With all that money (imho) they should have eliminated poverty, achieve peace with everyone around them, and have developed/progressed to the Star-Trek-TNG-qual

With all that money (imho) they should have eliminated poverty, achieve peace with everyone around them, and have developed/progressed to the Star-Trek-TNG-quality-of-life we all dream of. But instead of the "United Federation of Planets" they became a mix beteen Ferengi and Cardassian.