Re: You've got it exactly backwards.
"A real solution would be to start with making different political choices: the state taking charge...and actively mandating how we live our lives."
What could possible go wrong?
When in all of human history has that approach had a result other than going disastrously wrong on an epic scale?
Nothing is more adverse to change, more inclined to treat symptoms not problems, to cover up problems and mistakes, and to punish whistle blowers, than government. The most sure fire way to prevent resolution of any problem is to give responsibility for dealing with it to people whose pay depends on the problem continuing to exist, and whose position & advancement on it continuing to get worse.