The target is arbitrary, just the larger the steady inflation is the faster the reorganization occurs.

There are other possible systems - we built all of this and can decide to do something else entirely at any point… as long as the harvest is collected, the power plants are serviced, the pharmaceuticals are produced, etc. This is just what we’ve landed on the compromise where the masses don’t revolt, the elites don’t (completely) dominate, and all the necessary work still gets done.

I don’t know if non-inflationary policy would be better or worse - it would certainly be strange to expect negative raises each year - but it perhaps would be more honest.

I fully share your frustration, and thank you for the discussion!