For what it's worth, I agree with you and feel those examples are indeed emblematic of our current economic mode.

The "alternative" you envision is premised on shifting power back to the masses, but I think it's also important to mention guardrails to prevent excessive capital accumulation. There would still be an economy, but it would be driven by a more egalitarian aggregate demand and less likely to suffer the shocks of boom bust cycles associated with financial malarkey.