We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act: Why Balanced Budget Amendments Always Fail
- Jeremy Black
- Dec 15, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act: Why Balanced Budget Amendments Fail
(And the One Rule That Actually Works)
Every few years, someone dusts off the “Balanced Budget Amendment” idea.
It sounds perfect: Force Congress to balance the budget like every American family does.
It polls at 80 %+.
Politicians love to campaign on it.
Yet in 240 years, zero national balanced budget amendments have passed, and the few state ones are riddled with loopholes that make them useless.
Why?
Because they’re designed to fail.
They’re feel-good theater that lets politicians say, “I’m for fiscal responsibility”, while keeping the debt machine running for their donors.
The We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act is different.
One page. Three rules. Tied to the Lifetime Lobbying Ban (Pillar 1) and healthcare savings (Pillar 2).
No loopholes. No escape clauses. No way for the cartel to buy their way out.
This is the one rule that works.
Here’s why every other “balanced budget” idea failed, and how we finally win.
The Long History of Balanced Budget Amendment Failures – 200+ Years of Theater
Since 1789, there have been over 200 attempts to pass a national balanced budget amendment.
1936: First serious proposal during Great Depression.
1982: Reagan push, passed Senate, died in House.
1995: Gingrich “Contract with America”, passed House, failed Senate by one vote.
2011, 2017, 2018: Multiple GOP attempts, all died in committee.
Total successes: Zero.
Why? Because both parties need deficits to buy votes:
Democrats: Entitlements and subsidies
Republicans: Tax cuts and defense pork
A real amendment would end their game.
So, they propose weak versions with massive loopholes, knowing they’ll never pass, or if they do, they’re toothless.
The Fatal Loopholes in Every Balanced Budget Amendment (And How They’re Exploited)
Every proposed BBA has the same built-in escape hatches:
Supermajority for Deficits – Requires 3/5 vote to run deficit. Sounds strong, but Congress just declares “emergency” (war, recession) and waives it. Used 17 times in state BBAs (NCSL 2025).
Off-Budget Spending – Social Security, “emergency” funds, trillions hidden from the cap.
Revenue Estimates – Congress “estimates” higher revenue to justify spending, CBO scores manipulated.
No Enforcement – No penalty for violation. Courts refuse to enforce (state precedent).
Capital Budgeting Loophole – Borrow for “infrastructure”, turns into everything.
Result? State BBAs (49 states have some form) are ignored or bypassed, deficits still happen (Illinois, California examples).
The We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act has no loopholes, surplus to debt, tied to lobbying ban.
State Balanced Budget Requirements – Why Even They Fail (With 2025 Examples)
49 states have some form of balanced budget rule.
Yet:
California: “Balanced” budget, but $68 billion deficit in 2024 (gimmicks like borrowing from special funds).
Illinois: BBA since 1970, $142 billion unfunded pensions, worst credit in nation.
New Jersey: BBA, $50 billion debt, constant “emergencies.”
Why? Loopholes + no enforcement.
The Act has real teeth, tied to Pillar 1 (no funds without lobbying ban).
The Founding Fathers’ Vision – Debt-Free America Is What They Fought For
The Founders revolted over a 3 % tea tax and a distant king’s debt.
They would view $38 trillion as the ultimate betrayal of the Revolution.
Jefferson: “The public debt is the greatest danger”, he would see it as “slavery” and call for immediate paydown.
Hamilton: Favored some debt but managed tightly, he paid off Revolutionary War debt. He would demand balanced budgets as he did with the first U.S. debt.
Madison: “Power closer to the people”, he would decry bloated govt and push devolution to states.
Washington: “Avoid entangling alliances”, he would slash foreign aid and wars.
They would react with rage, rally militias, write pamphlets, boycott taxes, and overthrow the “new tyrants.”
We the People must do the same, peacefully, with the Act.
The Psychology of Debt Acceptance – How Elites Keep Us Complacent
We accept $38T debt because elites use psychology to keep us compliant.
Learned Helplessness: “Too big to fix” (74 % feel powerless, Gallup 2025).
Loss Aversion: Fear immediate cuts more than future pain.
Confirmation Bias: Left blames “Republican tax cuts,” right blames “Democrat spending” — both ignore uniparty truth.
Availability Cascade: Media repeats “debt necessary” until it feels true.
The Founders rejected this, they revolted.
We must too.
The Elite Enrichment Scheme – How Politicians Get Rich While the Debt Explodes
While debt rose $32T since 2000, politicians got rich.
