Recently, the huge amount of federal debt, influenced in large part by federal stimulus funding program such as the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (covered later in the course), and a long history of debt even without the effects of a pandemic, has brought federal debt to the forefront of political concerns of most Americans. Let's explore what you think about federal debt.

• Is having such a large federal debt really a bad thing?
• If the U.S. has been in debt since the end of the Civil War, why do you think it has become such an important issue now?
• If you think the debt is worrisome, what do you think should be done about it? Propose at least two solutions.