A perennial inquiry among financial circles—from bitcoin enthusiasts to gold stalwarts—centers on the U.S. national debt’s vertiginous climb to $36.51 trillion by Feb. 22, 2025. Contrary to the specious assertions of certain commentators who simplistically blame tax reductions, the crux lies in three interlocking forces: expansive fiscal outlays, unrelenting shortfalls between revenue and expenditures, and