As for your part “The public’s recourse is to DUMP all the Congress at the next election” my view is like the Boston Tea Party.
DUMP all the IMPORTS into San Francisco bay and New York Harbor. Tell China et al to SHOVE it. Those so called high quality cheap imports have ROBBED and Embezzled tons and tons of pure wealth away from the USA.
Now we have two salaries needed? 5-6 year car loans? Or leasing? $20 trillion debt? Unaffordable housing, unaffordable medical insurance? Traffic lights that send you a ticket if do don’t make a COMPLETE stop before turning on red? Money grab. Stealth tax.