No, we're not doomed. We can drastically reduce the debt by calling in all the markers with interest and at present value owed to the US by other Countries since WWI, WWII, Korea, including the Middle East (all of those countries), South America, Africa etc. Open the US owned Gold Mines. Pass laws requiring a balanced budget with no governmental salaries will be paid if budgets are not met. Add on to that a law that states 'if the US does not meet budget requirements' then all sitting federal Politicians are not eligible for reelection at any point in the future and if any Federal representative in the Legislative or Executive branch does not meet a budget of their respective constituent requirements, they too are no longer eligible for any public office. Politicians should only be allowed to earn the Median Income of the Constituency that they represent. I could go on but we all know none of this will get done because it will affect the wallets of every Federal employee. And, YES, Politicians are our Employees.