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I'm curious about what economic "System" exists or should exist wherein a country can "have it both ways", - a utopian paradise where there is prosperity and equality for all, replete with a guarantee that everybody, both the ordinary and the extraordinary, will live the good life. Socialism and Communism are rejected as ideal because they are about The State owning and controlling everything, proceeding on the dubious theory that everybody will benefit equally as long as the masses are kept under control. Capitalism is criticized because it spawns the free enterprise opportunities that facilitate the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer via a process that financially rewards aggressive, shrewd, people, while relegating others into the "have-not" category. Dreamers have fantasized about the ascension of a benign, charismatic, dictator, - a wise, magnanimous, paragon of integrity and compassion who would exercise absolute control, eliminating the political rivalries that lead to dissention and corruption. Dreamers, indeed. Nightmares are what Fascistic and Theocratic systems bring to mind with their fanatical nationalism and religious zealotry. So, just what is the solution to the problematic way things are now? Democracy falls short for the same reason all the other systems fail. It is all about lofty aspirations that pale in the face of stark reality, a conclusion that should be obvious by virtue of the fact that because Mankind is imperfect, it is incapable of creating a perfect System. Society and civilization are in a never-ending pursuit of a world where everybody lives happily ever after, the hope for which continues to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of scorched empires. But how can Paradise ever exist on Earth when Humanity is its own worst enemy? In the twilight of my years where waking up every morning is an achievement, I continue to ask myself what System has enabled me to survive 89 trips around the sun? The answer is "I know that I know not". I just lived my life, ordering my priorities, following my instincts, embracing my spirituality, indulging my curiosity, resisting materialism, managing to sidestep many of the things that tripped up others of my race. I retired from the work force in 1992, something that has allowed me to lead a life of leisure for 30 years, doing nothing to earn a monthly pension and the regular cost-of-living raises that come with it, money that more than covers all my expenses. I have a roof over my head, am surrounded by an extended family, have affordable health care, never owe the IRS, and whatever is going on in the world locally or globally has had very little impact on my life. I'm just here, dangling under the radar, breathing air that doesn't even belong to me. What's wrong with this picture?

As mentioned in another thread, there are countries on the planet that are pretty much utopian. Those countries have something in common...homogenous. While there may be minorities living there, they know the deal. IMO, the United States as a melting pot is a blessing and a curse because it has failed to deal with its original sin. Despite its flaws, millions of people thrived and survived in the imperfect union that is the United States. It's not impossible. But, there's no reason for it to be hard either. Unfortunately, the system of racism white supremacy and human greed makes life in the United States less utopian. The amount of money the US prints, er, spends on defense and aborted space missions and other irrelevant sh8t could improve life for millions of people. 😎

Nothing is wrong with this picture, imo. @Cynique You do more than dangle under the radar, you engage in many topics that humanity deals with today and offer much insight. I wish I could experience some of the things you have mentioned. Although, I don't owe the IRS now, I have endured that in the past and it was so stressful. I don't know of anyone that have experience life as you have. I only wish. I remember the late Doris Day, saying that she lived a wonderful life, May she RIP. I was a longterm Substitute Teacher a while back for a couple of ELA classes [English and Language Arts], and I found it amazing that today, students deal with a semester of learing about the topic, DYSTOPIA SOCIETY. They learn today that it is impossible to live in a Utopian society and only a few brave young Protestant White males have disagreed.

I thought about this an the idea that I had was to make everything cost $1 so you could buy a plane and it would cost as much as a bicycle. Which picture are you questioning? Being on the planet or the socioeconomic structure.? It is possible to somewhat drop out of the system, provided that your wants are simple.

Until ultimately it will end. Oppression by one group of another always ends... it is really just a matter of how much damage is done first. @Michel Montvert thanks for sharing those stories. The cure for cancer may have died in some ghetto -- you can pick the country. @Cynique Simone is the GOAT. Anyone obliquely familiar with the sport knows this. I can't speak for the others, but I know inspiration comes from many sources not just the GOAT. This piqued my interest because I was involved in the sport, one in which there are not many Black participants, for all the reasons mentioned.