I aspire for a Star Trek-like utopia where there is no hunger, no want or need
These are the very things that push people forward to strive and succeed. Get rid of these things and you will have a world of lazy entitled cry babies.
You seriously think hunger is a good thing?
Humans have the capacity to be and do so much more. It is sad that so many people are so closed off or complacent and thus incapable of thinking outside the narrow box that has been placed around society et al like shackles. No child should be hungry or not have proper health care. There should be no war, no poverty, no hate, no labels (race, nationality, etc.), and so on. We COULD achieve all of this and so much more, but those in power, who make their living off of being in control, keep the masses under the influence of a corrupt and flawed system that deteriorates our environment and our minds, pitting humans against each other so the masses don't rise up and say, "ENOUGH!" Sadly, I do think there will be a major uprising within the next century, but when it does come, things will be so bad it will be a massive and deadly "reset" rather than a peaceful transition to a better world and society for all. Greed is so powerful, which is why Capitalism is so flawed. Great minds, thinkers, inventors, etc. would still strive to do their things. I am a theoretical physicist. I don't do what I do for money. I do it for the intellectual challenge, as do most scientists. You take away the shackles from money and absolutely we would all achieve more. We've been in this messed up system for so long, that there is too much complacency. Especially in the US, where kids are brainwashed into the sole thinking that Capitalism is great and Socialism, Communism, or anything else is terrible without even understanding what they really are. Communism, as it was written by Karl Marx, was supposed to be a utopian society where everyone was equal and the government provided for all. He also recognized how it was difficult to achieve (hasn't yet been done, because those that get the power don't want to give it up and be equal) and that there would be a transitional period that wasn't ideal. But you know...'Murica!
