The 'vision' you mention resonated better back in those days, but the rhetoric ultimately contributed to the expansion of the welfare state.

This is why I find Sowell to be so much more illuminating, he always starts with a sober review of the human condition and the limitations of finite resources and human capital. Taking these into consideration reveals that there are only tradeoffs, there are no magic solutions. We have to decide which imperfect society we want.

"Judge a person by their character" is about as utopian as " Free school and healthcare for all" when you think about it. Nobody wants to be discriminated against, but it's part of being a social creature and like racism, abuse, etc it can never be eradicated without annihilating all of humanity.