Economically that could work. Except for the coming resource and energy shortages.

Unfortunately, if you look at communities where this is already done (any community with a very high welfare rate, such as native reservations), the social problems that it causes are hard to overlook.

Ultimately people need meaning in their lives and getting everything for free doesn't fill that. They need to do meaningful work.

The middle class is the working and taxpaying class. Losing the middle class leaves a few rich people and a lot of desparate poor.

They'll probably want to go to war with Turkey for stealing their ideas.

By who? Both parties are perfectly happy with the power trip.

Canada as well.

I see that claim all the time, that healthier food is more expensive, but you know, it's just not true. Healthy food is actually pretty cheap, certainly when compared to any fast food or factory packaged crap. I guess if you only eat potato chips, then maybe.

It takes time and effort to prepare and doesn't taste as good as junk food, though. And that's why people eat the crap.

Yeah right. Arrest a cop. Get shot by 40 other cops 8 seconds later. Good luck with that.

As I understand it, between 400 and 900 AD Scotland was invaded and largely conquered by invaders from Ireland. The Picts were largely annihilated or absorbed. So really the "Scots" the Romans new didn't get civilized, they got wiped out.

Even the malnourished helots would put 95% of Americans to shame. Spartan citizens themselves would be like professional athletes (albeit with much worse health care).

You're already paying for that. You don't think it really costs thousands of dollars a day to stay in a hospital, do you? Of course not. Your insurance pays that so that the hospital can afford to treat everyone without insurance who walks in the door, which they are forced to do by the government.

The GM bondholder screwover and the lack of any action on the MF Global / JP Morgan grand theft of over a billion dollars says yes. This government does not value any private property rights unless you are big campaign contributor. And then they act surprised when no one wants to invest in the US.

This could work well in conjunction with electrified rail, where most of the power comes from external facilities. Regenerative braking also helps.

Watching Honey Boo Boo.

There was no Canada, per se, at the time. You started the war. Yes the Brits burned the white house. Good times.

Doubt it. The same assholes that cause all the problems won't have any problem driving without a license.