One solution to rule them all: Democrats should embrace the FairTax plan (HR 25) and convert it to UBI and healthcare (not insurance) paid for with sales taxes. All decisions are made at the checkouts. Put the price of civilization at that point, and pay people to be useful citizens (enough to grow their own gardens and build their own lives instead of buying sugar and shiny junk). Stop pretending that the income tax code works, or that poor people don't pay taxes (in fees, fines and rents). Stop pretending that electricity, food and gasoline should be cheap, or that a carbon tax is a good idea (removing one litter box from the 10 environmental litter boxes of consumerism).

"Trains, planes and automobiles" needs to become "trains". It won't happen as long as we keep subsidizing oil companies, airlines and useless suburbs via corrupt "progressive" tax policies that favor the status quo and allow every elected member of government to make myriad little promises of line item favors in exchange for buckets of cash.