Yeah, the purpose of a system is what it does, not what its "supposed" to do.

It's just interesting how what the capitalists intend can change so drastically over a single human lifetime. The Great Depression disabused a lot of people (working class and owning class) of any notion that capitalist markets can self-correct all on their own. Lead to a bunch of ideas and policies that prioritized outcome above simplified, idealized pictures of how markets were "supposed" to work. You get the New Deal and Great Society projects that do improve conditions for (some) working people and (more importantly to those in power) make the system more robust, more shock resistant.

...and subsequently, the first World War, the Great Depression, and the second World War recede from living memory. Lived experience gets replaced with idealized simplifications and the ruling class starts ripping out all the counter-weights and safety nets that ultimately, ironically, were put there for their own long term benefit. It's a fantastic joke. And somewhat troubling to be living in.