Cost of Living, Housing & Economy
Federal Debt & Deficits
National debt crossed $38T with $1T+ in annual interest. What it crowds out, and who's responsible.
The left bubble
“Debt panic is overblown and weaponized — it's driven as much by tax cuts as by spending, and austerity hurts real people.”
What this side feels
- •Suspicion that 'debt crisis' talk only appears when help for the vulnerable is proposed
- •Belief that tax cuts for the wealthy are quietly part of the problem
- •Fear that austerity means gutting Medicare, Social Security, and aid
- •A sense that the U.S. can borrow safely in its own currency
Why it feels true
Shaped by watching deficit hawks go quiet during tax cuts and loud during social spending. The feed frames the debt as a pretext, so the alarm itself can feel like bad-faith leverage.
The right bubble
“A spending binge under one-party control blew up the debt, and the bill is coming due.”
What this side feels
- •Alarm at a debt now larger than the entire economy
- •Anger that today's spending mortgages our kids' future
- •Belief that government has no spending discipline
- •Worry that interest costs will swamp everything else
Why it feels true
Shaped by the speed of recent increases and the round-number shock of '$38 trillion.' The feed pairs that figure with a single party in power, so the story becomes one binge, one culprit.
Common ground
Most people, left and right, want the same end-state: a budget that's sustainable for the long run and doesn't hand our children a bill they can't pay or a government that can't function.
Solutions on the table
Put everything on the table
A durable fix looks at both revenue and spending — including the big drivers like health programs and the tax code — not one side only.
Independent scoring
Require honest, nonpartisan cost estimates for major bills so voters can see the true long-term price.
Stabilize, don't shock
Aim to hold debt steady relative to the economy over time, avoiding both reckless borrowing and abrupt austerity that harms the vulnerable.
Restrain interest risk
Lengthen and manage the debt prudently so rising rates don't blow a hole in future budgets.
Now make your voice count
Pursue a credible, bipartisan plan to stabilize the debt that puts both spending and revenue on the table.
Take action
Who to contact: Your U.S. House member and Senators (the budget is federal)
Your call script
Hi, my name is ___ and I live in [City]. The national debt has passed $38 trillion and we're now spending over $1 trillion a year just on interest. I'm asking [Representative/Senator] to support a serious, bipartisan plan to stabilize the debt that looks honestly at both spending and revenue, rather than blaming the other party. Thank you.