How high would the national deficit have to be to cripple the American economy?
537348
High enough that we couldn't pay off the interest on these debts, thus throwing the U.S. government into default.
61438
No more resulted. How can bringing less money in result in more revenue? The war effort is what raised the deficit the most. We had a budget surplus before Bush took office. The White House has now revised the 2005 deficit upwards to $427 billion. The proposal to extend the tax cuts could exceed 2.3 trillion. The accumulated trade deficit from 1971 through 2003 in dollars not adjusted for inflation is $4 trillion, 45% of which has come in the last three years.
659053
America can't do it now. What do you think is driving up the forced inflation rate. America is over printing money to cover the debt, ant driving the dollar down with it. The Republicans always do this when they are in power. There is no trickle down theory, since they wont share the wealth. America is looking at 30 years at this point to just break even, and balance the budget again like Clinton did.
58309
they would build too much debt
849933
It would create a huge underclass in the US.  This would in turn be a huge burden for the American tax payer.  The country would probably collapse.  Many educated Americans would move out of the country to protect their money.  I know I would.\n\nCheck out WWW.Numbersusa.com
1053741
America could, but he free Enterprise system could not. You know gun not better keep people employed. I just wish we would fight the war on crime and education and housing for children here first.
291623
No what I do think it will destroy America. Just look at how far downhill we have come since the repuglicans took power, we are on the verge of world war III, in debt to the Chinese, giving away nuclear technology, involved in a stupid war in Iraq. Got a president that don't know how to tell the truth, favors the oil company's and the rich while leaving the poor and middle class behind. It is a real mess that I am not sure that we can recover from very easily.
1072549
i hope not.  Because ALL the people in the US are contributing to the economy.  Just think of the monetary implications it would have on the stock market and economy.   It scares me
1007014
Nobody knows how long the large US trade deficits can be sustained.  But most economists say that these deficits cannot continue forever.  And the more these deficits accumulate, the more likely it becomes that investors will panic and sell off the US dollar.   \n\nOr the countries that are accumulating the US dollars now may want to spend them in the US some time in the future.  And such spending will cause inflation of prices.\n\nOr countries that are accumulating US dollars now may continue to hold them in US government bonds which pay interest.  And eventually these interest payments will become so large that much of US tax dollars will end up going to foreign countries instead of being used for the benefit of US citizens.\n\nNone of these scenarios are good.   But there is no easy way to cut back on these trade deficits.  People in the US are used to live beyong their means.  And such a habit is very difficult to break.  People will change their spending habits only when economic circumstances force them to.
720906
Technically, no one. The United states isnt borrowing money from these people.\n\nWhen the govt began having deficits, they started selling treasury bonds and other countries bought them. When you purchase a treasury bond, you are actually investing in the American Dollar. \n\nOther countries and organizations are investing in the United states dollar. Not really a loan. \n\nHOWEVER< There is a good feasable solution, that WOULD work IF the American public actually wanted its govt to stay alive. BUY TREASURY BONDS!!!!!
527130
Depends on if you're currently unemployed, like most of my family, due to the bills he has signed and the fact that each American owns over $30,000 each of the nation's debt.
920113
Worse yet...its a lie.  By "cutting taxes" but participating in wreckless spending, the national defiict is 9 trillion and climbing. Who is going to pay this debt? By Bush's deficit spending folly, entirely supported by dittohead Republicans in congress, we are guaranteed to have to raise taxes to repay the debts accumulated.  Of course, when that happens, the republicans will blame Dems for "taxing"...and the beat goes on...
614164
US trade deficit is too small compared to its GDP (nearly $12 trillion).  While trade deficit is a minor problem, global supply-demand will keep varying over the years and this could change the trade-deficit. Further, the deficit is paid by foreign investment, which means Americans aren't saving enough. When the interest rates are very low they won't save much money but spend it on commodities which includes importing from overseas. When the rates go up there is incentive to save it in term-deposits and other safe investments.  It is a tricky complex phenonmenon that will get resolved on its own with time but as of now it is not an alarming situation.
649738
Mr. Rogers (jrogers) obviously doesn't understand economics. The US economy has very serious structural problems that the Fed nor the American people can fix easily. If they do without some kind of crash, it will be a long and financially painful process for all Americans. Some of the problems are - National debt, government debt, dependence on oil that has limited supply, negative savings rate in 2005 (first time since the Depression) = weak dollar, inflation...the list goes on. \n\nChina will have economic struggles when the US starts falling apart as the US is China's largest buyer. But in the long-term, China has a much stronger base and will still be able to maintain growth throughout US decline as their local consumer market matures. \n\nThis is something that could have been predicted 10-15 years ago. We are now in the middle of it. Wait 20-25 years and you will see the US struggling to hang onto the last vestiges of it's once great and formerly the world's largest economy. Large strong economy + military/political might = Superpower.
507096
Yes, but choking the American economy is out of the question when countries like India and China are not even trying as hard as we are.
327732
the debt is at it's highest in NUMBERS, but not in RATIO TO THE GNP. the highest debt america incountered in money over gnp is the jfk/johnson era. talk about cut programs.
212278
The Budget Deficit is only one tiny little part of the whole debt problem the USA, and by extension the rest of the world, faces in the very near future. Yes, I realize I am saying a lot when I refer to our colossal deficit as tiny.\n\nThere is a monstrous deficit in the amount of repairs and improvements to our infrastructure that has been tossed about since the 1984 election that no one has really taken care of. Our local water systems are collapsing, and privatization has only made the problem worse. We are not working on improving our ability to complete interstate commerce upon which our economy depends. The multi-state black-out caused by a lightning strike should have been a wake up call, but if people don't care that you can't drink the water out of the kitchen sink I guess we have a ways to go.\n\nWhile we have the highest number of homeowners in our history, far too many of them are using the equity to extend the self-delusion that they are still in the middle class. This is why you see so many commercials of how neat it would be to mortgage your home to 125% of the value and take that vacation, just like the rich folks do!\n\nUnsecured debt and the resultant explosion of bankruptcy is going to plunge a large part of the population into a situation where eventually they will never be able to buy a car outside of the Trading Times and never have a chance of opening a business except a MLM nightmare.\n\nWe are allowing our growing need for energy to outstrip our ability to supply it even with foreign and unreliable sources. We are allowing a future without adequate education and job skills because of apathy on the part of parents and short sightedness of multinational employers. The list goes on and on.\n\nLets face it, the future is going to be a cold, dark and nasty place. Let's hope we're dead and buried long before it gets here.