depending on your persuasion, this sounds like it could be either capitalism or socialism.

In a capitalist economy, only wealthy capital owners are truly free to engage in self-directed activities.

The working class is bound to a limited range of opportunities and not able to contribute to this sum total of societal action. If we do include them in the calculation, we can't mistake a desperate need for survival with authentic economic participation.

I, too, used to believe that every person had equal opportunity to pursue their ideal form of work. This is the privilege of being born a white capitalist in a white capitalist world. But learning the true history of labor reveals that the phrase "free individuals" does not actually refer to everybody. This history is not long, and the exclusion has persisted through feudalism and slavery up until today.