This isn't the free market we imagined... it's unregulated capitalism, to the point that smaller eco-friendly companies can't compete. At this point the market isn't free anymore.
It never was. Remember, capitalism has to be regulated to work. Adam Smith even said so. Looking at you ancaps and libertarians.
According to Adam Smith, markets and trade are, in principle, good things—provided there is competition and a regulatory framework that prevents ruthless selfishness, greed and rapacity from leading to socially harmful outcomes.
He was the first US president and paved the way for the writing of the constitution, which is the basis of how the wests entire capitalist structure (and due to US controlled international hegemony, the world). Does that clear it up a bit for you where my point is? I can explain it further if you want. It’s not the only factor, but when people say “this isn’t the free market capitalism that was intended!” I tend to roll my eyes.
I tend to roll my eyes when people think any one man is responsible for setting up the entire Western capitalist structure. I don't actually think that's what you're saying, but it's important to note that George Washington may have been the final decider, but had otherwise little to do with forming and reforming the policies that make up the capitalist structure as we know it today. It's extremely lazy to try and blame it on any one person.
The intent is to blame the Founders, and they all were rich slave owners and businessmen. The entire American revolution was reactionary. This is what they wanted.
We need to stop this rhetoric. This is what "free market capitalism" always devolves into. It is not Marxists who are utopians, it is capitalists who believe that this is not the natural end result of the accumulation of power and rise of corruption that is inherent to capitalism.