I would frame it like this: collectively, we have the resources to provide education, health care, housing and dignified work to all people. But on many if not all of those points we are regressing.

How come?

One way to look at glorious olden days is that man with one job could feed his whole family.

Other way to look at same times is that panama canal construction cost tens of thousands of lives and US had did not end systemic racism until 80’s.

I posit that no small part of prosperity of middle class was result of having less fortunate helping out due to lesser bargaining power (somewhere else in the country or the world)

It is good that people die less during construction. And it is ok to cost more.