Live data from Hacker News

U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

fred.stlouisfed.org

41–50 of 233 posts

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#41
post #12

time to buy bitcoin

Haha, so you can bribe the President? I hope this comment is satire.

The "masses" are well aware of crypto at this point and BTC is down 47% over this past year. It's just not that useful unless you're trying to skirt laws/regulations[1] or LARPing as a sovereign citizen.

1: Yes, I know, BTC is not even good pick for financial crimes either.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#42

It always gives me an ominous feeling to see these headlines. It's like we're walking out further and further on a frozen lake. "Hey, it's OK, the ice hasn't cracked yet! Let's keep going!"

I've always heard people say that the US debt doesn't matter when the debt itself is denominated in USD.

It's the old saying, if you owe the bank $1,000 then you have a problem. But if you owe the bank a trillion dollars then the bank has a problem.

Especially when that trillion dollars was spent on an insane fleet of aircraft carriers.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#43

The wisdom was that the US dollar due to its exorbitant privilege ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorbitant_privilege#Origin ) can afford these debts. Countries put up with it because the US "provided protection" and insured maritime freedom of navigation. Oh wait ...

Dangerously close to discovering the premise of Accidental Superpower from first principles.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#44
This Is Probably Fine! by Patrick Boyle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvsDmwZWdM - May 29th, 2026

> US 30-year Treasury yields just hit 5.2% — the highest level since July 2007. UK gilt yields are at levels not seen since 1998. Japanese bond yields are at record highs. Something is happening in global bond markets, and it's not just about inflation. In this video I explain what's driving the global rise in long-term borrowing costs, why the era of free money is probably over, and what fiscal dominance means for central bank independence. I cover the history of US presidents fighting with the Federal Reserve — including LBJ shoving his Fed Chair against a wall — the 1970s UK economic collapse, the Liz Truss mini-budget crisis, the role of private credit and off-balance-sheet SPVs in financing the AI boom, and what all of this means for the new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#45
post #23
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both can be true. The previous administration bailed out the unfunded pension funds of cities and state employees when they did Covid-19 bailouts despite it having nothing to do with Covid-19 and without requiring these local governments to properly fund these pensions moving forward. They bailed these pension programs out many times more than their financial support for restaurants they forced closed. Basically, Ame…

It's likely not politically feasible for a genuine attempt at right-sizing our budget, although we have had attempts (short-lived) in the past. Blaming a political party for this is pointless, although there is a party that has postured as the fiscal adult in the room. It could be a very messy bubble if/when it collapses, and I think our way out at this point would have to be AI-driven productivity gains. Hopefully A…

[deleted]

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#46

Not an American, but I would argue that this level while little bit of a concern is not a huge issue for a superpower that borrows in its own currency and has the military and economic might to crush any party (sovereign or corporate) attempting move away from that system. You guys are too powerful.

We are still too powerful, but we're squandering that power alarmingly fast. We have destroyed diplomatic soft power. Our software industry used to be able to rely on getting 50% of their revenue outside the US, but we can't be trusted now, and that market can no longer be counted on.

One can get away with being an asshole only so long.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#47
post #42

It always gives me an ominous feeling to see these headlines. It's like we're walking out further and further on a frozen lake. "Hey, it's OK, the ice hasn't cracked yet! Let's keep going!"

I've always heard people say that the US debt doesn't matter when the debt itself is denominated in USD. It's the old saying, if you owe the bank $1,000 then you have a problem. But if you owe the bank a trillion dollars then the bank has a problem. Especially when that trillion dollars was spent on an insane fleet of aircraft carriers.

The quiet part you're not supposed to say out loud is the "if you don't use our currency to transact for energy and thereby let us tax it via inflation we'll regime change you" implication it comes with.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#48
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both can be true. The previous administration bailed out the unfunded pension funds of cities and state employees when they did Covid-19 bailouts despite it having nothing to do with Covid-19 and without requiring these local governments to properly fund these pensions moving forward. They bailed these pension programs out many times more than their financial support for restaurants they forced closed. Basically, Ame…

The problem is that half the political system thinks you can cut taxes and grow revenues. Which is an intentional strategy to repeal social programs that they’d never get the votes to do so via legislation

[flagged]

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#49
post #42

It always gives me an ominous feeling to see these headlines. It's like we're walking out further and further on a frozen lake. "Hey, it's OK, the ice hasn't cracked yet! Let's keep going!"

I've always heard people say that the US debt doesn't matter when the debt itself is denominated in USD. It's the old saying, if you owe the bank $1,000 then you have a problem. But if you owe the bank a trillion dollars then the bank has a problem. Especially when that trillion dollars was spent on an insane fleet of aircraft carriers.

This used to be true, but less so after the US started alienating the rest of the world with tariffs and other erratic behavior. The US military has also been revealed to be incapable of controlling the strait of Hormuz.

Re: U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio reaches 123%

#50
post #42

It always gives me an ominous feeling to see these headlines. It's like we're walking out further and further on a frozen lake. "Hey, it's OK, the ice hasn't cracked yet! Let's keep going!"

I've always heard people say that the US debt doesn't matter when the debt itself is denominated in USD. It's the old saying, if you owe the bank $1,000 then you have a problem. But if you owe the bank a trillion dollars then the bank has a problem. Especially when that trillion dollars was spent on an insane fleet of aircraft carriers.

This idea is based on the fantasy idea of "it's fine because the US can just inflate away its currency to reduce its debts". This is also often used as an argument for why countries shouldn't join the Euro because they'd be giving up an important tool.

The reality is that purposefully inflating your currency to reduce your debt burden is going to upset your creditors just as much as if you just defaulted on your debts, but will have the added affect of crippling your economy with inflation. Look at how much Americans freaked out over a year or two of 6% yearly inflation. How do you think Americans would respond to 30% *monthly* inflation like in Argentina or Turkey?

It's not like lenders won't notice if the USA tried to print its way out of debt.

Post reply on HN