If the DSA controlled a majority in Congress ..... (appraisal related)

[Carnivore]

Sweden — widely seen as a successful cradle‑to‑grave system​

Sweden is often cited as one of the most successful cradle‑to‑grave welfare models in the world. The government provides universal healthcare, free or low‑cost education through university, generous parental leave, subsidized childcare, strong unemployment benefits, and reliable pensions. These programs are funded by high but broadly accepted taxes, and Sweden’s stable institutions, low corruption, and strong economy allow the system to function effectively. While not perfect, Sweden shows how a cradle‑to‑grave model can succeed when a country has political stability, efficient administration, and a culture that supports social responsibility.
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Denmark

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Denmark is widely viewed as a top example of a successful cradle‑to‑grave welfare model. The Danish government provides universal healthcare, free education through university, generous parental leave, subsidized childcare, strong unemployment benefits, and reliable pensions. These programs are funded by high taxes, but Denmark consistently ranks among the world’s happiest and most stable countries because citizens trust the system and see clear returns on what they pay. Low corruption, efficient administration, and a strong economy allow Denmark’s cradle‑to‑grave model to function smoothly and deliver high quality of life from birth to old age.

 

[George Hatch]

Right path and wrong path are objective facts which are decided by history. Not judgments made by the decision-makers at the time.

If we're talking about governance then consensus is a thing. As is demonstrated by the various political systems that are each functional as per the will of their peoples. Functional, but different from each other. Meaning there obviously isn't just one way to govern.

So no, even if formed around a diety or Ivy league Woman's Studies professor the system still won't be a functional mode of governance without the consent of the governed (as a group)

 

[TerryRohrer]

The people in charge of the GSE's have been consolidating their power over the entire mortgage market for some reason. Pretty sure that the motivation to do so boils down to "profit". I personally don't believe it has much to do with efficiency, they just don't want any independent actors playing in their sandbox and challenging the primacy of their AVMs.

An imbedded “dial” for profits on demand is a certainty. More likely, a dial for every division.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/07/health/evi-care-insurance-company-denials-propublica

 

[chad hampton]

I have no doubt this will be a socialist country in 10 years. Maybe less. We claim to be capitalists, but we don’t really practice it. Unless they permit younger people to participate in the capitalism games , they will turn to socialism. Privatizing gains and socializing losses isn’t capitalism. When you don’t let major corporations fail, you don’t have capitalism.

Young people look around and they see the guilded age. Hell, I see it too.

Well either vote in socialism or they will take it by force. When your belly is hungry, you resort to fighting. And that’s where this generation is getting pushed.

We have a small window to still enact America first policies, but I don’t see it happening. Lobbying and money in DC is too much to overcome. So the inevitable will happen.

How it affects appraisers, I have no idea. I think we’ll have bigger problems to worry about. The wealthy will as well.

 

[Essexfenwick]

The heads of Tesla, Open AI and Anthropic say we are going to need UBI – and soon.

Why would you need income?

Just go on line and ask AI and robots to build you a house and provide food and water.

 

[Mike Ault]

Why would you need income?

Just go on line and ask AI and robots to build you a house and provide food and water.

Man does not live by bread alone. We need some entertainment as well.

 

[J Grant]

I am beginning to warm up to Cradle to Grave government, What do think? Good idea Bad Idea or something else

The people in the cradle to grave countries are the healthiest and happiest in the world , and enjoy the longest life spans. Their nations have far lower addiction, incarceration, homelesness and homicide rates than America. They also do not have the huge debt and deficit America has.

There is capitalist enterprise in those nations, but their tax rate and how they choose to spend their taxes to benefit their own citizens is different.

 

[J Grant]

“China’s Red Line” and the “Kill Line” Narrative on U.S. Poverty​

In recent months, Chinese media and commentators have popularized the term “kill line” (斩杀线) — a gaming metaphor for the point at which a player is so weakened they can be instantly defeated — to describe a critical threshold in American economic life. Once crossed, the narrative goes, recovery to a better life becomes impossible 纽约时报中文网+1.

Origins and Spread​

The phrase first appeared in late 2025 on Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili, in a video by user “Sikuiqidawang” depicting homeless and low-income Americans he encountered in the U.S. Global Times. The creator linked it to stories of medical debt, homelessness, and economic fragility, framing them as evidence of a systemic “kill line” in American capitalism 纽约时报中文网+1. The concept quickly spread across WeChat, Bilibili, and state-linked outlets, and by early 2026 had been adopted by The Beijing Daily, Southern Daily, and even the official magazine Qiushu 纽约时报中文网.

Content and Examples​

The “kill line” is used to encapsulate:

• Homelessness and visible poverty
• Debt burdens (student loans, medical bills)
• Addiction and economic instability 纽约时报中文网+1

Common examples cited include:

• A Silicon Valley engineer whose vacation accident and out-of-network medical costs pushed him into debt and homelessness Post Alley.
• U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s memoir account of selling blood to repay student loans 纽约时报中文网.
• Comparisons to the U.S. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) poverty threshold Global Times.

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[chad hampton]

The people in the cradle to grave countries are the healthiest and happiest in the world , and enjoy the longest life spans. Their nations have far lower addiction, incarceration, homelesness and homicide rates than America. They also do not have the huge debt and deficit America has.

There is capitalist enterprise in those nations, but their tax rate and how they choose to spend their taxes to benefit their own citizens is different.

Those nations are also, or at least were, fairly homogeneous. We’re trying some weird extrovert here these days. So far it’s not really working.

 

[George Hatch]

The people in the cradle to grave countries are the healthiest and happiest in the world , and enjoy the longest life spans. Their nations have far lower addiction, incarceration, homelesness and homicide rates than America. They also do not have the huge debt and deficit America has.

There is capitalist enterprise in those nations, but their tax rate and how they choose to spend their taxes to benefit their own citizens is different.

What's fun about our political system is that we can carry on without missing a beat if different communities choose to create their own communes and live to the socialist values they espouse. Vermont or Massachusetts could go socialist and operate at those values. Nobody outside of that state would notice. Or care. They can murder babies (thx, SCOTUS for acknowledging their states rights) , they can give free 3bd/2ba homes to the homeless, they could run UBI programs at the livable wage, they could decriminalize crimes against property or low level assaults, they could cut their convicts loose "out of compassion". They can have anything they want if they're willing to pay for it.

So there's your exit ramp from the situation where most normal people prioritize the well being of their own households ahead of their "social obligations" to strangers. Move to Vermont and foment their conversion to Euro-style socialism. I'm sure the vacancy you leave in FL will be filled before you unpack in your new destination.