Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us At this point is it even possible for the USA to get it's financial house in order? | Money Talk
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At this point is it even possible for the USA to get it's financial house in order?

Posted on 1/16/26 at 1:55 pm
Posted by Rankest
Alpine
Member since Aug 2025
263 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 1:55 pm
Or is the entire system fricked and on borrowed time?
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
31869 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:04 pm to
Functionally, yes. Politically, almost certainly not.

Which means we're likely just holding on until the world decides to move on from using the USD as its reserve currency. Because the day that happens, it's too late to fix the problem and Americans will find out what it means to live through the collapse of an empire.
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
58563 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:09 pm to
There’s only one way to fix America and everyone knows what it is but nobody is allowed to say what it is


Hopefully the zoomers can turn things around but I fear it’s too late
Posted by SlidellCajun
Slidell la
Member since May 2019
16170 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:20 pm to
Mathematically it can be done

In a period of 10 years-

Keep taxes as they are. No tinkering

Government spending has to remain flat. Shift amounts within the framework but no overall increase in spending.

Our economy would expand and we’d grow our way to fiscal sanity.



Posted by Rankest
Alpine
Member since Aug 2025
263 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:21 pm to
quote:

There’s only one way to fix America and everyone knows what it is but nobody is allowed to say what it is


Go on..

Posted by DawgCountry
Great State of GA
Member since Sep 2012
32634 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:32 pm to
That would be too easy
Posted by beaverfever
Arkansas
Member since Jan 2008
35579 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:36 pm to
quote:

Our economy would expand
quote:

Government spending has to remain flat.
How would the economy expand if we kept spending unchanged? Keeping spending unchanged would actually require massive cuts because we have a debt to service. Those cuts would absolutely slow down the economy.

My answer is that it’s no longer mathematically possible under the current system. This will sound like a joke but the only conceivable path I can think of is if bitcoin becomes the world’s base money and the US has an outsized position of that monetary system.
This post was edited on 1/16/26 at 2:41 pm
Posted by TOPAL
Member since Mar 2010
4971 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:43 pm to
NO, and No.
38 trillion and counting, gov't money keeps many industries afloat. Just like entitlements will never be cut to make a difference; crime would skyrocket.
Posted by lynxcat
Member since Jan 2008
25066 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:16 pm to
There is a world where you accelerate growth enough that you "grow" yourself out of the fiscal problem.
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
71695 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 4:02 pm to
They will inflate their way out like they always do
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
31869 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 4:03 pm to
quote:

There is a world where you accelerate growth enough that you "grow" yourself out of the fiscal problem.

Unfortunately, I think we're past that point. We're set to pay roughly $1T next year simply in interest on existing debt, and we're already heavily deficit spending even if we locked spending at current rates. Because we can still export inflation due to being the world's reserve currency, I think it's still possible, but I think it would require, at minimum, a $1T or so cut from current spending levels. Which, considering the behemoth that the federal government has become, isn't all that difficult. At least if you ignore political reality
Posted by Dawgfanman
Member since Jun 2015
25996 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 5:39 pm to
quote:

We're set to pay roughly $1T next year simply in interest on existing debt,


70% of debt is owned by either US investors, the US govt, or the Federal Reserve. So we owe us?

Posted by lsuconnman
Baton rouge
Member since Feb 2007
4579 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 5:55 pm to
We’ll be obliged to re colonize the planet. Everyone pretends we’re too civilized, but I guarantee it will only take a couple years of austerity before people welcome reframing the concept of tribute into UBI to protect the working class.
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
31869 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 6:22 pm to
quote:

70% of debt is owned by either US investors, the US govt, or the Federal Reserve. So we owe us?

In a way yes; in a way no.

But let’s say tomorrow morning (hypothetically, procedurally it would take longer), we all wake up, and the United States announces that it will be disavowing every bit of its $38TT+ present debt and will be starting from zero.

What would you think would happen to the USD?
Posted by SlidellCajun
Slidell la
Member since May 2019
16170 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 8:28 pm to
quote:

conceivable path I can think of is if bitcoin becomes the world’s base money and the US has an outsized position of that monetary system.


No way

What government is going to give up their currency?
And why would you want a currency as volatile as bitcoin?
Posted by Bard
Definitely NOT an admin
Member since Oct 2008
58207 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 9:00 pm to
quote:

Government spending has to remain flat.


That's the disqualifier. As inflation continues to creep up over the years, current deficit levels will have to rise to keep affording the same amount of largess. Without that largess, many politicians won't get re-elected so there's simply no way on God's green Earth they vote for such a restrictive (read: self-harming) spending plan.

That's why it's not possible for the federal government to get its financial house in order.
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40336 posts
Posted on 1/16/26 at 11:57 pm to
People cannot get elected on cutting spending.

/thread
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