Should We Worry About the National Debt?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with this essential question: What impact does the national debt have on Americans?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. government should consider the national debt when making policy decisions. The issue is timely because the debt currently sits at a record $36 trillion, and it continues to grow minute by minute.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Bill Hoagland is the senior vice president of a Washington D.C., think tank. Stephanie Kelton is an economist and a proponent of Modern Monetary Theory.)

• Analyze Hoagland’s view. (Hoagland argues that we should worry about the national debt because it is on track to become larger than the American economy, which may lead to spending cuts on social programs. The debt may also lead to higher national interest rates, which would increase expenses for citizens.)

• Analyze Kelton’s view. (Kelton argues that we should not worry about the national debt because the U.S. can print its own money and will never run out of it. Therefore, the debt just shows an accounting of how much the nation spends on its citizens and has no negative impact on the economy.)  

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Should we worry about the national debt? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.