"Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy, then gives them drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science fiction? It's already happening."
A mad man

Though, he makes a valid point. The vast majority of the people are indeed despondent, or at least extremely dissatisfied with their place in the great society. Maintaining the status quo enduces much disdain and dolor; however in order to be a functioanl cog in the machine you must treat the symptoms rather than the problem, since trating the problem would result in making some changes, and the majority are not ready for this. That and the powers that be would stop at nothing to diminish it...

I suppose every system is flawed, though to me the most essential aspect of the American dream was self reliance. Which is a concept that's cold and dead in these glorious times....