Biggest Threat to America

Understanding the Factors Endangering the United States

So, what do you think is the biggest threat to this country? You might say division, and that is a significant problem. I did a couple of shows on it. You can check them out: "America's Next Civil War" and "Why is America So Divided?" These are two shows you can refer to for more information about that. However, the division is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. Yes, it's a real problem, and I discuss that in those shows, but it doesn't answer the question of what the biggest threat to this country is. The political division, racial division, and the division between economic classes aren't the core problems. They are symptoms of the problem.

Here are the biggest threats as I see them, and I know I'm not alone. The debt, corruption, both public and private, and the political lobby of public worker unions. However, nobody's really talking about these core problems. Maybe because they're not exciting enough, like this Jerry Springer show era of American politics we're living in.

The debt problem is immense and it somewhat fuels the other two issues. They are interconnected. I believe if we could resolve one, the others would also be rectified. The debt has evolved into modern-day indentured servitude, corruption is so severe that our government barely reflects the will of the people, and public worker unions have purchased the politicians' influence. It's jeopardizing the future of this country.

How can we expect young people to be enthusiastic about this country when everything appears to be a lie and, even if they overcome that, they're set to inherit a mountain of debt with nothing to show for it? How can anyone feel positive about a country where it seems like everyone despises each other?

I must begin with the debt because it's undoubtedly the most significant issue, and if we resolved the debt problem, the other two would likely disappear.

Let me give you a simple example. Do you or anyone you know believe that this year-over-year debt is beneficial? I'm 46 years old and the debt has been increasing every single year of my adult life. How is that sustainable? Where does it end? You don't need to be a mathematician to understand the severity of this issue. Any ordinary person can see this can only lead to disaster.

Have you ever talked to anyone, a single person who thinks all this debt is a good thing? No, not one. Because even the most common, basic thinking person can see this is a problem.

So how is it then that our government represents the will of the people? How is it if nobody in the population agrees with continuing to run up debt, nobody wants it and yet it continues. It goes on and on despite the fact the population is against it. How do you explain that?

But, they do a good job of concealing it, don't they? It's hardly even talked about. Let me give it to you real simple. The national debt is over 67k for every man, woman, and child in the country. So for a family of four, that's over 250k owed. And there's not one single person saying this is good. Just the opposite, dire warnings from economists. Heck, China has a debt that is a fraction, a tiny fraction of ours and there were warnings that they were taking on too much.

And that's just the federal debt. Most of the states are bankrupt and plenty of cities too. People criticize Puerto Rico, how about New York?

New York state-funded debt is projected to grow to $63.7 billion within months. That works out to more than $3,100 per person in New York, or three times the median for all states. Puerto Rico has a debt of $70 billion or $12,000 per person. Those debts are on top of the 67k per person in federal debt.

I could go on and on. It doesn't matter where you live. Debt, debt, debt. The whole country is bankrupt and nobody talks about it. How are we supposed to be free with all that debt that nobody wants? Don't you think that causes other problems?

Look, I'm not an economist, I'm just a simple guy but look at what debt does to a family. No vacations, running up credit card debt, more debt to pay for emergencies because there's no cash to pay for it. And stress. Lots of stress in fact, financial arguments are the number one cause of divorce.

Think about it. You probably know someone deep in debt. Look at all the problems it creates. It sucks away your soul, especially if you have kids to whom you're constantly saying no, or wondering how you're going to pay next month's bills.

Now, take a look at what's going on in this country. People are talking about a civil war. Why? What's creating all this division? What logical explanation is there? All this arguing and bickering. No wonder.

Do you think there's any chance that the real cause of all this stupid fighting, petty arguments, and scandals are really the result of a different problem?

The government has become like a drug-addicted spouse. You can't believe anything they say, and you better check your wallet because every time you turn around, there's money missing. Just like a drug addict, lying and creating fake arguments to disguise the out-of-control spending.

And that’s one problem. Considering what I said earlier about all this debt not being the will of the people, you have to ask why. Why is this happening? Why is it that EVERYONE agrees this is a problem and yet it continues year after year after year.

Well, how about all the corruption and the political influence of the public workers' unions? You don't hear a peep about this either, do you? You might even be thinking, "Here goes Chris on another cockamamie rant again. Good old Chris has fallen off his rocker." Is that right? Let me give you a few numbers to chew on…

Bernie Sanders made a million dollars last year off a supposed book deal. Oh, I'm not doubting there was a book DEAL. I'm just wondering where this literary masterpiece is and who bought all these books. Did you know bad hair Bernie wrote a book? Have you ever seen it? Yeah, me either. But, he made a million bucks off it.

