What do you think caused the debt in America?

[lynnc35]

I am thinking the War and the salaries they are receiving...

[vickysue]

The wars, Overspending ( you can't buy your way out of debt) The over paid saleries, Giving money to these nations that will not or cannot pay it back The very expensive vacations that are taken. The list could go on but Lets just pray we can have a prez who does't spend what he doesn't have he does not have an open checkbook.

[Abrupt]

Social Security:  820 billion
Medicare:  523 billion
Medicaid:  283 billion
Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, Child Nutrition, Supplemental Security for the Disabled and Student Loans:  654 billion
Homeland Security:  40 billion
DoD:  524 billion
VA:  61 billion
State Department: 48 billion

That was a years expense (most of it anyways) and you can see where the bulk of the money goes.

[rwilmoth1]

I also believe it is due to the lack of people willing to work for an honest days pay. Too many people rely on government to keep them up. How many people do you know getting food stamps,disability, etc... when they are able to work and support themselves?  How many people do you know that doesn't marry so they can get hand outs such as WIC, food stamps, and Metacaid for their children and doesn't tell DSS father is living in home with them? I personally know plenty. That's one of many reasons America is so far in debt. The American people has allowed it. You can't blame the government.

[brum7814]

Spending more money than you have is what causes debt.  The government has always been good at that. Government tells people to rely on them, people agree, and they treat each system they create like a kid at a candy store.  If private businesses did that, they'd be called Enron.  =-P

[bobes915]

Ah yes, politicians thinking they can fix things and getting people to lean on the government.  Wouldn't it be great if we could find at least a few politicians in this country who didn't catch Potomac fever the minute they got to Washington?

[timandvicky1]

Absolutely agree with a post I read on here earlier.....WELFARE in this country is deplorable!!!  I currently know of so much abuse with food stamps, wic, medicade, etc...its pathetic!!!  Females that I have worked with....living with boyfriends but getting low income housing, food stamps, daycare expenses paid etc..

Or what about all the stimulus money that the current horrible president gave to all these "low income people" I have known numerous women that got $12,000 back in taxes, didn't have to turn it in as income on their food stamps or anything, but yet didn't even pay income taxes because they didn't make enough, but they are waitresses so they never even have to report it!!  Its DISGUSTING, try working in a place that  you have to listen to all this crap,  I knew of 4 women just on my shift coming into work braggin about all their income tax money they were getting this has been for the last couple years in a row!!  People wonder what is wrong with this country???  Seriously??? 

I believe Food Stamps can be a very helpful program, I have no problem with it, but when abuse like this is so common these days, then its time to reevaluate guidelines for the program.

Which then leads to the next equiation of this countrys problem....NOBODY wants to work they get more to do nothing!!  How can medicare be supported by the next generation when the next generation doesn't work? 

Recently work was set to have mandatory overtime...no problem money would be great, but almost 50% went out in taxes, that is crazy!!  Especially when people are getting $12,000 of my hard earned money and they aren't doing nothing!!

[kqa]

It started with the Great Society back in the 1960s, creating a welfare state where people know they don't have to work and the more babies they have, the more money they get.  It has caused people to become dependent on the government because they can.  This cannot be blamed on George Bush.

[inertia4]

Simple, it was something that was snowballing ever since the kennedy administration. It really started with nixon. He was the beginning of the end. And fast forward to bush, he was the the straw that broke the camels back. So you cannot go blaming Obama for this when this is something that was getting worse over the years. Its a shame that no one ever seen it coming and if they did they did nothing about it. And we the people suffer for those morons in congress.

[oldbuddy]

Simple, it was something that was snowballing ever since the kennedy administration. It really started with nixon. He was the beginning of the end. And fast forward to bush, he was the the straw that broke the camels back. So you cannot go blaming Obama for this when this is something that was getting worse over the years. Its a shame that no one ever seen it coming and if they did they did nothing about it. And we the people suffer for those morons in congress.

No maybe you can't blame it all on Obama, but I guarantee he hasn't turned the tide either. Add one more moron to the list.

[bowrunner]

Social Security:  820 billion
Medicare:  523 billion
Medicaid:  283 billion
Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, Child Nutrition, Supplemental Security for the Disabled and Student Loans:  654 billion
Homeland Security:  40 billion
DoD:  524 billion
VA:  61 billion
State Department: 48 billion

That was a years expense (most of it anyways) and you can see where the bulk of the money goes.

Amen to the above.  This administration wants everyone on the government dole except the power elite.

[oldbuddy]

Social Security:  820 billion
Medicare:  523 billion
Medicaid:  283 billion
Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, Child Nutrition, Supplemental Security for the Disabled and Student Loans:  654 billion
Homeland Security:  40 billion
DoD:  524 billion
VA:  61 billion
State Department: 48 billion

That was a years expense (most of it anyways) and you can see where the bulk of the money goes.

Amen to the above.  This administration wants everyone on the government dole except the power elite.

Not quite sure how you come up with the conclusion that Social Security is the Government Dole when we are the ones who put the money in there in the first place and all the Government did was steal from it.

[tashamjoy]

So sad and upsetting just hope it gets under control sometime...

[lynnc35]

I agree with what Oldbuddy says, many put it in there to start with, they ought to be getting interest on the money they loaned to the government instead of being accused of getting handouts, its thier money.

[shepherdchik]

I think the people who make more money should be shelling out equal taxes like middle class does. When was the last time they had to pay half their checks in taxes and couldn't pay there bills?? It's hard enough right now and things like this, war, helping other countries when we can't help ourselves? How about collecting all the money all these countries owe us? It'll never happen in my lifetime I'm sure of it. People always think it's not fair to them, they never look at their neighbor and try to help, they just worry about themselves and that it our problem. It's very sad in this country and i don't see anyone good enough to fix all the problems we have.