re: Instead of Socialism, how about a well funded Democracy?

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Better Social Security solvency

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Who wants to tell him?

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You ready to give up your Social Security when available or give up your Medicare when available?

When Social Security was debated in 1935 critics said it would expand government power, discourage individual responsibility and move the country to a European style welfare state.

It was even worse with Medicare. The American Medical Association organized a major opposition effort known as Operation Coffee Cup and it was seen as a step toward socialized medicine.

But we all depend on it today. It’s not seen as Socialism today.

The answer is never giving more people free shite. We need fewer social safetynet programs and more individual accountability. We need to bring back shaming those that live on welfare when they are perfectly capable of working. SNAP should be limited to basic food items, nothing ready-made like frozen dinners or similar items, and only enough to prevent malnutrition.

Your post is pretty good and you make some solid points until you get to this part:

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That could have financed substantially more of the following:

Universal or near-universal healthcare coverage.
Better Social Security solvency.
More affordable college and vocational education.
Paid family leave and childcare assistance.
Improved infrastructure.
Stronger poverty and disability programs.
Lower taxes for working- and middle-class households.

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Out of that list, the federal government should only be involved in "Improved infrastructure" as directly related to interstate commerce, and "lower taxes" (across the board - not just for working and middle class Americans). All the other things listed are every bit as wasteful as the items in the points you made before that.

Universal or near-universal healthcare coverage - Not a constitutionally authorized government expenditure

Better Social Security solvency - needs to be revamped and funds invested and made off-limits to congress for borrowing for any other program

More affordable college and vocational education - not a constitutionally authorized government expenditure. It has already led to nearly insufferable increases in tuition and the creation of completely worthless courses of study with degrees that provide no value to anyone.

Paid family leave and childcare assistance - again, not a constitutionally authorized government expenditure.

Improved infrastructure - insofar as it is directly related to our roads and highways, postal services, and the improvement and support of interstate commerce, this is a rare good thing.

Stronger poverty and disability programs - And again... Not a constitutionally authorized federal expenditure. This has led to all kinds of issues related to single parent families, generational government support, generational poverty, and inequality based upon racial lines.

Lower taxes for working- and middle-class households - This should be the goal for ALL Americans who earn income, not only working class wage earners and middle class income households. I'm far from wealthy, but I don't eye those who are wealthy (be it by their own hard work, investments, or inheritance) with an evil, envious eye. It's not my money, it's theirs. They should not be taxed at a higher rated than anyone else.

With all that said, I still think you are 100% correct on the front end of your post.

Our States are where democracy has it roots. Popular vote for Senators should be abolished by Amendment.