Don't worry, I'm not picking on Democrats here. Let's talk about my fellow veteran and poster child of political corruption, John McCain. Good old John, best friends with Chuck Schumer. How's that?

Well, John McCain had a net worth of a cool $21 million dollars. Isn't that something? Here's a guy who served in the Navy for 22 years (admirable), then he was elected to Congress in 1982. Good for him. $21 million dollars, maybe it's time to go. It doesn't end there, Biden appointed McCain's wife to some oversight post. To ensure there's accountability in government spending. Apparently accounted right into her bank account.

Let's see how Michelle Obama's doing. She's worth $11.8 million. So how did the former first lady accumulate her net worth? Steadily and slowly. The Obamas have always pooled their earnings and say they have poured thousands of dollars into “boring investments,” such as index funds, U.S. Treasury notes, and U.S. Treasury bills. Well, isn't that quite amazing. Either that or a line of crap. I need to talk to a financial adviser. Either that or I'm just stupid.

Let's look at another stellar crook, I mean politician. Good ol' Mitch McConnell. McConnell is a 30-year veteran of the Senate, since 1985. A senator earned $75,100 in 1985, and it has risen to $174,000 as of 2009. Ok, fair enough. He donates as much as $5,100 a year to an undisclosed charity because he does not want to accept the federal contribution to his health premiums associated with the Affordable Care Act. Isn't that just peachy?

McConnell’s net worth is $22.8 million, well above the Senate average. Oddly, however, before 2008 McConnell was well below the Senate average. In 2004, his net worth was $3.1 million. So in 13 years, on a salary of $175k, he made 18 million bucks. Let me guess “boring investments,” such as index funds, U.S. Treasury notes, and U.S. Treasury bills?

Well, not quite. His financial disclosure form tells the story—suddenly there appeared a tax-exempt money market fund, valued at between $5 million and $25 million, listed as a “gift from a filer’s relative.”

Do you want me to go on? Have you ever wondered why politicians fight to the death to keep a $175 thousand dollar a year job? Of course, you'd want to keep these jobs with all these lucrative book deals, wealthy families, and smart investing going on. Isn't it great that we have these geniuses to lead us?

What do you think is really going on? You put 2 and 2 together.

There's no integrity. That's really the core problem. That's how the public worker unions have been able to buy off so many politicians. How is it that government workers, workers with a guaranteed day off to vote, a union with a steady supply of political action money, are able to give that money to the campaigns of the people that are supposed to be negotiating their contracts on our behalf? Go listen to the show I did on public worker unions and you can hear all about this problem and how it's harming this country.

The public worker unions aren't the only ones. There's all kinds of money flowing into the politicians while the country goes bankrupt. And, nobody talks about these issues. Nobody says a word. Instead, all we hear about are the Russians and sex scandals.

The country's bankrupt, the middle class is dying, tons of young people are asking themselves if socialism would be a better choice and Bernie Sanders comes out with 2 words to fix the whole thing. FREE COLLEGE, FREE COLLEGE. And, millions of people line up! They line up for a lie! What's free about this program, NOTHING. Where's the money come from? I don't know. Who cares if it's free, it's for me, roll the presses!

Okay, that's enough. If you don't get the point by now I'm not going to convince you. I said I would offer some simple solutions, here it is. One simple plan.

1. Balance the budget immediately. Don't believe the nonsense; it's not that hard.

2. Amortize the debt over, say, 50 years and pay it off. Simple as that.

With these two steps, the debt problem is gone. I know the super smart, super rich politicians would say, "Oh, you just don't understand. It's more complicated than that." What would be the story you tell me? Here, I'll give the political answers right now.

• It would only benefit the rich.

• It would kill growth and jobs.

• People would be starving, etc.

Here's what I say:

1. End corruption - implement term limits.

2. Full 100% disclosure on all financial assets gained while in office with clear and strict rules, as well as oversight with CRIMINAL penalties. Corruption solved.

3. STOP the political influence of government worker unions. This one is just too easy. Make political campaign contributions by government worker unions illegal. Make political activities by union employees on work time illegal and make election day on a Saturday so the rest of us can easily vote too.
   

I know I'm a freaking genius. But, you know what, I don't know if we'll ever see it in my lifetime. Why? Because people aren't mad enough. People aren't hungry. When people can't feed themselves, when their kids are hungry, like in Venezuela, and don't think it can't happen here, maybe then people will see the truth. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Get real time updates on the national debt here: https://www.usdebtclock.org/