this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2025
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There is a lot in this comment, and unfortunately Lemmy is not the greatest forum for in-depth, point-by-point debate; but I did want to at least let you know that I read it all and appreciate you taking the time to write a thoughtful post, even if I don't fully agree.
I do want to address this specifically though:
A credit score is not, and should be construed as, a measure of responsibility (I see this line of thought a lot!) It's simply a measure of how risky it is to loan you money based on your established history of being loaned money. (You and I would probably fully agree about it being inappropriate for credit scores to be used for anything outside that scope, however!)
Fundamentally, credit is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used wisely to your benefit, or carelessly to your detriment. If you treat a credit card as though your credit line is money you did not otherwise have, then yeah you are not going to have a good time (well, not financially at least). If you treat it as a layer of insulation between your bank account and the rest of the world, well the consumer protection benefits of a credit card versus a debit card are a no-brainer. That includes things like theft, as well as an emergency expense that may take you a few days or weeks to arrange cash to fund.
Calling credit card use "going into debt" feels similar to saying that wearing a seatbelt is "tethering yourself down". Maybe literally true in some sense, but also part of responsible daily life in another sense. I mean, if I pay for my electricity bill with a credit card, surely you wouldn't tell me I was going into debt to keep my lights on?
I actually do use a local credit union for my checking and basic banking needs. They are pretty good for things like auto loans. Funnily enough though, they were my first stop when mortgage shopping, and not only were they offering over a point above market interest rates, it felt like I was the first person in a decade who had tried to apply for a mortgage with them, and they weren't sure what to do with me. So yeah, banking locally can have its perks, but it can also be hit or miss in my experience--definitely not a panacea and did not give me confidence in using them for major transactions.
I hear you that you don't want a full point by point debate, so I'll just respond as succinctly as I can.
I... guess we agree on that last sentence, but you have to know that credit scores are routinely used for all sorts of things other than lending people money, that an entire data economy exists around this.
Most notably, in country where fewer and fewer people have no option but to rent a living space... If your credit score sucks, you don't get to live anywhere.
Companies soft pull your credit score before they decide to interviee or hire you.
Credit scores just are the social credit score all the rightwingers in the US are terrified of China for having, but they're controlled by corporations instead.
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Two different, domain specific meanings.
I am focusing on the most literal and technically accurate one.
You are focusing on the colloquial one, which implies an onerous quantity of debt.
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As to credit unions being imperfect... yep.
They're not as competetive in many ways, because they do not have an exceptionally wide array of accounts to spread risk over... they are in my view, more representative of realistic local credit conditions.
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In general, you ignored my broader, main point of a totally financialized economy leading to a less equitable society... so... yeah.
Credit isn't a tool you can voluntarily use or not use or use in a different way.
You have direct control over a hammer. You do not have direct control over your credit report and score, it is abstracted, obfuscated behind layers of bureacracy.
You also have no choice but to use it, if you want to be an independent adult.
Its easier to live in the US without a car than without a credit score/history.
It is not optional if you want to participate in normal society.
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Welp, I did try to be succinct. I did not do a very good job, apologies for that, lol.