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In some ways debt can make us stronger. We issue bonds which the entire world wants to buy. This isn't like your household credit card debt. This is debt that f
by achandlerwhite 2y ago
In some ways debt can make us stronger. We issue bonds which the entire world wants to buy. This isn't like your household credit card debt. This is debt that fuels growth and investment in the United States. Partially, because of this we don't have to carry reserves of foreign currency or peg our dollar to another country. I don't know what the right amount is but low interest rates indicate the market does not consider this amount of debt to be problematic.
A better question is: what are we getting for our spending as a nation? Rather than pearl clutching at the amount.
- natch 2y agoWhat percentage of our spending going to service the national debt (in other words, to pay interest on the debt) would be too high for you, in your estimation?
- s1artibartfast 2y agoIdeally zero. Deficit spending is really only excusable when it is being spent on investments that will offset the future cost. Otherwise it is simply impoverishing future generations to benefit voters today, often enriching a small subset. By way of example, going into debt get an education or buy a tractor might make sense. Going into debt to throw a party doesn't, especially when you plan to stick the cosigners with it. In 2024 federal debt interest was 1.1 Trillion, with 4.9 trillion taxes, that is about 22% of revenue. Most of that interest goes into the pocket of wealthy US and foreign lenders.
- natch 2y agoExactly. Person I was asking didn't seem to have a limit.