US national debt per capita is on par with plenty of other developed countries. Why has it become such a big talking point in the US?
National spending per capita is higher here in Denmark but we actually tax our wealthiest 10% so we have a lower debt per capita than many other developed countries.
> Why has it become such a big talking point in the US?
Because one of the two dominant political parties has adopted a strategy for the past several decades of trying to cripple governmental programs by reducing their income or otherwise increasing their outflows (see: USPS), and the national debt is a convenient scapegoat for them to make their point about "see, we're spending too much!"
In the US congress sets a budget that the executive (represented by the president) has to spend, and at the same time puts a limit on the amount of debt they are allowed to take out to spend that money. Somehow they always end up requiring more spending than what's covered by income and allowed debt, just so they can have a regularly scheduled fight to get some concessions in return for graciously allowing the country to pay their bills and continue employing people.
It's a somewhat unique disfunction, and few countries in the world would survive these kinds of games.
National spending per capita is higher here in Denmark but we actually tax our wealthiest 10% so we have a lower debt per capita than many other developed countries.