But a national debt of more than $14 trillion makes us vulnerable because our economy is the wellspring of our military might, as well as the happiness and self-confidence of a fully employed people.
A new study by Demos finds that one-fifth of middle-class families are living paycheck to paycheck, with little margin of security.
Between 1992 and 2001, the average credit-card debt among Americans over age 65 nearly doubled to $4,041.