The difference is that then, the debt was in single-digit trillions and the annual deficits were 1/3 what they are now.
The debt issue was serious then but it is beyond critical now since the shoving of Obamacare, Stimulus, bailouts, TARP, QE 1&2, and huge growth of virtually every socialist program up our keesters.
Does anyone know what the ceiling was at the time and what it was increased to?