1) Compressed X-axis makes it look visually worse than most graphs. 2) A combination of inflation and nominal GDP growth has resulted in the effects not being

1) Compressed X-axis makes it look visually worse than most graphs. 2) A combination of inflation and nominal GDP growth has resulted in the effects not being as bad as it otherwise would be. (Modern Monetary Theory essentially argues all three are intrinsically linked.) 3) It actually is fairly problematic. Rising debt (especially since 2009) has largely been possible because of the Fed's near-continuous lowering of interest rates. Faced with the prospect of those rates rising, it's questionable where the finances will come from. https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/591226-can-our-nation-afford-higher-interest-rates-with-the-current-national-debt https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/591226-can-our-nation-af...