>That capitalism logically implies that the rich become richer? I don't think this is necessarily the case,

It doesn't need to imply anything. It's an ideology, those promoting it will say whatever BS attracts people to it. In practice, what is happening in capitalist countries since 1970s (when they abandoned all pretense) is that the rich get way richer and everybody else is fucked.

Versus what exactly? Communism? Where the rich got richer faster and people got fucked faster?

At the end of the day Capitalism and Communism have nothing to do with authoritarianism and liberalism/democracy. An authoritarian capitalist country is a perfectly valid type of government as there has never existed a 'pure' capitalistic governed country.

They taught you the only two altenatives are 1917 style communism or 2026 style capitalism?

Talk about a crap educational system.