Republicans and Democrats contribute equally to the nation's fiscal crisis via different tactics. Republicans gut the IRS and cut taxes while Democrats expand spending. Both actions are popular with their respective bases and donors but push the country closer to bankruptcy.

To prevent political stalemates from causing prolonged government shutdowns, a mechanism could automatically reopen government after a set period. This 'dead hand switch' would trigger pre-agreed, across-the-board budget cuts, forcing politicians to negotiate in good faith to avoid an automated outcome that neither side fully controls.

Despite growing talk of "national divorce," the idea of a state peacefully seceding is highly unrealistic. The federal government would almost certainly not allow it and would likely resort to military intervention to maintain the union, rendering the scenario a fantasy.

A political party might intentionally trigger a government shutdown not to win policy concessions, but to create a public narrative of a dysfunctional opposition. The true victory isn't legislative but reputational, aiming to sway voters in upcoming elections by making the ruling party look incompetent.

Much of government functions on decorum and unwritten rules. When political actors attack these norms—like challenging procedural traditions—it creates a cycle of retribution that destabilizes the entire system more profoundly than any single illegal act could.

With a September 30th budget deadline looming, the government needs Democratic votes to avoid a shutdown. Democrats are leveraging this necessity by demanding a rollback of Republican healthcare cuts as the price for their cooperation, showcasing a hardball negotiation tactic in a divided government.

Unlike most countries that fund legislation upon passing it, the U.S. Congress passes laws first and separately debates funding later. This fundamental disconnect between approving work and approving payment is a structural flaw that repeatedly manufactures fiscal crises and government shutdowns.

Historically, countries crossing a 130% debt-to-GDP ratio experience revolution or collapse. As the U.S. approaches this threshold (currently 122%), its massive debt forces zero-sum political fights over a shrinking pie, directly fueling the social unrest and polarization seen today.

The gutting of the IRS is not an ideological choice but a symptom of a fiscal crisis. With unmanageable debt, politicians cannibalize institutions for short-term electoral gain, as traditional tax enforcement can no longer solve the core problem.