I often think that too, as well as the millions of people who are employed in valueless industries, sort of like David Graeber's Bullshit Jobs thesis.

It's not just the reserve army of labour that's wasted potential, it's the people in weapons manufacturing, corporate legal and finance, advertising, lobbying, etc. Many make very high salaries, and yet they produce nothing that an honest society would call valuable.

We could achieve so much if our priorities were set properly. People have achieved so much in AES states, past and present. That thought is what keeps me going.