.........Countdown to starvation

I’m not going to turn this into a political discussion, but the assumption that government runs (or should run) like a business or household is false.

They make no products, make no sales and make no profits...balancing the budget is not a requirement. They only need to govern in all aspects, and that requires funds from where they can be obtained in order to do it to the level that is required to be effective.
Doesn't mean they can't "live within their means".