and how often those "axes" are actually more relative to their own ineffectualness than the actions of anyone else

I feel like this about myself and ask whether my drive for a different economy is my inability to perform well in the current one. I think that is part of the case, but I also would like to think that even if I was more effectual in the current conditions, I would recognize that it isn't great for the majority of people and want a change anyway.