You asked why not reverse the order of that and design economic systems around helping people first, and efficiency as a secondary concern. I'm pointing out that the reductio ad absurdum conclusion of that logic is communism, which we know empirically isn't good at being efficient or at helping people. Your position is flawed.
Regarding dumping toxic waste; that's an externality which needs to be accounted for by taxes or regulations in order for the market to function properly. We already talked about that. See: NYC's congestion pricing, carbon credits, and that Wikipedia article you previously linked on Pigouvian taxes.
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