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Opinion: America’s ticking time bomb: $66 trillion in debt that could crash the economy
NY Post ^ | December 4, 2022 | By Stephen Moore

Posted on 12/04/2022 5:10:53 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Wake up, America. That ticking sound you’re hearing is the American debt time bomb that with each passing day is getting precariously close to detonating and crashing the US economy.

Businesses, consumers and especially the federal and state governments have become hooked on red ink as if it were crack cocaine. Two factors have fueled this borrowing binge: an era of low interest rates (that’s coming to an end) and falling real wages thanks to the 15% rise in prices of Bidenflation.

Let’s review the borrowing up-escalator that accelerated during COVID but hasn’t subsided.

The King Kong of borrowing is Uncle Sam. The national debt is $31 trillion when including Social Security’s and Medicare’s unfunded liabilities. That’s getting close to 150% of our national gross domestic product of $22 trillion. Some $5 trillion has been added in just the past three years. Balancing the budget seems like a pipe dream these days.

Next add state and local government debt and unfunded liabilities. The American Legislative Exchange Council estimates that at just under $6 trillion.

Now what about American households? The latest estimate for consumer debt is $16.5 trillion, per the New York Federal Reserve. Most of that debt is mortgages, but increasingly Americans are taking on debt for routine expenses to pay monthly bills like groceries and gas at the pump. Thanks, President Joe Biden.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: debt; deficit; economic; economiccollapse; greatreset; inflation; justmoney; nwo; printmore; sendmore2ukraine; spending
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1 posted on 12/04/2022 5:10:53 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This house has zero debt and we’ve deeply hedged into metals including gold, silver, copper, and lead.

Just saying!


2 posted on 12/04/2022 5:14:14 PM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

One reason I’m glad to be debt free. No mortgage, no car payment.


3 posted on 12/04/2022 5:17:18 PM PST by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

But ammo, and make local connections. It’s falling apart.


4 posted on 12/04/2022 5:20:23 PM PST by cdcdawg (Hoes mad! LOL! )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Stephen Moore, the cocktail party economist. The same D-bag that Trump put up for The Federal Reserve Board until they found that Moore had income from taxation. He has a PhD in econ-light from GMU meaning policy.

Its $33 trillion PLUS $173 in unfunded liabilties.

https://www.usdebtclock.org/


5 posted on 12/04/2022 5:20:57 PM PST by Kaiser8408a (z)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

All directed and produced by lawyers turned professional politicians


6 posted on 12/04/2022 5:22:38 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: EvilCapitalist

Dittoes. Paying off the last of my credit card debts a few months ago was a huge relief knowing the rough financial times that we’re heading into.


7 posted on 12/04/2022 5:23:15 PM PST by dowcaet
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I learned from my Dad,a child of the Depression,to be frugal...and debt free.He always drove Oldsmobiles despite being able to afford better. He always wore Timex watches when he could afford better. He never denied my Mom,or us,anything. Mom liked nice clothes and he always said yes.

"Live below your means" was how he,personally,lived.

8 posted on 12/04/2022 5:25:04 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (I Miss Jimmy Carter)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
> The King Kong of borrowing is Uncle Sam. <

There are ways out of this massive debt. The Feds could simply repudiate the debt. Or they could raise taxes to astronomical levels to pay the debt back.

Those two possibilities are non-starters. Forget about them. So what’s left? The Feds could inflate their way out of debt. Pay back the debt with worthless paper. I don’t know when that’s gonna happen. But it’s gonna happen. It’s the only way out. And hey, it worked for Zimbabwe, right?


9 posted on 12/04/2022 5:27:21 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

For now, defaults and delinquencies are low, but we should have learned financial seas can shift on a dime. Meanwhile, the feds keep feeding the debt surge by increasing taxpayer mortgage insurance for million-dollar homes.

Debt isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It depends what we’re getting for it. When we borrow for roads or factories or homes or to finance our military to win wars, borrowing can be necessary and appropriate.


from the article.............................


10 posted on 12/04/2022 5:27:52 PM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

My favorite book which teaches “Living below your means” is “The Way to Wealth” by Benjamin Franklin.


11 posted on 12/04/2022 5:28:48 PM PST by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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To: MeganC

I am so screwed.


12 posted on 12/04/2022 5:29:17 PM PST by Lazamataz (The firearms I own today, are the firearms I will die with. How I die will be up to them.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The debt will never be repaid - and it’s not supposed to be.


13 posted on 12/04/2022 5:29:23 PM PST by Jim Noble (The Decline of America is a Choice )
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To: Kaiser8408a

“Moore had income from taxation.” What does that mean? Please explain.


14 posted on 12/04/2022 5:29:54 PM PST by Fungi
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To: EvilCapitalist

Just about debt free, then going off grid.


15 posted on 12/04/2022 5:30:37 PM PST by MGunny ( )
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To: Leaning Right

How about steal your retirement, Comrade. For the good of all.


16 posted on 12/04/2022 5:31:55 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: Leaning Right

The debt will obviously be repudiated.

The Bible and even a superficial understanding of history both say so.

And the usurers? Their future is, shall we say, not bright.


17 posted on 12/04/2022 5:32:09 PM PST by Jim Noble (The Decline of America is a Choice )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Don’t forget that debt that will be added to pay reparations.
Reparations for the descentants of slaves, reparations for climate justice, reparations to Mexico for losing the Mexican-American war, reparations to African countries for enslaving parts of their populations etc. etc.
And don’t forget the massive debt that will be incurred to build high-speed rail across the country.

Those payments should require at least $20 trillion in new debt.


18 posted on 12/04/2022 5:32:13 PM PST by Maine Mariner
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What cannot go on, will not go on.


19 posted on 12/04/2022 5:33:11 PM PST by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Leaning Right

The debt will obviously be repudiated.

The Bible and even a superficial understanding of history both say so.

And the usurers? Their future is, shall we say, not bright.


20 posted on 12/04/2022 5:34:55 PM PST by Jim Noble (The Decline of America is a Choice )
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