If you have paid attention to politics at all in the last couple decades you are probably aware of politicians squabbling over the debt ceiling a few times a year. The debt ceiling was imposed by congress, in theory, to prevent excessive spending and ensure the US government can pay all of its bills. It is no different from a head of household shutting off expenses towards the end of the month or year when outlays become bigger than inlays. The difference is, the US government works in budgets of trillions versus a typical household of hundreds and thousands.
In modern politics, the debt ceiling does little to nothing to curb US government spending. Instead, it is used to hold the government’s ability to pay its bills hostage to some political hot point. For the upcoming debt ceiling that is about to expire in February, that topics is immigration, which clearly has nothing to do with the debt ceiling. However, the minority party (Democrats )are using the debt ceiling as a way to force a discussion and legislation around immigration. Republicans performed similar actions when they were in the minority power a few years ago.
One thing that is lost in all of this discussion is that US government debt continues to balloon at staggering rate to over $20 trillion in 2017 and continues to rise in 2018! All of this arguing about the debt ceiling year-over-year does nothing to curb our continued debt increase, but instead serves to distract from the underlying issue. This stat is very similar to what is currently going on with student loan debt, which not stands at nearly $1.5 trillion! If the government debate on the debt ceiling is any indication of our current politics, there is almost no chance politicians will try to tackle this growing student loan debt epidemic. While normal Americans can do little to effect the US government debt ceiling, individuals can tackle their own debt challenges with some education, diligence, and perseverance.
BYE Student Debt can help individuals tackle their student loan challenges through their educational resources and calculator tools. By creating a budget, setting a strategy and goal, reconsolidating certain loans, and prioritizing a payoff schedule, students can save thousands in interest payments and years of debt free living. Say BYE to debt ceiling politics and hello to a life without student loan debt!