What crack rock did you get hold of?
Carnival put out the fire. The people have food, and are not going to die without the US government. Everyone is safe - without the government's help. The ship is only 200 miles from San Diego, and tugboats are headed to it now.
The US Coast Guard responded - because that is their job.
The US Coast Guard asked for the USS Ronald Reagan to divert from training maneuvers to go to the ship - not Carnival.
You need to get your facts straight before you make baseless accusations.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/09...ex.html?hpt=T2
Sure sounds like capitalism handled it just fine.
I wonder how socialism (your favorite) would have handled it? Oh yeah, no one would have the ability to take a cruise, as their money would have been taken from them by the government in the form of higher taxes.