Break into smaller societies, where people are directly accountable to each other. I think the Amish have the right idea. At the end of the day, what does it mean to live? Does having shiny consumer goods really change that much about life? Does it change anything about love, laughter, and harmony? If the Amish can live that way without wanting to kill themselves or each other, then they're doing it more right than many of us. A lot of the time I think the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

Also I think you can't "give opportunity" to everyone, because not everyone is capable of rising to the top of any field. Some people are born with intellectual disabilities that they can't change. Some people are going to have fucked up things happen to them as kids, that leaves them scarred, dissociated, and more likely to abuse drugs to escape. You can't study in a house where terrifying things are happening. The amount of psychological intervention needed to turn things around for everyone in need of it, just isn't available. Other people have opportunity, but prefer to enjoy themselves in the moment, rather than put in a lot of work. There is a trade-off, and sacrifices that some people are willing to make that others aren't. I think it's too simplistic for it all to boil down to opportunity. I've had plenty of opportunity, but life gets in the way.