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Us National Debt
Tax Me If You Can
Mother Jones·18d ago·bullish
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Democracy, for most of its existence, has managed to coexist with oligarchy, but only on the condition that oligarchs exert their influence quietly. Citizens, including ordinary Americans, are generally willing to tolerate the super-rich, but the arrangement …
Get your news from a source thats not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. Democracy, for most of its existence, has managed to coexist with oligarchy, but onl… [+35665 chars]
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Published
May 26, 2026, 11:30 AM
Author
Jeffrey Winters
Source
Mother Jones
Frequently asked · Us National Debt
What is the difference between debt held by the public and total public debt?
Debt held by the public measures what the government owes to outside investors, while total public debt outstanding also includes intra-governmental holdings, which is money one part of the government owes to another.
What are the primary drivers of the rising U.S. national debt?
The Congressional Budget Office identifies increased spending on Social Security and Medicare due to an aging population, alongside rising interest costs on existing debt, as the main drivers.
How does the current debt-to-GDP ratio compare to historical records?
The current ratio has surpassed 100%, moving toward the all-time record of 106% set in 1946 following World War II.