>The mortgage is paid on a fixed schedule over 30 years
But now imagine that you are never allowed to pay it off: you only pay the interest. And the debt will be passed to your children, and their children. This is the US Govt debt.
In feudal times, you worked for your lord and master. If you didn't pay, armed men would come and take your stuff. In modern times, you still work for your lords and masters, and if you don't pay, armed men will come and take your stuff. How they did this was to create an income tax, and then have their cronies in the house and senate spend more and more and never "pay off the mortgage".
In modern times, the lord and master is older generations (or soon to be old generations) that vote for greater and greater benefits and lower taxes for themselves.
But now imagine that you are never allowed to pay it off: you only pay the interest. And the debt will be passed to your children, and their children. This is the US Govt debt.
In feudal times, you worked for your lord and master. If you didn't pay, armed men would come and take your stuff. In modern times, you still work for your lords and masters, and if you don't pay, armed men will come and take your stuff. How they did this was to create an income tax, and then have their cronies in the house and senate spend more and more and never "pay off the mortgage".