The Atlantic has some really shit, liberal authors.. But I still check them because, every now and then, they turn out a real gem.. One of those was a guy who was formerly with the IMF, comparing the US with third world countries that get into trouble. He talked about the political class and their go-to people.. Their cronies. Eventually, they get so close to them that they become paralyzed. They can't move.. They can't make decisions that don't enrich this class, because they have become dependent upon them for contributions and everything else.