The sprawling national debt will be the downfall of the United States. Barring the unlikely scenario that a presidential candidate who is singularly dedicated to reducing the national debt runs for office and wins, the structure of our government prevents any individual from feeling responsible for the debt. Separation of powers, term limits, and the very idea of representation itself all have the effect of diffusing any feelings of responsibility for the national debt that an elected official may otherwise possess.
The landscape of personal finance is both diverse and dramatic. Some people find monetary success and security, while others struggle and sometimes fall into financial chaos. Regardless of the situation, the rewards and consequences of a person’s finances are felt directly by the individual, and therefore the burden of responsibility is often brutally obvious.
However, this scenario does not scale up to the national level. No one takes responsibility for the national debt, and no single person is responsible for ratcheting it up so high.
So what can I do? Nothing, really…
—Jehda
