needs of others; those who do so with respect and manners will be increasingly rewarded compared to those who do not. In fact, those who are surly and perform poorly for their customers or collaborators will quickly fail. Capitalism does not tolerate poor behavior.
By contrast if competition is eliminated by government - for instance protecting some industries from competition - the workers in those protected industries need not serve their customers decently at all; those customers will have no choice but to work with that protected industry. Some government agencies that have a monopoly in their service may try to inculcate values of customer service into their workplace, but those values are there by order and not by necessity. Accordingly, such behavior in government agencies is spotty; one never knows whether one is going to get the surly government worker or the decent one. How about a state's department of motor vehicles? Is it open Sundays to serve customers? Does it have late hours so customers do no have to leave work for their appointments? No to both questions. Contrast that with a very competitive industry like grocery stores. Many are open 24 hours per day to serve their customers, and the workers will always be available to show you where to locate the goods you want.
Most local cable companies are local monopolies. Their prices go up every year, and they rarely have special plans for saving the consumers money on their plans. The customer service lines are usually recorded lines, and there is usually a wait to speak to a live person. There are special charges for most services, and there is no published price list. Compare that with the local phone company. Faced with competition from cable and wireless suppliers, the phone company is more than willing to help you locate an economic plan and get your service established. The phone company will also ask about other related services that they can assist you with as well; such as internet service, wireless phone service, and phone cards for billing calls made elsewhere to your home phone line. One can always speak to live operator who is trained in the phone company's products.
Examples are legion: compare the U.S. Post Office to Fedex; any state or federal licensing agency (like the department of motor vehicles) to Walmart; any city building office with a private contractor; or the court system to private arbitration. People do not like working with the government because government workers are usually not service oriented, or worse surly or lackadaisical. Private sector workers must serve the customer or not be in business for long.
Having to serve customers or create a product or service that services a customer need is a discipline requiring manners, decency, and treating the customer with respect. Companies with identical products might be differentiated by their service or by the courtesy of its staff. True, a lower priced product might not offer the same level of service, but at least a customer has a choice. If one is dealing with a government granted monopoly - be it a cable franchise, the post office, the IRS - without consumer choice, those agencies have no incentive to treat the customer with respect. The workers will still have their jobs, and that agency will continue in business. The attitude of the bureaucrat can be oppressive, surly, negative, and in any government agency that one must deal with the workers will continue in their positions with their attitudes because the consumer-citizen is not given a choice. The free market provides choices and competition, and that fosters decency and the promotion of a service mindset to serve the needs of the customer.
