It's a moral story, not a scientific or political one.

The question is, if you were put in that situation, what would you do? Now, the REAL question that I'm wondering is, not would you walk away from Omelas, but would you do something about that child?

I had never read it I see that is Salem spelled backward-salem oregon? I appreciate teh allegory but felt manipulated by the premise. That somehow the only way to experience a utopic happiness would necessarily mean it would be to the cost of someone-even if it just was one. so while it's lushly described initially, it doesn't have a plotand one is trying to ground themselves wondering where people who leave will go. In fact, I think it was intended by the author to be floating, groundless with no explanation.