- Average Congress net worth: $1.5M (2000) → $8.2M (2025)
- Pelosi: $21M → $120M+
- McConnell: $1.2M → $35M+
- Presidents: Bush $20M → $80M, Obama $1.3M → $70M, Trump $3B → $6.5B, Biden $9M → $15M+
How? Insider trades, book deals, speaking fees, all legal because of the revolving door.
Pillar 1 bans it.
Future: Stock trading ban + pay cap to 1.25x median income.
The Founders envisioned citizen-servants.
What a Debt-Free America Looks Like in 2045 – The Vision Your Grandkids Will Live
Once debt is $0 (mid-2040s under the Act):
$2T/year interest savings back to taxpayers.
Lower taxes: 20–30 % cut, $5–10k more for middle class.
Invest: $1T education, $500B infrastructure, $300B innovation.
Boom: Growth 1–2 %/year, millions of jobs.
Security: Modern military without borrowing.
Programs: Social Security solvent forever.
Freedom: Money is yours.
Your grandkids ask: “Did people really owe $115,000 at birth?”
You tell them how you helped make it end.
The Elite Enrichment Scheme – How Politicians Get Rich While the Debt Explodes
While debt rose $32T since 2000, politicians got rich.
Average Congress net worth: $1.5M (2000) → $8.2M (2025)
Pelosi: $21M → $120M+
McConnell: $1.2M → $35M+
Presidents: Bush $20M → $80M, Obama $1.3M → $70M, Trump $3B → $6.5B, Biden $9M → $15M+
How? Insider trades, book deals, speaking fees, all legal because of the revolving door.
Pillar 1 bans it. Future: Stock trading ban + pay cap to 1.25x median income.
The Founders envisioned citizen-servants, not elite cake-eaters.
The Media's Role in Hiding the Uniparty Debt Scam
Left media: Blame “Republican tax cuts”, ignore Democrat spending. Right media: Blame “Democrat socialism”, ignore Republican wars.
Both are silent on $700M Pharma donations split 50/50.
Both take billions in ads from the same cartel.
They keep you fighting red vs. blue, so you never fight the uniparty.
The Act ends the scam.
The One Rule That Works – The We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act
Three simple rules:
Balanced Budget Requirement, Outlays ≤ receipts (supermajority emergency only). Surplus to debt.
Debt Ceiling Lock, Surplus automatically reduces limit.
Lifetime Lobbying Ban Tie, No, funds appropriated unless Pillar 1 enforced.
No gimmicks. No escape.
With $1.95T healthcare savings (Pillar 2), we balance Year 1 and pay off debt by mid-2040s.
Frequently Asked Questions – 20 Objections Crushed
“We’ve tried balanced budget amendments before!” Yes, and they all had loopholes. This one doesn’t.
“This is too strict — what about emergencies?” Supermajority for emergencies, protects real crises.
“Debt is good for growth!” At 130 % GDP, it slows growth 0.5–1 %/year (CBO).
“Tax hikes are needed!” No, spending caps + savings = surpluses without hikes.
“This hurts the poor!” Surpluses fund tax cuts and programs, poor win most.
“Politicians will ignore it!” Pillar 1 lobbying ban ends donor pressure.
“Countries that balanced budgets regretted it!” Sweden, Canada, New Zealand all boomed after.
“This is Republican austerity!” Non-partisan, both parties caused the debt.
“What about inflation?” Debt causes inflation, surpluses reduce it.
“The debt isn’t a problem!” $1.2T interest is a problem, more than defense.
“This is un-American!” The Founders hated debt, Jefferson called it “slavery.”
“We need more spending!” We need smarter spending, waste is $1–2T/year.
“Supermajority is too high!” Protects from special interests.
“This locks in bloated govt!” No, forces prioritization.
“What about military?” Debt weakens security, surpluses strengthen it.
“Media says it’s radical!” Media ignores the $38T crisis.
“It will never pass!” We primary them until it does.
“I’m not affected!” Your $115,000 share says otherwise.
“What about COVID-style crises?” Supermajority allows emergency spending.
“What do I do right now?” Call/email your rep demanding co-sponsorship. Join the movement.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense – Your Final Call to Action
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense united a divided people against a common enemy.
Rare Sense to Save America is the 21st-century Common Sense — exposing the new kings who steal $38 trillion while you work.
Your ancestors paid with blood.
All we ask is action.
While our text campaign focuses on the Lifetime Lobbying Ban, take action on fiscal responsibility now:
Call your rep/senators
Email the template (coming soon)
Demand co-sponsorship of the We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act
Then join:
Get the Book: https://a.co/d/dmxAYjK The $38 trillion theft ends when We the People say it does.
We are coming.
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