Humans have specialized enough over time AND powers have become very entrenched. This agency you're talking about to improve the current system has reduced/disa

Humans have specialized enough over time AND powers have become very entrenched. This agency you're talking about to improve the current system has reduced/disappeared over time because of that IMO. For example, Try as I might, I would suck at say building roads - just not strong enough. I will get done over 4x the time what an expert will need. I think this analogy applies to residence as well: I just don't feel I have the power to change a whole country or community. There is also a huge amount of force required to reverse a flywheel compared to adding to the current direction. Given a choice, people find the flywheel that's turning in their direction. I also would like to work on what my specialization is and build up on it rather than trying to learn to lay roads. It is clearly better to do that in a place supportive of the same rather than trying to change my 3rd world country to adopt it, build it etc. Some probably have that skill to build from ground up in a hostile place - it is a rare skill. You can also try and extend your argument to the millions of refugees / immigrants that flow away from poor spots and see if it holds: Why don't they stay and make their place better? Because more often than not, they just want to make a living and don't believe they can effect measurable change. And believe me, this doesn't come as easy as you think. A ton of legal / ably employed / tax paying immigrants with completely clear records live 10s of years in the USA for example without any permanence or citizenship. IOW I wish it was as simple as you make it sound to up and leave :)