The 2020 presidential campaign has officially begun. Twenty of the country’s top Democrats generously applied pancake makeup and jostled for recognition under the bright lights and the heavy pressure of a national TV audience — each candidate wanting to solidify a more relevant political position within the upper echelon of the modern-day Democratic Party. Some proved worthy of the challenge, like Senator Kamala Harris of California— whose toe-to-toe exchange with former VP Joe Biden sent her skyrocketing up the polls — while others, in particular former Democratic darling Beto O'Rourke, wilted under the pressure of being on the big stage.

Many of the candidates’ talking points sounded remarkably similar. At times it seemed the left’s playbook was printed in the basement of the Democratic headquarters and distributed by smiling interns to the candidates as they exited the green room and settled in behind their lecterns.

Buzzwords like “diversity,” “fairness,” “social equity,” “transgender,” “women's reproductive rights,” “racism,” “climate change” and “undocumented heroes” were bellowed like a repetitive chorus from an Indie rock song that your favorite radio station would play so endlessly, it eventually scrambled your brain like an earwig.

Another word featured prominently was “free” — or at least some facsimile thereof. In just about every economic, educational or health-related exchange, the candidates for our country's top job couldn't help but promise the moon and the stars.

“Vote for me and you'll get cash!”

I'm not kidding: that’s an actual plank in the platform of one of the Democratic candidates running for President of the United States of America. Andrew Yang — third from the left on Night Two in prime time — is best known for his idea to give out $1,000 per month universal basic income for every American adult. No job, no prospects, no skills? No worry. Every month, Uncle Sam will provide you with 10 Benjamin Franklins. Even if you refuse to work, a nice fat check will sit in your mailbox every time a month drops from the calendar. Who would’ve imagined playing Fortnite and watching "The People’s Court” all day could be so lucrative?

How about fan favorite Bernie Sanders? Bernie is passionate about his socialistic American aspirations to redistribute wealth and create a bigger social-safety net. The Vermont senator announced a plan to erase the country’s $1.6 trillion outstanding student debt, releasing all 45 million Americans from what they owe in college loans. The plan would also make two- and four-year public colleges and universities tuition- and debt-free.

Essentially, his plan would saddle taxpayers with another $1.6 trillion in debt on top of the $22.5 trillion we already owe. Universities are to blame for the explosion in student debt and should be held accountable. I have never met anyone, even educators, who can justify why even one year’s tuition at a state college are greater than what an average American makes in the same time period. Colleges rely on government-backed loans to artificially increase tuition costs for everyone else. Sanders’ plan will just make it worse.

Other giveaways promised in the debates? Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York claims if she’s elected president, her first order of business will be passing a family bill of rights that includes a national paid-leave plan.

Senator Corey Booker of New Jersey, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Julián Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, want to develop a plan for financial reparations for slavery, but provided no details on who would receive money or even how much.

And don't forget the Democratic presidential candidates onstage last week were in favor of illegal immigrants getting full government-funded health insurance.

All the candidates promised an extraordinary windfall of riches. And you won’t have to earn them, they’re free. Your only responsibility is just to check the box next to their name on primary day.

Amidst all these wonderful giveaways, none of the candidates mentioned our country’s exploding unfunded liability number that currently hovers around $125 trillion. Unfunded liabilities include Social Security, Medicare parts A, B and D, federal debt held by the public, and federal employee and veteran benefits.

We are buried in a fiscal nightmare, yet the Democratic Party pursues a "Robin Hood" mentality. As the 1960s-era ban Ten Years After put it, “Tax the rich, feed the poor, till there are no rich no more.”

The point Democrats seem to miss is that all this free stuff isn’t free, it must be paid by someone.

So how does the country pay for it all? It can't.

Lee Elci is the morning host for 94.9 News Now radio, a station that provides "Stimulating Talk" with a conservative bent.