There is no shortage of speeches about the national debt. Every election cycle, politicians warn that America is spending too much, borrowing too much, and leaving problems for future generations. Then something predictable happens. The moment a party gains power, deficit concerns often become secondary to tax cuts, new spending,
The United States is approaching a moment where the national conversation can no longer revolve around slogans, outrage, or the fantasy that someone else will absorb all the costs. The fiscal problem is now too large, too structural, and too deeply embedded in the system for that. At some point,
Spend a few minutes reading the comments under almost any article about the national debt, taxes, inflation, government spending, or politics and you’ll see the same reactions over and over again. “It’s all the Democrats’ fault.” “No, Republicans caused this.” “Just tax billionaires.” “Cut all the waste.” “Vote them all
Long-term thinking about government spending requires more than good intentions. It requires understanding the incentives built into the system itself. One of the clearest ways to see those incentives comes from Milton Friedman, who described four basic ways money gets spent. The framework is simple, but it explains a great
Most conversations about the deficit go straight to solutions. Cut this. Tax that. Eliminate waste. Everyone has a view on what should happen. Before getting into specific policies, it is worth stepping back and establishing a few first principles that any serious deficit reduction plan must follow. That is the
The Daily Flood of Urgency Modern politics is engineered to feel urgent all the time. A controversial quote, a viral clip, a misstep by a public figure, a procedural fight in Congress, a new poll showing a two-point swing: each arrives with the tone of something that demands immediate attention.
Most of the debate around deficits and debt happens at the surface—this program versus that tax, this year’s budget versus next year’s. Peter Senge built his career arguing that this is exactly why complex problems persist. His work focuses on systems thinking: the idea that outcomes are produced not by
This article is an attempt to think through the federal deficit in stages, starting with the relatively lower-pain options before moving into the more difficult structural choices. (See a different approach that still arrives at similar conclusions here). The first tier discussed below focuses on reforms that could plausibly reduce
What Earmarks and “Pork” Really Are Earmarks are specific spending items inserted into legislation to fund particular projects—often in a member of Congress’s district. A road expansion, a university research grant, or a flood control system are typical examples. In recent years, they’ve been rebranded as “community project funding,” but
A lot of people look at capital gains taxes and assume there is meaningful money to be found. The intuition is understandable. Large fortunes, significant stock gains, valuable real estate—this feels like the place where the government could raise serious revenue. But the reality is more constrained. Even fairly aggressive
See how to get involved by clicking here, and/or join the Long Term America mailing list. Help build the public support needed for responsible leadership and a stronger future. One citizen has a voice. Thousands of us have influence.
Plus: When you join our mailing list below, you receive our free Quick-Read Email Course explaining America’s debt and deficit in plain English.
100% volunteer-led. Self-funded. Nonpartisan. No spam. No fundraising.
Most Recent Articles
Most Recent Articles
Thank you for connecting with us! Please check your email for a verification link. Sometimes this email ends up in the junk folder, so please check there if you do not see it in your inbox. Also, please make info@longtermamerica.com an approved email in your email system.
Meanwhile, please explore the articles on our site. Start by clicking the Insights link in the top navigation, and then explore our primers, options, and tools to think long-term. Enjoy!