Actually, that can’t be the destination. We can monetize our debt and make it somewhat our creditors’ problem. Greece must live with whatever stock of Euros are available. That means they hit the wall we can keep pushing back.
Not sure what comparison makes the most sense: if people had a good grasp of world history, I’d suggest reading about the Roman Empire in the West after about 275 AD. The probable result for us is being drowned in barbarians, who may or may not be assimilable. If they are, then we end up like Gaul was: under attack but internally stable, if impoverished. If not, then we end up like Tunisia: overrun, our cities burned and our most stalwart citizens hunted down.
I’m not sure if we can monetize it. Much of it is short term or at least medium term debt. That debt cannot be monetized.