No progressive (with some brains) wants to end free market.

Apparently we agree that some progressives have no brains. :-)

We want controlled capitalism, where businesses can make reasonable profits

Either the market decides the definition of “reasonable”, or the government does. If the government decides, you no longer have capitalism. Same is true for corporate profits and individual wages. If the government regulates any of those (exception being the minimum wage), then you don’t have capitalism anymore.

As for the rest of your rant, it’s an interesting mix of problems that either don’t exist or are acknowledged as problems by all; we just disagree on the solutions. And because the nation is divided so equally politically, we’re in gridlock, where both parties gain support by NOT compromising; so I can pretty much guarantee that the problems on your list that actually DO exist will still be there when they put us in our graves.

(I’m 65, and I expect — — based on demographics — — that the gridlock period of the US will continue to 2040–2050. That’s pretty much a wrap for you and I.)

My advice to you is do what I have done — — pay a LOT less attention to politics before they kill you. I’ve cut down my reading/writing about politics by about 80% over the last year. It’s done wonders for my health. :-)