The $40 Trillion Price of Staying in Power

So the national debt has hit $40 trillion.

$40 trillion is $117,000 for every American, every man, woman, and child.

And that's the bill already on the table.

This isn't the kind of problem that pops up in one day.

It takes decades.

It doesn't just flare up when the wrong party is in power and then go away when the right party wins.

It's the result of both parties working together over generations.

Now, from the public's point of view, we call this dysfunction.

But is it dysfunction from the point of view of Congress itself? I mean, if the goal of politicians is to win power and keep it forever, enriching themselves in the process, maybe the system is functioning just fine in their view.

After all, they haven't made any moves to change it.

Think about this.

The election rules are engineered to protect incumbents.

A 90% plus re-election rate is evidence that that it's very easy for a politician to stay on board the gravy train if they just play by the rules.

And rule number one is, you vote for my spending, and I'll vote for yours.

We see polarization on many social issues, and even in spending, there's issues which we see Republicans and Democrats spar.

But this is only on the surface of the water.

Beneath the sparring, there is deep, deep agreement.

By far, most politicians vote for most spending year in and year out, even as they lambast the other team.

They are rewarded for this by the support of the constituent interests that they require to win yet another election.

With a re-election rate well over 90%, and often close to 100%, if retention of power is the goal, this system isn't dysfunctional.

It's functioning nearly perfectly, almost 100% of the time.

Now, what if a career politician who has benefited from this system has a crisis of conscience? What would happen? Well, first, unless said Congress members in leadership, it wouldn't make much difference.

And keep in mind that congressional leadership, the ones who decide what gets voted on, have earned their position through tenure.

That is, they are the chief beneficiaries of the system.

Change is highly unlikely.

So the national debt has hit $40 trillion.

$40 trillion is $117,000 for every American, every man, woman, and child.

And that's the bill already on the table.

This isn't the kind of problem that pops up in one day.

It takes decades.

It doesn't just flare up when the wrong party is in power and then go away when the right party wins.

It's the result of both parties working together over generations.

Now, from the public's point of view, we call this dysfunction.

But is it dysfunction from the point of view of Congress itself? I mean, if the goal of politicians is to win power and keep it forever, enriching themselves in the process, maybe the system is functioning just fine in their view.

After all, they haven't made any moves to change it.

Think about this.

The election rules are engineered to protect incumbents.

A 90% plus re-election rate is evidence that that it's very easy for a politician to stay on board the gravy train if they just play by the rules.

And rule number one is, you vote for my spending, and I'll vote for yours.

We see polarization on many social issues, and even in spending, there's issues which we see Republicans and Democrats spar.

But this is only on the surface of the water.

Beneath the sparring, there is deep, deep agreement.

By far, most politicians vote for most spending year in and year out, even as they lambast the other team.

They are rewarded for this by the support of the constituent interests that they require to win yet another election.

With a re-election rate well over 90%, and often close to 100%, if retention of power is the goal, this system isn't dysfunctional.

It's functioning nearly perfectly, almost 100% of the time.

Now, what if a career politician who has benefited from this system has a crisis of conscience? What would happen? Well, first, unless said Congress members in leadership, it wouldn't make much difference.

And keep in mind that congressional leadership, the ones who decide what gets voted on, have earned their position through tenure.

That is, they are the chief beneficiaries of the system.

Change is highly unlikely.