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The bond market is screaming a warning that few want to hear. America's national debt has reached crisis levels, with interest rates pushing 6% as investors grow increasingly uncertain about our ability to repay our obligations. This isn't fearmongering—it's basic math that transcends political divides.
Currently, we're spending about 6% of our gross domestic product just to service our debt. As interest rates continue to climb, this figure will inevitably rise, crowding out essential government functions and eventually forcing draconian cuts that nobody is prepared to face. The time for honest conversation is now, before we reach the point of catastrophe.
We've been collectively lying to ourselves about entitlements like Social Security for generations. When established under Roosevelt, Social Security had 139 workers contributing for every one beneficiary. Today, that ratio has collapsed to just two workers per retiree. The math simply doesn't work, yet we cling to the comfortable fiction that we've "earned" these benefits through our contributions.
Solutions exist, but they demand political courage that seems in short supply. We need to return to pre-COVID spending levels across government programs, acknowledge that the top 20% of earners fund virtually all government operations, and consider monetizing federal assets in a responsible, regulated manner. Most importantly, we need to grow up as a nation and face uncomfortable truths with maturity.
As a practitioner of Stoic philosophy, I believe that life has no value without virtue, and there is no virtue in believing our own lies. Whether through Stoicism or religion, we need guiding principles that keep us honest with ourselves and others. Our elected officials must prioritize doing their jobs over keeping their jobs, and citizens must be willing to listen rather than plugging their ears to unpleasant realities.
America stands at a crossroads. We can continue down our current path of self-deception until crisis becomes catastrophe, or we can face facts with courage, moderation, and wisdom. The choice is ours, but time is running short.

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