+1
It used to be that Social Security funding was the "third rail" of politics, and politicians dare not discuss any changes to it. Now it's become the military. They actually get funded for projects they don't even want because the jobs are spread among so many politicians' districts that it becomes an economic juggernaut that can't seem to be stopped.
Years ago I read the book "Are We Rome?" and the parallels with the Roman Empire (which ultimately collapsed due to its overreach) and the U.S. are more striking every year.