To rob Peter to pay Paul

We, collectively, are robbing Peter to pay Paul,

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

There's some new money here, but it's not a huge amount. They've been robbing Peter to pay Paul.

It was a ticking bomb, a house of cards ready to fall, and finally Peter couldn't pay Paul anymore.

You say you nothing owe, and so I say; He only owes, who has something to pay