[semantic]

For someone who professes to be wide awake, you seem to neglect one important point: neither you, nor any other 'citizens' are in control. Your list of practical solutions are presented as if anyone has the ability to implement them ie the rationale adult approach.

Sorry, but the debt-money system can NEVER contract - it must ALWAYS expand. It is the one true universal policy driver. That is why immigration, illegal & otherwise, is unofficial policy, regardless of what 'citizens' want. You can use this same top-down exercise to explain any growth in debt, both public (government) and private.

It's why the Fed is now bailing out Europe. The balance sheet must ALWAYS expand. It doesn't matter what "assets" are purchased/swapped eg Treasuries, toxic MBS, Euro bonds, etc.

My advice is to forget 'solutions'; this baby was designed to fail from the day the Fed was created on Dec 23, 1913.

[wideawake]

So, no easily-built model for me to examine then?