I think more people are prevented from pursuing careers that would make them "more productive and passionate" out of fear of losing everything they have, and/or of being regulated out of existence by the government.
And hey, here's a news flash for you: MOST people DON'T get to do what they're "passionate" about, they do what there's a demand for, and what they can find someone to pay them for. And it isn't the government's right to make people pay others (through taxes) to do nothing, or to do something they wouldn't otherwise pay them to do.
Oh, wait, I forgot that I was reading a piece written by a socialist.
Yeah, I am “passionate” about fishing. But fishing don’t pay the bills.