Or "living in an apartment with affordable rent"...

> affordable

That's the crux, isn't it? You aren't just dependent, you are dependent on a system that relentlessly stalks you with increased demands. You are tasked with keeping ahead of a pack of hunters who want to take you down -- and not only will your companions leave you for dead the moment that happens, the group will punish any suggestion that we might want to do something about this on a systemic level because they strive to join the hunters themselves.

It's grim and people are correct to behave like it's grim.

I think you need better companions.

The electorate is what it is, but yes, I hope we can change the currently prevailing attitude.