While I believe most of us think we should pay the debt down, there are some interesting alternatives. For instance, what if we had a war with China? If we won or lost, it is very likely that the debt would "go away". In one case it would he forgiven and in tyeother case, we would eliminate it. Alas, I see no end game on the national debt anytime soon.

I highly doubt that the United States government will ever pay off the 15 trillion dollar national deficit because all the government has to do is just keep printing more money and not reduce the debt. Glenn Beck said this and its because the money will just become worthless in the world market.

The answer should be yes, but as we view and understand the people in our government better, we realize that there isn't going to be any major changes for a while. Over a course of many years, we might be fortunate enough to witness such a debt being paid.

The long term plan is to just hope that everyone 'forgets about it.'

If everyone converted into Christianity (the correct faith) they we could all abolish money and create a fair society, then our debt would be paid off.

Of course the debt should be payed. But in my view, it never will be! Hate to use him as an example, but after the great war, Hitler never payed the billions of pounds asked for in the treaty of Versailles...

It seems unlikely. The government is addicted to spending and raising the debt ceiling. It almost seems like there's no turning back... just dig the hole long enough until magic answers arrive to fix everything before our economy collapses and we lose everything.

lulz.

No, as said before, the goverment is addicted to spending. They keep trying to tell people it will be erased. Yea, in about 1,000 years. You, your children, and you great grand children, and their children, etc... will all be paying for it.

Chances are that it will take most likely a century. It is just like the consumer who is facing heavy finance charges eating into his monthly payment and he is not seeing his balance go down.