The most important thing that can be done for long-term prosperity is to eliminate almost all forms of debt. Debt ends up making everything cost (at least) 2x a

The most important thing that can be done for long-term prosperity is to eliminate almost all forms of debt. Debt ends up making everything cost (at least) 2x as much and is the reason why everyone feels the requirement to be perpetually employed. In the US, we've built an entire lifestyle on debt. I'm not talking about consumer debt here (though that's a problem too), I'm talking about the debts that are intrinsic to the system used to obtain a high standard of living in the US. Those debts are what keep most people shackled down. If you want to take a sabbatical because of a series of hard knocks in a short timespan, you can't, because if you stop working, you'll lose everything you own. If someone can take everything from you when you stop giving them money, you don't own it. That's the core problem, the core reason employment is so stressful and the core reason that losing a job is a major life negative. Want somewhere to live? You gotta pay that house payment and/or rent. Very few "home owners" in the U.S. are actually home owners, they're effectively just renting the house from the bank. Even 30 years after getting their first mortgage, most are not home owners because they've sold and rebought their homes several times over the years. Want (need) to drive to get somewhere? For a decent car, it'll be $300/mo for 6 years (+ insurance). You might be able to go a few years without a payment, but by year 10, most cars are going to be worn down to the point where they have to be replaced, and you'll have to start making payments on a fresh one. Want a decent job? OK, we're down with that, as long as you pay your non-dischargeable entrance fee of $50k+ student debt for the privilege. Actual skillset or competence is of little relevance for most professions. Make all of these things so cheap that they don't require debt, or make these things available in some attainable way that doesn't require debt and allows people to actually own something, and we'll have a huge portion of the problem solved. Of course, the powers that be really hate it when someone isn't in debt, because debt is literally free money; usury is the most effortless way to earn money in existence. There are a lot of people that make a lot of money by keeping the citizen dependent on them for big, necessary purchases. Perhaps the government could offer 0% financing on all of these items -- homes, cars, and education. That might be a start to breaking the debt cycle. Another thing that would help is moving back to multi-generational housing and maintaining a strong culture of inheritance.