> What a bubble. We can't even get clean water to all of the citizens in the wealthiest country on the planet.

You can be space faring while ignoring people. It won't help and it's unethical, but not a showstopper. Still, having people in need is not an argument against space exploration: If we figure out for example how to provide cheap water on Mars, we'll probably be able to convert undrinkable water on Earth to drinkable water much more easily.

Read or watch The Expanse. You can have a space-faring civilization with all the contemporary problems present both on Earth and in space.

> We can't even get clean water to all of the citizens

Of course you can. Americans simply choose not to.

"You get the politicians you deserve" - Barack Obama.

Choice? What choice? The average American is so thoroughly inundated with propaganda it's almost guaranteed they'll vote against their interests. Our governance derives its power from manufactured consent OR the entire marketing / ad industry is a fraud.

It seems entirely possible to have a space-faring civilization that tolerates inequality and mistreatment of its citizens. Star Trek's utopian ideal isn't the only model available.

Well, star trek does have both the ferengi and the federation at totally ends of the spectrum.