The problem is that neo-liberal capitalism has essentially been the only remaining big "story" over the last 30 years. First it weeded out all ideas of communism and recently it seems to slowly but steadily trump even European social capitalism, eventually it might simply eat itself and turn humanity into a literal "state-machine".

There really seems to be "no alternative" today and consequently people seem to see no way out of that box for the most part.

"The Unnecessariat" which got posted here yesterday was a very sobering read in that regard:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11765581

> Or we abandon the idea that the purpose of people is to serve the economy.

I don't know who believes that the purpose of people is to serve the economy. However I believe that, where no actual disabilities exist, family units should be self-supporting and should also share in the burden of maintaining a free, just and civilized society.

It's a common way of expressing teh question, does the population serve the economy, or does the economy serve the population?

Put another way, should countries protect workers or owners?

(A false dichotomy, of course, and an oversimplification to boot.)