Does USA Have a Debt Death Wish?

Letter to Romans: No matter how Trump’s State of the Union speech is viewed by admirers & haters, reality is the US is deeply divided & its debt is a staggering $39 Trillion. No one man can fix either flaw. It’ll also take an honest Congress & citizenry to kick their addictions.

Fox News’ pre-SOU address story fell into the usual trap of obviously noting how former White House speech writers from both parties say, “President Trump must decide whether to double down on the rally-style politics that powered his campaign or broaden his message to unify a divided country around his governing agenda.” I expected him to do both, but caution it’ll likely do little to change anyone’s embedded minds. This being the Lenten & Passover season for Christians & Jews, it inspires one’s recalling the slang term popular in Palestine during Jesus Christ’s time on earth, “Amé-Haaretz.” Translated, it meant “blockhead” or “stupid” person. It’s those intractable folks who, regardless of Jesus’ miracles & uplifting message, crucified Him. And, regardless of Trump’s speech, it’s those intractable voters & politicians still among us who are going to keep this nation’s House Divided and, therefore, keep the national debt climbing.

It's apparently too simple for too many to see: You cannot get out of this indebtedness mess by just taxing citizens to death as the Democrats insist, nor can you grow the economy faster than Uncle Sam’s credit card bill, as the Republicans keep suggesting, at least, so long as the nation’s addiction to spending isn’t overcome. As the Fox op ed by Ted Jenkin recently warned, “Every four years, Americans fall in love with a fantasy. A new president will change the federal deficit.” The problem is, as his headline spilled his conclusion, that America has a very expensive promises problem." In short, "nobody wants to sacrifice anything” until the net interest payments on the debt alone "officially exceed our annual defense budget."

Davd Soul