What everyone seems to forget is that the Depression of 1919-1920 cut deeper into the American economy than the "Great Depression" ever did. And more importantly, that depression was over in 1 1/2 years because of how Calvin Coolidge responded to it. The grestest President since Washington put that depression in the rear view mirror by CUTTING GOVERNMENT SPENDING RUTHLESSLY - up to 50% taken out of some budgets.
Congress has demonstrated
ad nauseum how it is completely unwilling to address so-called "entitlement" spending -- social security generally considered as the biggest part of that pie, but it also includes medicare, welfare, SNAP, medicaid, and unemployment.
Entitlement spending currently comprises 52% of federal spending, according to this source:
https://federalsafetynet.com/entitlement-programs/entitlement-spending/When social security was ushered in by the biggest fascist president this country has ever seen - FDR - social security was intended to take care of grandpa for a few years until he croaked. Life expectancy was 58 years for men and 62 for women in 1930. Now, men can expect to live until the late 70s and even older for women.
But the entire social security apparatus has been bloated beyond belief. All manner of "other stuff" has been added to that overall pie -- all by Congress and all done with the best of intentions, though that particular road of good intentions has led us to hell.
Add in the good ol' boy DoD to the equation and the billions pissed away with endless amounts of cash being pumped in to Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, and the rest of the defense contractors that keep the current crop of politicians well-fed and comfortable, and you've got lots of opportunity to stop spending money on $640 toilet seats.