@DefenderOfBasic also federal govt is allowed to run a deficit (and has been), so there's also the issue of stuff that *no one* is paying for but otoh national debt interest payments that are really paying for stuff in the past (harder to say what stuff)

@DefenderOfBasic if you *really* want to feel how money is a shared pool, become treasurer for your condo association/ hoa and wrestle with the budget vs dues increases