A government without debt is a government that isn't investing in its future. Government debt is money that the public is borrowing from *themselves*. So it's not like an underwater mortgage, or a credit card. As long as a government balances its debt with the rate of inflation (which in the US, despite repeated cries of doom, has been at historic lows for a long time), the debt can serve to help drive the economy. If the inflation rate stays low, that means that creditors believe that the government is being responsible with the money, and will be willing to buy more debt. Debt can be a problem, but it's not one the US has to worry about any time soon. Now, unemployment, a stagnating education system, and a healthcare system that is both more expensive and less effective than other developed nations are issues worth addressing. And, frankly they can be addressed to some extent by borrowing more money. I'll sign off this debate after this comment... I think opinions on government services and debt are more like religious faith than considered opinions for most people, probably myself included.