[Alas Babylon!]

I suppose the NYT’s idea of “doing something” is to have Washington ride to the rescue with taxpayer money.

Maybe. But even the answer to that is in their article:

if nothing changes, the money eventually does run out, and when that happens, misery and turmoil follow

This applies even to mighty Washington, DC.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” - Lady Margret Thatcher