This seems to follow the theme of the article -- economic system does not matter as much as the result of the economic system.
Of course, yes people tend to care about their beliefs. However, in no way is this article trying to assert that " socialism is perfect and we will have no problems with socialism," merely that capitalism promotes wealth desparity, poverty, greed, and taking advantage of one another.
I think that can be universally agreed upon, without the " lower class" the " upper class" produces nothing, i.e. the " lower class" has to exist for anything to exist. Not everyone can " pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make more money," because then there wouldn't be baristas, waitresses, and other underpayed forms of employment.
The problems that you speak of, with this provence that some people would say are socialist, are problems of budgeting and legislation -- i.e. state problems not economic problems, though all state problems are certainly influenced by the economy, I think it is odd to assert that something like money not being appropriated properly is the fault of socialism. Besides, it isn't like there isn't capitalist corruption, and a lot of it.
The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow as the majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and have a hard time paying the rent the minority has required them to.
I wouldn't consider socialism " my pet idea," but I do see socialism as a reasonable solution to our current system of plutocrats in control of most of the wealth, in control of most people's jobs, and in control of where people can afford to live.