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That's my message to Donald Trump. Most of us know that when you're living on a budget, you need to prioritize. You don't spend money on things that aren't necessary. Like that dress in the window? Sorry, rent's due. Gotta get food for the family. There's a doctor's appointment next week. The dress will have to wait.
Nationally, that ballroom would be spectacular and those bronze statues really should be gold. But the sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln need food. Hawaii and several other states had major floods and people need help. There are problems with food born illnesses that need attention. The war in Iran has depleted our weapons reserve. Maybe the ballroom and the statues should just be put on the wish list.
But Donald Trump is used to instant gratification. And so, the national debt has now reached over $40 trillion. That's trillion with a "T"! According to the US Treasury, the annual income of US is $5.26 Trillion - 7 times the national debt.
The first thing that second term President Trump did was give Elon Musk and his DOGE force permission to cut everything out of the government that was "wasteful." The problem was they didn't really understand what was wasteful and what was necessary. Personally we don't just say, "The heating bill is too high, I just won't pay it." Then winter comes and that doesn't seem like such a great idea. It isn't merely that necessities were cut to make room to splurge on niceties. The niceties were bought and cutting the necessities actually cost more than it saved.
So where is the money coming from to pay for all these "vanity projects"? The Republican controlled Congress proposed $1 billion for the ballroom. Funds originally appropriated for the Secret Service and the White House Military Office are being rerouted. Projects around DC have drawn on National Park Service funds. Former newsman Dan Rather reminded us that in 2016 Donald Trump promised to eliminate the national debt in eight years, heralding himself the "king of debt."
"This year, interest payments on the national debt will amount to more than $1 trillion…That is $1 trillion that cannot be spent on other things, including programs or tax cuts targeted to those most in need…any spending cuts are likely to fall most heavily on programs for the poor." (The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity)
Meanwhile, "We're replacing all of the grass that hasn't been replaced in the fields," said the president. "All the beautiful fields where the grass is. You know, grass is like humans: Uh, it has a life. This grass hasn't been changed in 100 years." Trump added he expects to replace 700 acres of grass with new grass. No word yet on the cost of this.
In our personal relationships, we may have a partner who would rein us in when we get carried away with our spending. In Trump's case that "partner" is supposed to be Congress. But Congress is too timid to say, "Maybe the grass can wait." The men and women we have elected to represent us in Congress don't have the courage to put a halt to the extravagance of a man who has never had to worry about where his next meal was coming from. Obviously their careers mean more to them than the people who sent them to Washington. Standing up to the President might mean that they will be challenged in a primary election; and if they aren't re-elected, they might not be able to get that cushy job as a lobbyist.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that Americans' credit card spending is "through the roof" like that was a good thing. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett added, "They're spending more on gasoline, but they're spending more on everything else, too." I don't think these men realize that people are doing this because they have no cash. According to Uscourts.gov, bankruptcy filings rose 12.2 percent during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2026.
So the heating bill hasn't been paid. It's still summer. But, to quote Game of Thrones, winter is coming. And I have a feeling it's gonna be a doozy!
Verna Caruso is a native of Muncy, who now resides in Williamsport. She is a former staff member at Inc. magazine and former Chair of the Lycoming County Democratic Committee.