### The Problem with Long-Term Mortgages: A Look at America’s Housing Crisis

In the land of opportunity, the topic of how many kids a family can afford has become a spicy discussion. Recent observations have shown that the middle class is holding back on expanding their families, all because of the rising costs of living. It appears that rich folks are doing just fine, and poorer folks are still having children, but it’s the middle class that seems to be stopped in their tracks, quaking in fear of how they will manage when the bill collectors come knocking after a new baby arrives.

To tackle this dilemma, former President Donald Trump has floated an idea: 50-year mortgages. At first glance, this might seem like a sneaky way to make homeownership more accessible and affordable. After all, who wouldn’t like a smaller monthly payment? However, like most things that sound too good to be true, it comes with a catch—or several, to be honest. Picture this: you buy a house at age 30. By the time you finish paying it off, you’re likely using a walker, and your wisdom teeth could long be dust. Who wants to die in debt? That’s not the American Dream; that sounds more like a lifetime of working to pay off a loan that never ends.

Worse yet, the longer a mortgage lasts, the more interest you accrue, making that tiny monthly payment less enticing. In essence, instead of being a homeowner, you might just end up being a well-polished tenant for life—with a mortgage so extended that it feels like a century. Not only does this trend shout “financial slavery,” but it also harkens back to the feudal systems of yesteryear, where serfs could never seem to escape the grasp of their lords. Today, however, the lords are banks, and every payment is a reminder of that debt-filled life.

But that’s not all folks; let’s toss inflation into the mix! By offering long-term mortgages to more people, demand for houses is likely to go up. And guess what happens when demand goes up? Prices go up! So, it’s likely that while potential homeowners are trying to save a buck with extended payment plans, housing prices will just escalate, leaving them back where they started: feeling like they need to put off kids—again—because they can’t afford a place to live.

Now, Trump is also stirring the pot with a proposal for $2,000 stimulus checks funded by tariffs. At first glance, it appears to be a clever ploy to woo voters; who doesn’t love free money, right? Still, sending out checks amid high inflation might just exacerbate the problem by adding to rising prices rather than fixing them. It’s like tossing a marshmallow on a campfire; sure, it might look nice, but you’re likely to end up with nothing but a melted mess.

It’s clear that America is caught in a financial conundrum. With 50-year mortgages, skyrocketing housing prices, and tempting brief fixes like stimulus checks, the underlying issues are being overlooked. Rather than focusing on how to put more people into houses faster, the real aim should be about making it easier to buy homes without lifelong debts and creating a financial growth environment where families can thrive—kids and all! It’s about time for a little out-of-the-box thinking, and less about keeping families in an endless cycle of debt and fear. After all, if this trend continues, the American Dream might just fade into a distant memory.