Broke

1. Empires Collapse Internally Due to Debt and Decadence

If history teaches us one thing, it is this: Empires tend to crumble from the inside.

Internal decay. History shows that great civilizations, like Rome, Greece, and Spain, often fall not from external threats, but from internal weaknesses. Decadence, weariness, and irresponsibility erode the foundations of society.

• Rome's decline marked by overcentralized government, heavy taxes, bureaucracy.
• Greece succumbed to internal conflict and greed, turning to dictators during economic crisis.
• Spain's empire weakened by bloated bureaucracy, centralized power, and skyrocketing taxes leading to massive debt.

Economic laws. These collapses often follow predictable economic patterns. When expenses consistently exceed revenues over prolonged periods, repercussions are inevitable, regardless of temporary low interest rates or high credit ratings.

• Laws of economics always win, like gravity.
• Debt, deficits, unemployment are symptoms, not the disease.
• The disease is often progressive policies leading to overspending.

Warning signs. Common threads in collapsing empires include citizens shirking individual responsibility, expecting more from government, heavy taxation stifling initiative, and a decline in civic vitality.

• Overcentralization of power.
• Multiplication of unproductive services (bureaucracy, heavy military).
• Government handouts leading to apathy and dependence.

2. America's Founders Championed Frugality and Feared Public Debt

To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with public debt.

Debt as danger. The Founding Fathers viewed public debt as a grave threat to the new nation's independence and liberty. They understood that debt created dependence, especially on foreign powers.

• Jefferson called public debt "the greatest of dangers."
• Jay feared debt would tarnish America's reputation and lead to insolvency.
• Madison worried foreign powers would "buy out the Americans" through debt ownership.

Frugality as virtue. Thrift and saving were considered essential virtues, not just for individuals but for the government. They believed personal savings fostered personal liberty.

• "Thrift comes too late when you find it at the bottom of your purse." - Seneca
• "A wise and frugal government... shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned." - Jefferson
• Thrift was seen as a cornerstone of capitalism and individualism.

Limited exceptions. While generally opposed to debt, the Founders saw limited, necessary uses for it, primarily for financing wars and acquiring land. Even then, debt creation should be accompanied by a plan for extinguishment.

• Hamilton believed a national debt, "if it is not excessive," could be a "national blessing" by establishing creditworthiness.
• Washington urged using public credit "as sparingly as possible," avoiding debt accumulation in peacetime.
• The Louisiana Purchase was financed with bonds, demonstrating a strategic use of debt for expansion.

3. Progressivism Redefined Government's Role, Embracing Social Engineering

Society is a living organism and must obey the laws of Life . . . it must develop.

Evolution of government. Progressives, like Woodrow Wilson, rejected the Founders' view of limited government and a static Constitution. They saw government as a dynamic entity that should evolve to meet the changing needs of society.

• Wilson believed "Government does now whatever experience permits or the times demand."
• He mocked the "fourth of July sentiments" about inalienable rights.
• Progressives sought to interpret the Constitution according to "Darwinian principle."

Social Gospel. This movement blended Christian ideals with a belief that the state could and should be used to solve social problems and achieve a "Kingdom of God on earth."

• Washington Gladden called socialism "applied Christianity."
• Walter Rauschenbusch saw the Social Gospel as the "moral power in the propaganda of Socialism."
• Taxes were seen as a form of "tithing" to the state for social missions.

Redefining rights. Progressives introduced the concept of "positive rights" (entitlements to things like healthcare, housing, education) which require government provision, contrasting with the Founders' "natural rights" (life, liberty, property) which require government non-interference.

• FDR proposed a "Second Bill of Rights" including rights to a job, adequate income, healthcare, and education.
• These positive rights inherently infringe on natural rights by requiring wealth to be taken from some to be given to others.
• This shift moved America from a focus on individual liberty to collective outcomes.

4. Keynesian Economics Justified Spending and Dismissed Debt Concerns

The sheer illogic of Keynes’s economic “philosophy” is hard to capture in words.

Paradox of Thrift. John Maynard Keynes challenged traditional economic thinking by arguing that saving was detrimental to prosperity, especially during downturns. He promoted consumption as the primary driver of economic activity.

• Keynes argued that "thrift was not virtue... because it undermined prosperity."
• He believed "the sole... objective of all economic activity" was consumption.
• Popular textbooks began calling thrift a "social vice."

Debt doesn't matter. Keynes posited that a nation could spend its way to prosperity and that national debt was not a serious concern because a nation "can borrow from itself."

• He argued that the behavior that makes an individual poor (spending more than earned) could make a nation wealthy.
• This theory allowed politicians to justify spending sprees with a "clear conscience."
• Stuart Chase: "If the national debt is all internal... the nation can hardly go bankrupt."

Government intervention. Keynesian theory provided the intellectual justification for massive government spending and intervention in the economy, particularly during crises like the Great Depression.

