Or… we could criminally hold the Sackler family criminally liable for the mess they caused?

It’s because of the Two Santa’s Problem. Republicans figured out in the 1970’s they couldn’t get elected competing with Democrats who want to expand social programs. They then adopted the strategy of saying the government doesn’t work, defunding it so that the self fulfilling prophecy comes true and they can be a Santa by giving tax cuts for the programs they defund.

Obligatory comment about how good the British show The Detectorists is.