[imtringued]

I disagree with the statement that politicians are averse to short term pain or even long term pain. Trump certainly doesn't seem to mind.

Pain doesn't buy anything, by the way.

[BirAdam]

The pain doesn't buy anything but the requisite costs of raising rates and/or cutting spending enough to allow debt pay-down would cause pain. Pain enough to sacrifice legacy, pain enough to sacrifice re-election, and pain enough to hurt lobbyists offering up that sweet lucre.