We’ve all seen what happens when a family lives beyond its means. The credit cards pile up, interest payments eat away at income, and eventually you hit a wall. Bankruptcy doesn’t happen all at once — it’s a slow slide brought on by bad habits, ignored warnings, and denial.
Now look at Washington. The same pattern, only with bigger numbers and less accountability.
A Country Living on Credit
The United States government now carries a debt north of $35 trillion. Every year, we spend more than we take in and to make up the difference we borrow. The interest payments alone are climbing toward $1 trillion a year, now one of the largest line items in the entire federal budget. That’s money we could be using for schools, roads, healthcare, or defense, instead it goes to bondholders just so we can keep the lights on.
We tell ourselves it’s fine because “the U.S. can print money” or “we’ll grow our way out of it.” That’s wishful thinking. No family, no business, and no country can outrun compound interest forever.
Who Pays the Bill?
We don’t like to admit it, but the real losers in this game are our children and grandchildren. Every dollar the government borrows today will either be paid back by higher taxes, reduced benefits, or a weaker dollar tomorrow.
When you think of it that way, the national debt is just a slow-motion tax increase — one we’re handing to people who can’t yet vote.
If you have grandkids like I do, this should make your blood boil. We’re saddling them with the bill for our generation’s inability to say “no.”
Why Congress Can’t Stop Spending
It’s not complicated. Congress can’t stop spending for the same reason most people can’t stop swiping the credit card:
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Short-term rewards. Politicians get re-elected for bringing home the bacon, not for tightening belts. The pain of discipline comes later, usually after they’ve retired with a pension.
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Voter denial. Voters want government services, but don’t want to pay for them. Every party promises both: “more benefits, lower taxes.” The math doesn’t work, but it wins elections.
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Mandatory spending. Roughly two-thirds of the federal budget is on autopilot — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and interest. Congress could shut down tomorrow and the debt would still grow.
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Partisan gridlock. Real reform means compromise, and Washington doesn’t do compromise anymore.
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Lobbyists and special interests. Every dollar spent has a beneficiary who fights like hell to keep it. There’s no lobby for restraint.
The Fallout We’re Ignoring
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Rising interest rates mean our debt costs more each year eating up funds that should go to investments in the future.
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Inflation becomes a temptation: print more money to pay the bills. That’s a hidden tax on everyone, especially retirees and savers.
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National weakness follows economic weakness. A country drowning in debt has less leverage in the world and fewer options when a crisis hits.
History has shown this over and over. Rome, Spain, Britain, every great power that overspent eventually lost its footing. The U.S. is not immune.
Bring Back Common Sense
Common sense says you don’t borrow money you can’t repay. You don’t spend what you don’t have. You don’t pass your bills down to your kids and call it compassion.
If Congress won’t act like adults, it’s up to voters to make them. Demand balanced budgets. Demand honesty. Stop rewarding empty promises and start rewarding responsibility.
Because if we don’t bring back common sense soon, our children and grandchildren will pay for our arrogance in higher taxes, a weaker economy, and a future they didn’t choose.
Call to Action
Write your representatives. Ask them one simple question:
“When will you stop spending money we don’t have?”
If they can’t answer it honestly, maybe it’s time we elect people who can.
