Both Democrats and Republicans complain about America's national debt, what illumine crisis

it is and how we have to do something about it.

And well they should.

The numbers defy comprehension.

Currently, the debt stands at around $17 trillion, much of that coming in just the last

few years.

To put it simply, our government spent $17 trillion more than it took in.

That's one huge deficit, wouldn't you say?

How did it happen?

To answer that, we have to focus on three programs, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Social Security is a government pension program for people over 65.

Medicare is a government health insurance program for people over 65.

And Medicaid is a government health assistance program for people who can't afford to buy

insurance.

The debt picture has admittedly become a little more complicated and more severe because

of the massive increases in government spending on unemployment benefits and other federal

assistance programs related to the 2009 recession.

But the big three, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid remain at the center of the

problem.

In fact, spending in every other area, including defense, all other appropriations and other

federal entitlements, those significant, make up a smaller share of the economy than has

historically been the case.

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