• FDR's administration embraced Keynesian ideas to expand government programs.
• This view persists today, with economists advocating for stimulus spending during recessions.
• Critics like Ludwig von Mises called Keynesianism "the Santa Claus fable raised... to the dignity of an economic doctrine."

5. America's Debt Crisis Is Real, Massive, and Hidden by Accounting Gimmicks

The unvarnished truth is that we owe more money than all of the economies in the world produce over an entire year, combined.

Staggering scale. The national debt has grown to unprecedented levels, far exceeding the value of the entire global economy. This is a direct result of decades of chronic deficit spending.

• For 72 out of the last 100 years, the government spent more than it took in.
• Over the last 50 years, deficits occurred 88% of the time.
• Total U.S. debt (national, state/local, unfunded entitlements) is estimated at over $64 trillion.

Accounting tricks. The government uses misleading accounting practices and terminology to obscure the true scale of the debt and deficits.

• The "unified cash basis budget" doesn't fully account for long-term liabilities.
• "Off-budget" items like Social Security surpluses are used to mask the true deficit.
• Money borrowed from trust funds is double-counted as both an asset and available for future benefits.

Lack of transparency. Complex reporting and a lack of accountability prevent the public from understanding the nation's dire financial health.

• The annual Financial Report of the U.S. Government reveals the true state but receives little media coverage.
• Politicians use gimmicks like "Pay-Go" rules with waivers and declaring spending "emergencies" to bypass fiscal constraints.
• Unlike corporations, the government is not bound by standard GAAP accounting rules, allowing for manipulation.

6. Entitlement Programs Are the Primary Drivers of Unsustainable Spending

By putting two-thirds of all government spending on autopilot, where it can grow with no oversight, no constraints, and no limit, Congress has essentially lost control of its own budget.

Autopilot spending. Mandatory entitlement programs, primarily Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, operate on autopilot, growing automatically each year based on eligibility and benefit formulas, consuming an ever-larger portion of the budget.

• Mandatory spending now comprises two-thirds of the federal budget (including interest).
• This squeezes out discretionary spending, including national defense.
• This system is a form of "taxation without representation" for future generations.

Unfunded liabilities. These programs have massive unfunded liabilities, meaning promises have been made for future benefits without setting aside the necessary funds to pay for them.

• Medicare's financial difficulties are more severe than Social Security's due to rising healthcare costs.
• By 2052, federal tax revenue is projected to cover only Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, leaving nothing for other government functions or debt interest.
• State-run Medicaid programs also face massive unfunded pension liabilities, potentially requiring federal bailouts.

Political third rail. Despite the clear financial unsustainability, reforming entitlements is politically difficult due to powerful lobbying groups and the perception that benefits are "earned rights."

• Social Security was intentionally designed as a "welfare program disguised as a retirement program" to ensure its political survival.
• Medicare was pitched as economically responsible but quickly exceeded cost projections.
• Politicians often avoid discussing necessary reforms, kicking the problem to future generations.

7. Decentralizing Power to States and Individuals Is Essential for Liberty

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Federalism's design. The Founders established a system of federalism, dividing power between the federal and state governments, with residual powers reserved to the states or the people (Tenth Amendment). This was intended to prevent the concentration of power and protect liberty.

• States were meant to be "laboratories of democracy," free from excessive federal interference.
• This system allows for diversity and caters to local preferences.
• The structure was designed to be a "surest bulwark against antirepublican tendencies."

Centralization's cost. Over the last century, power has increasingly centralized in the federal government, leading to bureaucracy, inefficiency, and a loss of accountability.

• The number of federal regulators has more than tripled in 50 years.
• Federal aid programs often come with strings attached, giving Washington more control over state affairs.
• This centralization is a "lobbyist's dream," making it easier for special interests to influence policy at a single point.

Restoring balance. Returning power and responsibility to the states and individuals is crucial for restoring fiscal responsibility and individual liberty.

• Local control means costs are felt more immediately by taxpayers, leading to less waste.
• Competition among states allows citizens to "vote with their feet" for preferred policies and tax rates.
• States must assert their constitutional rights and resist federal overreach, even if it means turning down federal aid.

8. Structural Reforms Like Budget Amendments and Term Limits Are Necessary

I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government to the genuine principles of its constitution; I mean an article taking from the Federal government the power of borrowing.

Constitutional crisis. The nation faces a constitutional crisis because the government operates far outside the bounds envisioned by the Founders, particularly regarding spending and debt.

• Chronic deficits are seen as a "structural flaw in our fiscal politics" requiring "constitutional constraint."
• The original moral constraints against excessive spending are gone.
• The "living Constitution" interpretation allows judges to impose new rights and expand government power without the formal amendment process.

Balanced budget amendment. A constitutional amendment is needed to force the federal government to spend no more than it takes in, preventing future generations from being burdened by debt.

