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J. Livingston's avatar

Bears repeating - elections do have consequences. Especially for the younger future tax payers ,who really do need to understand what they are wittingly or unwittingly signing up for today. All future public debt commitments made today will land squarely in their laps, if they keep voting for more public debt which now outstrips projected revenues.

You well described the following unsettling facts:

"1. The constant demand for more government services,

2. the continued un-budgeted costs to fund foreign wars,

3. the continual rise of the federal workforce and its heavy burden, and

4. the uncontrolled influx of millions of illegal immigrants every year,

5. plus the steep build-up of debt throughout the economy are pressuring the limits of fiscal/financial equilibrium." (Hanley)

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Jeff barton's avatar

There has been a shift from people voting in accordance with a national interest to voting with a personal interest. If represented graphically it would look a lot like the graph of national debt. Whether it is a kushy do-nothing job in the "public sector" or some form of government cheese, voters are terrified of losing their free stuff. Politically, talk of fiscal responsibility is heard by voters as a threat to their free stuff. Of course there is no free stuff since all these schemes transfer wealth from those who create value through productive enterprise to those who do not. There is no doubt that the final chapter of this story is universal equality in poverty. To break any addiction requires an uncomfortable withdrawal. While the voters will unlikely vote for a diminution of benefits it could be imposed by the right leadership. While I have my doubts, I believe Donald Trump is our best hope to save this great nation from fiscal collapse. And like the addict who complains through the process, he will be thanked for the result.

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