>I agree that US debt is a real issue.

I'm not talking about debt.

I'm talking about the 20th century being one of constant progress. Life got better and better, which created a feeling of progress and hope. However, this progress happened while we were constantly increasing the share of taxes. Eventually we will reach a point where we simply cannot increase taxes anymore. Will it be possible to have the kind of hope and progress we had over the past century even if our taxes can't keep going up and up? Or will we devolve into trying to "nickel & dime" everything through politics?

And yes, my commentary is about the world, because we are all heading in the same direction on this. This isn't something you can grow an economy out of.