Is it possible to get Americans to do difficult things?

[Marener]

The work requirement does not add a dime. Even you cult projects it will end up with 100s of billions in savings over ten years.

The work requirement barely blunts the massive debt added by the bill as a whole.

It’s not an attempt to get the debt under control.

 

[Robert W]

The further we get away from demanding collaboration and innovation, and from holding our "leaders" to real standards and accountability, the worse this gets. We can't fix anything right now.

Three Stable Geniuses promised to fix all of this. Clinton failed, Obama failed and Biden failed.

 

[MarathonMike]

Americans took an experimental gene therapy shot.

That did not seem difficult.

People took THE TRUMP SHOT despite it not being SAFE NOR EFFECTIVE.

Everyone who got the TRUMP SHOT STILL GOT AND SPREAD COVID.

What does this swipe at Trump have to do with the discussion?

 

[blackhawk]

One step would have to be people having to admit their side is not perfect and admit they having lying corrupt self serving assholes on their side as well. When people talk about accountability it’s only about holding those don’t support accountable never those they do people should start here if their really serious about this.

 

[ColonelAngus]

What does this swipe at Trump have to do with the discussion?

Swipe at Trump?

How do you figure?

Commies called it THE TRUMP SHOT AND SAID THEY WOULD NEVER GET IT.

Then Biden won and they loved the SAME SHOT.

NOT DIFFICULT TO GET AMERICANS TO DO THINGS.

 

[Rawley]

The work requirement barely blunts the massive debt added by the bill as a whole.

It’s not an attempt to get the debt under control.

Just giving Bergie a stark example where your cult will never be able to compromise with rational adults.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Fixing the Social Security "donut hole"—the gap where earnings above a certain cap (\(\$184,500\) in 2026) are not taxed, while lower incomes are—is primarily proposed by reintroducing taxes on high earners. The most popular proposal involves applying the 6.2% payroll tax to earnings above \(\$400,000\), which could eliminate roughly 61%–66% of the long-range funding shortfall. [1, 2, 3]

If a woman makes $369,000 a year, and now pays twice as much Social Security tax, she should earn twice the benefit she is currently entitled to receive. How does that fix the shortfall?

 

[Marener]

Just giving Bergie a stark example where your cult will never be able to compromise with rational adults.

If you want to act like a rational adult, you don’t claim that you’re trying to manage the debt with a bill that adds trillions to it.

It’s not a serious negotiation.

 

[sparky]

One thing is clear. The DC tradition of finger pointing, accusing the other side of being the problem, isn't going to solve anything. So do Americans have the capacity to insist their elected representatives work together on the problem. Or has political division doomed us to the inevitability of further decline?

~S~

 

[Rawley]

If you want to act like a rational adult, you don’t claim that you’re trying to manage the debt with a bill that adds trillions to it.

It’s not a serious negotiation.

Never said that the work requirement for Medicaid is going to manage the debt

 

[Marener]

Never said that the work requirement for Medicaid is going to manage the debt

Splitting hairs.

This is one attempt at getting our debt under control.

It’s absurd to claim you’re attempting to get our debt under control by passing the OBBBA.

 

[Rawley]

Splitting hairs.

Words matter. Well, at least to some of us

It’s absurd to claim you’re attempting to get our debt under control by passing the OBBBA.

A claim could probably be made. But not the one I was making.

 

[Marener]

Words matter. Well, at least to some of us

Distinction without a difference.

A claim could probably be made. But not the one I was making.

Republicans have not attempted to get our debt under control. It’s an absurdity.

 

[Independent thinker]

I don't mean difficult in the way of national achievements like the moon landing. I mean something more substantive than that. If we unite behind a common purpose I still believe, despite some evidence to the contrary, we are capable of great things. More than just technological advancements. Things in need of being done to strengthen the country.

The capability isn't the obstacle, it's the uniting part. For example, we've known for some time the Social Security Fund needs to be bolstered. A number of solutions have been floated including this one.

AI Overview

Fixing the Social Security "donut hole"—the gap where earnings above a certain cap (\(\$184,500\) in 2026) are not taxed, while lower incomes are—is primarily proposed by reintroducing taxes on high earners. The most popular proposal involves applying the 6.2% payroll tax to earnings above \(\$400,000\), which could eliminate roughly 61%–66% of the long-range funding shortfall. [1, 2, 3]
Yet nothing gets done. It's only on the periphery of the national conversations we are having. The SS Fund being an aspect of a larger issue, the national debt. A daunting problem in need of shared sacrifice, cooperation, compromise, all the things that have become victims of partisan politics.

As U.S. Debt Hits a Worrying Milestone, Washington Barely Notices​

The U.S. government learned last week that it may have reached an unfortunate milestone: The size of its debt surpassed the nation’s total economic output.

It was a striking imbalance, according to early estimates, one that the country has experienced only in rare circumstances — briefly during the pandemic, and in the aftermath of World War II. But the development barely seemed to register in the nation’s capital, where few policymakers bothered to acknowledge the latest warning sign about the government’s poor fiscal health.

The root of the problem is well-documented and widely known. U.S. debt has soared in recent years because of a mismatch between federal spending and tax revenue, one complicated by a rapidly aging population, which has driven up costs across government.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/business/us-debt-trump-policies-budget.html

One thing is clear. The DC tradition of finger pointing, accusing the other side of being the problem, isn't going to solve anything. So do Americans have the capacity to insist their elected representatives work together on the problem. Or has political division doomed us to the inevitability of further decline?

I don't think it's possible for you to be cured of your daily TDS symptoms.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

We have people who are extremely dedicated to working toward a better society.

We also have lots of nutjobs impeding progress because of not enough of [insert ethnicity here] working in technological fields or excel in school. Therefore, the country must dumb down everyone to make those with very little representation in technological fields feel better. These nutjobs are Democrats.

The fact that you spin what I said into some partisan issue is quite telling of where you stand.

 

[Dekster]

The solution to SS is not to raise the cap because then we will have to raise payouts. It is to raise the employer/employee contribution rates.

 

[Dragonlady]

How would we exercise this 'gumption and bravery'? All these phrases sound good but what would ordinary Americans do to get elected officials to work together?

Stop believing media and start fact checking everything.

Start holding politicians accountable. Stop re-electing pols who do nothing for the people, or who lie to you.

Like sane nations do.

 

[MarathonMike]

Stop believing media and start fact checking everything.

Start holding politicians accountable. Stop re-electing pols who do nothing for the people, or who lie to you.

Like sane nations do.

We'll see if Democrat voters who keep putting the same self-serving do nothing leaders in office take your advice.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

We'll see if Democrat voters who keep putting the same self-serving do nothing leaders in office take your advice.

that is different, Democrats are just looking out for the little guy, just ask them.