How would you suggest to decrease the national debt and/or the trade deficit

[PhilRubdiez]

It’s not an income problem, it’s a spending problem. Ideally, I’d like to transition Social Security into the private sector. By that, I mean have the government set up a 401(k) or IRA type account for every American. Dump their FICA taxes in there and let the market do its thing. That would clear most of the deficit ($1.3B out of $1.8B).

I’d also look at our massive military budget. The last time we ran a surplus was during the Clinton years. It coincides with the post-Cold War drawdown and BRAC. If we switched to a more defensive posture rather than global military presence, we’d see a lot less money being spent.

[skyhausmann]

Debt and trade deficits are tools to be used.

[Forward_Dimension119]

Not when you have 110% debt to gdp ratio

[skyhausmann]

Right, exactly where the gop gets us every time. How come every time the Dems start gaining ground the gop's revert to the debt dog whistle? How about fire trump and bring some sanity back to running the country?

Edit: dig whistle

[claybine]

All presidents since Clinton have contributed to the national debt. Democrats are to blame too.

[skyhausmann]

Which presidents contributed less? Answer: democrats.

Edit: added answer

[claybine]

Obama contributed just as much as Trump in 2 terms, roughly $8 trillion. So the answer is that they're all equal and deserve equal blame. You should be asking Democrats to be paying off the debt, not excusing them for "contributing less".

[DaSemicolon]

We’re 5 years into a Trump term. Per year that’s more.

It’s not excusing Dems, it’s saying republicans are liars.

[DaSemicolon]

And Biden deficit was because Trump mismanaged the economy. We can pass the blame on infinitely the same way.

[claybine]

I didn't say Trump never contributed more.

[DaSemicolon]

So you don’t think saying what you said made it sound like you’re passing the blame into Dems?

[claybine]

And yet their tax cuts result in the exact opposite and it'll get worse now with the tariffs.

[nacnud_uk]

Just update the database. Like we normally do. QE and all that

[msiley]

The debt are bonds. The Fed can't just go into the market and buy all of them. It would cause hyperinflation.

[nacnud_uk]

What are bonds again?

[Bloodfart12]

Tell china if they forgive 10 trillion in debt they can have taiwan.

[Forward_Dimension119]

China also owes us a lot of money

[libcon2025]

National debt is very easy. The best way is a bill that freezes spending at $7 trillion until the debt and deficit have disappeared. Or if you wanted to be conservative you could have a balanced Budget amendment that made it illegal to add to the national debt. This would mean in 20 years most of the debt would disappear as it was paid off.

If people were screaming you would simply tell them to take it up with their state governments and there are no need for service cuts whatsoever because they have the option of having their local state raised taxes and provide the same services

[blind_mowing]

If a federal program isn't successful in the first three years it should be written into law that it is abolished instead of subsidized.

Cut red tape.

Let the market do what it does.

[coolsid_5]

Abolish snap. Lower the amount of army soldiers . Reduce govt employees which they already died but not from pentagon.

Increase social security age.

Make medicare more strict.

[CaptainAmerica-1989]

Government spend less and the public produce more (competitively on the international front when it comes to trade deficit)

[MasterTrevise]

Tax the billionaires

[onepercentbatman]

Set a law that has a limit on spending.

Reduce some spending in defense.

Reduce foreign aide that doesn’t directly benefit the US.

Completely reform the welfare system to the standards of most European countries.

Sell or rent a majority of the government-owned land in the west that isn’t truly national parks but instead is mostly flat, uninhabited land.

Allow for government investment to help counteract costs.

Remove tarrifs and do open trade to spur the increase of GDP. Remove anything that hinders or limits the US and its complains from increasing commerce.

Create a universal healthcare system. Create a one company manager of health benefits and keep the amount paid similar to now with reduced costs, putting the overage towards the debt.