I think people are more than that. The point being that nothing is inherently wrong with making individualistic self serving choices except when there is disregard for others. But people can also be compassionate, alturistic, giving, and cooperative, so how about a system that rewards the better parts of human nature?

Capitalist markets are built off of the idea that people are inherently self serving and the ensuing competition will benefit people with lower prices, better products, etc to meet their own selfish needs. Capitalism uses capital to gain more capital, and is exploitative by design. When a company acts in a way to maximize profits, and appease shareholders, they’re doing it selfishly, with total disregard for others or the environment, in a system that rewards their actions. This is quite like psychotic, or sociopathic, behavior.

I just think trying to control this is a losing battle, and what we really need are foundational changes to values, motives, and what gets rewarded and how.

I disagree. I think that may actually be the only way out of this mess. “Cooperation [being nice, forgiving, but not a pushover, and clear] pays even among rivals” (Veritasium - Prisoners Dilemma).

Death by unfortunately misinterpreted font. There are worse ways to go.

There’s an idea on the left about building horizontally, or from the ground up, for there to be something to fall back on after the inevitable collapse of capitalism. These are things like community food systems, mutual aid, cooperatives, land trusts, etc. The left is active in local politics, supporting unions, organizing, and so on. Not all of us that worry this system may be beyond saving are actually just waiting to die, but doing what we can where we can with limited resources.