Look for a “runup” prior to the dive into the abyss.
It’s like erecting a ladder next to the cliff. The cliff itself just isn’t high enough for some people to fall off of - they have to climb higher.
"If we do not cut spending, the Republicans say, our debts will spiral out of control and the country will implode.
"The good news, for those who don't relish the thought of the country imploding, is that this fear-mongering appears to be seriously overblown "