The US Is Going BANKRUPT

Ben Shapiro delves into the moral and cultural shifts in American society, discussing the transition from a society with internal moral standards to one characterized by societal shaming and, ultimately, a lack of shame entirely.

Shift from a "guilt-based" to a "shame-based" and "post-shame" society

Shapiro illuminates a transition within American society from a culture where guilt and an internal moral compass guided behavior toward external societal pressure and a diminishing sense of shame.

American society has transitioned from a culture where people felt an internal moral obligation to do the right thing to one driven by external societal pressure and a lack of shame

Ben Shapiro discusses the movement from a guilt-based society, where individuals rely on an internal moral obligation to do the right thing, to one where social shaming holds sway.

The decline of religion and belief in moral absolutes has led to a "shame-based" society where political correctness and wokeness shame people into conformity

Shapiro connects the decline of religion and moral absolutism to the rise of a shame-based society. He illustrates how political correctness and "wokeness" have replaced an ingrained moral compass with societal pressures to conform, criticizing the expectation to partake in symbolic gestures such as posting a black square on social media for BLM as part of this trend.

The current "post-shame" society rejects any moral standards, leading to widespread frivolity and shamelessness among politicians and the public

Shapiro introduces the idea that society has progressed beyond societal shaming to a post-shame society that rejects moral standards, stirring up frivolity and shamelessness among both politicians and the populace.

The erosion of a sense of civic duty and responsibility

In American politics, Shapiro articulates the erosion of civic duty and the rise of trivial pursuits over substantive problem-solving.

Politicians no longer feel a moral imperative to solve the country's problems, instead prioritizing partisan interes ...

The discussion led by Shapiro characterizes the state of American politics as marred by frivolity and dysfunction, with politicians often preferring theatrics over tackling substantial issues.

The prevalence of shallow and attention-seeking behavior by politicians

Shapiro describes American politics as a "clown show," with instances of politicians engaging in frivolous and attention-seeking activities becoming emblematic of the current political climate. He highlights events such as politicians overly pandering to specific groups, including a "stupid trans day celebration" at the White House involving influencers, and instances such as Representative Jamaal Bowman falsely claiming he pulled a fire alarm and blaming a potential primary loss on external factors rather than his own shortcomings.

Shapiro also discusses the Mayoral debate in San Francisco, where candidates were asked to name drag queens, and the presence of Jonathan Van Ness at the White House as examples of political theater that distract from addressing the country's pressing challenges.

This type of political theater distracts from addressing the country's pressing challenges

Shapiro argues that these instances of political frivolity serve as a distraction from significant issues such as crime, drug use, homelessness, and maintaining businesses in cities like San Francisco. He strongly criticizes the current administration for focusing on appearances and political stunts rather than confronting key societal problems.

The lack of substantive leadership and problem-solving

The current political environment is characterized as one where politicians are more concerned with winning elections and engaging in political theater than with enacting meaningful policy changes. Shapiro casts the Biden administration as unserious and portrays Joe Biden as a "frivolous president" more focused on himself than on the nation's major issues.

Shapiro contends that politicians are often more interested in gaining media attention or appealing to the masses with transient desires, rather than taking necessary, yet unpopular, steps to address the nation's long-term problems. He criticizes the political class for not feeling a guilt-based moral drive to solve the serious issues before them.

Politicians are more concerned with winning elections than enacting meaningful policies to improve people's lives

The political class's behavior, including in ...

The national debt in the United States is on a troubling trajectory, with experts raising alarms about the country's fiscal path and its long-term economic implications.

The growing national debt and unsustainable government spending

Interest payments on the national debt are projected to exceed defense spending, threatening the country's security and economic and stability

The nonpartisan bookkeeper for Congress expects the national debt to hit a staggering $50.7 trillion within a decade. Interest on this debt is set to surpass the annual payments for Social Security soon. By 2041, interest payments on the federal debt will double what is spent on national security, foreshadowing potential instability. This rise in debt signals a sick governmental structure, as illustrated by a Federal Reserve chart indicating that interest payments now exceed the defense budget. Additionally, Medicare and Social Social Security funds are depleting. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the debt will soar to 122% of annual economic output by 2034.

The Biden administration's reckless spending and expansion of social programs have exacerbated the debt crisis

Experts like Maya McGinnis warn that the escalating debt may lead to slower growth and a weaker global role. Shapiro criticizes the current administration's fiscal approach, particularly President Joe Biden’s continuation to hike the federal budget post-pandemic. He argues that besides inefficiency in tax increases for the wealthy, it may be necessary to tax the middle class heavily, as seen in Europe, to support such large budgets. Shapiro sees the increasing debt and budget as indicative of leaders lacking a plan to address the issue. Neil Ferguson compares the unchecked public sector spending to practices of the defunct Soviet system, which he deems a significant weakness.

The weakening of America’s economic and financial standing

The country's fiscal imbalance ...

Concerns rise as global dynamics shift and American military readiness is questioned, reflecting a potential deterioration of U.S. global power and influence.

The aggressive posturing of adversaries like Russia and China

Russia's alliance with North Korea and China's growing assertiveness challenge US interests worldwide

Senator Roger Wicker has drawn attention to the formation of coalitions against democracy built by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which are challenging American interests around the world. Shapiro reports on a development emblematic of these shifting dynamics: Putin's visit to North Korea. During his visit, Putin met with Kim Jong-un, where they discussed their mutual opposition to Western efforts which they perceive hinder the establishment of a multipolar world order. Shapiro expresses skepticism about Russia's and North Korea's intentions and implies that their alliance and rhetoric pose a significant challenge to U.S. global power and aspirations.

The perceived weakening of the US Frequency

Concerns about the military's readiness, equipment, and ability to deter threats from rival powers

The U.S. military faces scrutiny regarding its preparedness and capability to counter threats from rival powers. Concerns are being raised about the lack of modern equipment, insufficient maintenance funding, and a massive infrastructure backlog. Shapiro highlights how the military appears to be spread thin and poorly outfitted, a situation that may embolden adversaries by projecting an image of American weakness.

The diversion of resources away from national defense to service the growing national debt

Furthermore, Shapiro brings up the troubling economic constraint of rising interest rates on the national debt. As resources once intended for national defense are redirected to service the ballooning debt, there is rising apprehension about the future effic ...