[samwichse]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

US national debt.

1928-$28,000,000,000
1945-$250,000,000,000
1971-$1,000,000,000,000
Today-$19,000,000,000,000

US national debt in constant (2016) dollars, OM's figures.
1928-$382,760,000,000
1945-$3,320,000,000,000
1971-$5,940,000,000,000
2016-$19,000,000,000,000

US national debt in constant (2016) dollars, US Treasury Direct (https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/...t/histdebt.htm)
1928-$240,685,286,096
1945-$3,437,348,560,513
1971-$5,290,316,730,749
2015-$18,283,016,527,242

I would think the conservative viewpoint (and mine, as a balanced budget hawk) would be geared towards paying down the debt as quickly as possible. Cut some spending, raise some taxes. That's the way I'm working on my mortgage. My wife and I scrimp a bit to double our principle payment, and income from extra odd jobs I work goes to principle as well.
But people lose their **** when they hear tax increase. And they lose their **** when they hear program cuts. So here we are.