We literally can, all it takes is a willingness to let go of dogma and other deeply held beliefs.
Set a goal that you can measure the merit of your solutions by, and figure out the solutions from a rational assessment of the evidence and arguments using science and logic.
The problem is not that people try to do this and fail, but that those willing to do this are disempowered by those who aren't or those who are, but are working for different goal to yours.
As well, all the obstacles to simply figuring out the solution and implementing them, chief of which is the stranglehold of beurocracy and the demagoguery of democracy, which keeps bad ideas that seem good with an edge over good ones that seem bad.
Regardless of how you judge what the right answers are, the answers are quite apparent and easily found, if you only know how to learn and think about what you've learned.
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