• This would require difficult choices regarding entitlement programs.
• It must include provisions to prevent loopholes and automatic cuts if targets are missed.
• This amendment has bipartisan appeal but faces resistance from career politicians.

Term limits. Limiting the terms of members of Congress would reduce the influence of special interests, decrease the focus on constant reelection campaigning, and encourage public service over careerism.

• Politicians currently prioritize fundraising and relationship building with lobbyists.
• Term limits would bring in people with real-world experience rather than career politicians.
• This reform faces strong opposition from incumbents.

9. Cutting Waste and Reforming Non-Essential Government Functions

There are literally hundreds of billions of dollars of items that can be cut before we ever even have to make an extremely difficult decision.

Just stop spending. The most immediate step is to halt unnecessary spending across the board, treating the fiscal crisis like a life-threatening disease requiring drastic measures.

• Current spending freezes are insufficient, applying only to a small portion of the budget.
• While painful in the short term, stopping spending is necessary to eradicate the disease of overspending.
• This requires embracing the "greater good" over individual program benefits.

Federal pay gap. Federal employee compensation significantly exceeds that of private-sector workers, creating an unnecessary burden on taxpayers and disincentivizing private-sector innovation.

• Average federal employee compensation is double that of private-sector workers.
• This disparity pulls talent away from productive private careers.
• Freezing federal pay or capping increases to match private sector growth could save billions.

Eliminate departments. Several cabinet-level departments and agencies operate outside the constitutional purview of the federal government and should be eliminated or their functions decentralized.

• The Department of Energy has shifted its mission from energy independence to climate change and corporate welfare.
• The Department of Education is unconstitutional and has failed to improve educational outcomes despite massive spending increases.
• These departments are often conduits for special interests and political favors.

10. Reforming Defense Spending Is Crucial for Fiscal and National Security

Our national debt is our biggest national security threat.

Debt as threat. Military leaders recognize that the nation's unsustainable debt is a significant threat to national security, potentially limiting resources for defense and eroding global influence.

• Admiral Mike Mullen stated the national debt is the biggest national security threat.
• Excessive expenditures can become the "chief menace to our national security."
• A large portion of U.S. debt is held by potential adversaries like China.

Waste and inefficiency. Despite a massive budget, the Pentagon is plagued by waste, corruption, and inefficient spending practices.

• The Pentagon's accounting system has been deemed "high-risk" for 15 years.
• Billions of dollars in transactions cannot be accounted for.
• The command structure is bloated compared to the size of the military.

Refining mission. Defense spending should align with a clear, limited constitutional mission of providing for the common defense, not nation-building or global crusades.

• John Quincy Adams: America "goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy."
• Nation-building operations account for a large portion of war costs but are often ineffective.
• The "Reagan Doctrine" of arming allies fighting common enemies is a more efficient approach.

11. The Tax System Should Be Simple, Fair, and Promote Economic Growth

Nothing reflects a nation more faithfully than its tax system.

Complexity and cost. The current tax system is overly complex, costly to comply with, and riddled with loopholes that primarily benefit the wealthy and special interests.

• The federal tax code is millions of words long.
• Compliance costs billions of hours and hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
• Loopholes incentivize tax avoidance over productive investment.

Progressive distortion. The progressive income tax system is used as a tool for wealth redistribution rather than efficient revenue generation, penalizing success and hindering wealth accumulation for the middle class.

• The wealthy already pay a disproportionate share of taxes, but the system allows them to shelter income.
• Higher rates incentivize shifting money to less productive tax shelters.
• Taxing corporations heavily leads to higher prices for consumers or job losses.

Flat tax solution. A flat income tax system would simplify the code, eliminate loopholes, treat all income equally, and incentivize economic growth and job creation.

• Everyone pays the same rate, but those with higher income pay more tax.
• Eliminates deductions, credits, and exemptions that benefit special interests.
• Frees up resources spent on tax avoidance for productive investment.

12. Restoring Faith and Virtue Is Fundamental to Restoring the Republic

Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.

Spiritual decline. America has increasingly turned away from God and faith, eroding the moral foundation necessary for a virtuous republic.

• The Founders believed religion was indispensable to maintaining republican institutions.
• A strong belief in a higher power acts as a natural check on human sinfulness and unconstrained capitalism.
• The "Moral Calculus": a republic requires virtue, which requires morality, which requires religion.

Social Gospel's distortion. The Social Gospel twisted Christian principles to justify state intervention and social engineering, leading to the belief that the state can usher in God's will.

• This elevates the state and politicians to a god-like status.
• It dilutes the true Christian message of individual responsibility and charity.
• This process leads to a loss of religious freedom as the state dictates morality.

Reaping consequences. Disobeying God's laws and neglecting the spiritual foundation of the nation leads to negative consequences, including economic decline and loss of liberty.

• History shows consistent punishment for nations turning away from God.
• America's economic decline parallels its spiritual decline.
• Reliance on big government grows alongside retreat from faith.

Last updated: June 18, 2025