For a grand a month you have a pretty good selection of apartments in the burbs. Nice layouts, new appliances, carpet, crime free, good schools, and a choice of demographic, young people, young people with kids, seniors. Two people with crap jobs can have some "stuff" newer cars, Iphones, cable. Once you step up from rent to mortgage, the choices are limited. The mort interest deduction mitgates some of the expense but you're screwed on repairs, etc. it costs money to mow a lawn.
Utopia will never happen imho The greedy and selfish will be with us forever and the wealth won't be shared equally. The only hope for a contented existence is to make everyone's earnings be taxed at say 5% per year and paid into a national pension scheme. Upon retirement at 65 everyone gets an equal 1/20 th of a person's share of that pot for an average of 20 years. So even the poorest and most destitute at least have something to look forward to in retirement. About 80% at present have not much to look forward to on retirement. Having been paid peanuts for stacking shelves or whatever for 45 years. Why pay a rich old billionaire a huge pension ? He can't eat any more, already lives in a big property, has 2 luxury cars, a pool etc. Not ideal but if had a magic wand.....
Already happened with the first family to walk the earth. They were in paradise...... Look at us now.