America's National Debt : Examining the Facts /: Examining the Facts. (2022)

• Record Type: Book
• Further Information: Note: Thomas Arndt.
• Authors: Arndt, Thomas
• Contents: How to Use This Book1America's National Debt throughout HistoryQ1:Has the U.S. government always accumulated national debt?Q2:What has caused the national debt to rise so significantly in recent decades?Q3:Should Americans be concerned about the size of the national debt?Q4:What are the differences between deficits and debt?Q5:Why has the debt issue faded from news headlines and public attention in recent years?2Thinking Critically about DebtQ6:How does the government actually borrow money and who does it owe?Q7:Is there anything good about deficit spending?Q8:How much of the U.S. government's spending is truly wasteful?Q9:Can the United States still consider itself the richest country in the world?3Congress and the Power of the PurseQ10:Who has the power to decide how the public's tax dollars are spent?Q11:What are the biggest line items in the budget that Congress spends its money on?Q12:What is the debt ceiling and how often does it need to be raised?Q13:What are the roles of congressional committees, such as Ways and Means, Finance, Budget, and Appropriations?Q14:What are earmarks and how do they contribute to larger deficits?Q15:What is the significance of a "cbo score"?4Taxing, Spending, and Debt as Public Policy IssuesQ16:Why is there such a sharp clash of ideology when it comes to financial issues managed by Congress?Q17:How do politicians argue the so-called guns versus butter debate?Q18:How do tax increases and tax cuts affect the national debt?Q19:How much of the government's spending is secret and kept hidden from the public?Q20:Is Social Security going bankrupt and will it be viable for future generations?5Government ShutdownsQ21:What is the process for reaching a budget deal between Congress and the president?Q22:How frequently have government shutdowns occurred?Q23:What happens to government services when there is a shutdown?Q24:How does partisan polarization over the debt issue affect the chances of a government shutdown?6The Financial Crisis and Austerity MeasuresQ25:How did the 2007–08 financial crisis impact the federal government's approach to budgeting and managing the debt?Q26:Did the tarp bailout succeed in preventing an economic collapse?Q27:How did the tea party movement capitalize on the perception that the government spends too much money?Q28:What is sequestration and how did it impact the national debt issue?7The Implications of DebtQ29:How much interest does the United States have to pay on the national debt?Q30:How does the national debt affect the economy, including things such as interest rates, inflation, and the stock market?Q31:Does a ballooning national debt compromise U.S. national security interests, especially if large sums are owed to China?Q32:Can lenders simply call in the debts owed to them by the U.S. government at a moment's notice?8Reforms and the Landscape AheadQ33:Will the national debt ever get paid off by future generations?Q34:What would be the result of the United States defaulting on its debt repayment obligations?Q35:What is the leading justification for a proposed balanced budget amendment?Q36:What other options for reducing the national debt have been considered?Index.
• Publisher Details: New York : ABC-CLIO
• Publication Date: 2022
• Extent: 1 online resource (208 pages)
• Subjects: Political Science -- Public Policy -- Economic Policy; Business & Economics -- Government & Business; Political Science -- Economic Conditions; Public finance
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9798216182900
• Related ISBNs: 9781440876998
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.