Much of that debt came from shenanigans in the banking industry and mortgage companies who manipulated the Free Markets causing the tax payer to bail them out. Then there was two unfunded wars and the new Patriot Act. How about no new wars or at least not pre-emptive ones for weak reasoning. How about more regulations on banks to avoid these catastrophies so the taxpayer doesn't get nailed? It's the wild speculations in the housing industry ( Wall Street) that got them cooking up the prices and over inflating the results. It's happening again right now so don't complain when and if a new collapse occurs.