> chasing after pleasure

Pleasure is cheap, even addictive. Fulfillment and meaningful work are extremely difficult to come by. Everything is monetized, every interaction, every experience... money makes experiences transactional, they lose their meaing.

To have a fulfilling live people needs to participate in society, have opportunities, education, basic needs covered... and that is our failure. A kid can get 24/7 entertainment while lacking food or good education.