According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government will run a $693 billion deficit this year, an upward revision from $534 billion in March. Acting as if we have a gold-plated government credit card, we Americans buy more government services than we pay for. As my 2nd grade teacher might have put it, this shows a lack of self-control.

It’s worse than that. We even criticize elected officials who, in a moment of self-control frenzy, dare to challenge anyone who would cut spending on a favorite program.