Access to capital for capitalism is an overlooked variable often missed when applying the "rules" of capitalism. The notion that one can set up abusiness in the USA because they have a idea used to be an underlying fundamental. Now larger barriers of entry prevent this, and therefore they're noteven in the game of capitalism to determine if they win or lose. They've lost for the most part.
Financial firms are certainly exploiting the system for their own gain at the expense of others, however, they are just gaming the system created by aquasi-gov't entity, shills, puppets and others. Firms in other industries certainly do this, just to a lesser extent.
They've been blamed too much, because they're easy to blame especially given how vogue Wall Street is.
The government should have never, ever, gotten involved in trying to fund the American Dream. They had no business in trying to sell home ownership. You cansee the reminents now, where people are illegally profiting on the stupid $8,000 tax credit. When easy money is available, it gets abused. That was afundamental blunder by the government and easily one of the roots of the problem.
In terms of the financial sector, they provide a service, so by your example, service industries may be considered "exempt" from capitalism. However,they take on risk (sometimes exuberant) and technically harness skills and intangibles that people are willing to pay for (in various forms). It's likethe survival of the fittest, if you can't produce something of value (perceived, intangible, or tangible) that someone wants, you should be eliminated. The government hides behind the "too big to fail" scenario too much, however, you know damn well they hold GS stock.
