No one should be under the illusion that the modern Republican Party is the party of fiscal responsibility. The days of Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge slashing federal budgets are long gone.

In fact, the last two Republicans to occupy the Oval Office, Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, were two of the worst deficit spenders in history, adding $5.85 trillion and $6.7 trillion to the national debt, respectively. Republicans elected during the Tea Party movement did next to nothing to rein in spending, and while former Rep. Ron Paul briefly had arenas full of young people chanting “end the Fed,” the movement fizzled out quickly after his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

Democrats make a living promising endless cash to voters, and they have been effective, with the aid of corporate media, in making entitlement reform the ultimate third rail of American politics. The Left’s victory on spending is complete to the point that when President Joe Biden falsely accused congressional Republicans of wanting to sunset Medicare and Social Security during last week’s State of the Union address (a policy he once endorsed ), Republicans couldn’t confirm fast enough that they have no desire to enact meaningful reforms.

Reality means little to ever-campaigning partisans, but the end of the road for these massive federal Ponzi schemes is closer than any redistributionist Democrat or cowardly Republican would like to admit. Social Security is set to become insolvent in 2034, triggering massive cuts to benefits across the board. Only privatization, or at the very least major changes to benefits and the retirement age, can prevent this fate, aside from immense middle-class tax hikes. Medicare is on even shakier ground. The trust supporting Medicare Part A is in danger of becoming insolvent as early as 2028.

The Keynesians running the government and media are taking a victory lap after bullying the few politicians who know better, the Sen. Mike Lees and Sen. Ted Cruzes of the world, into abandoning their goals of dragging the nation back to fiscal sanity. From their perspective, they should celebrate. If your guiding principle is nothing more than an insatiable lust for power, who cares if Americans suffer down the road?

The propaganda worked when the Left accused former House Speaker Paul Ryan of wanting to push “grandma” off a cliff , and just might work right up to the moment when grandma’s Social Security check can’t cover the price of eggs and Medicare can no longer cover her medical bills. Congrats, Democrats. Hopefully your short-term political gains are worth it when the well runs dry and the most vulnerable among us are left holding the bag.

Brady Leonard ( @bradyleonard ) is a musician, political strategist, and host of The No Gimmicks Podcast .