Indebtedness: An American Tradition

Apparently taking on huge sums of debt ranks right up there with apple pie and fireworks on the Fourth of July as an American Tradition.

From Tim Geithner, when he formally asked Congress to raise the $12.1 trillion debt limit:

"Congress has never failed to raise the debt limit when necessary. Because members of both parties have long recognized the need to keep politics away from this issue, these actions have traditionally received bipartisan support. This is clearly a moment in our history that calls for continuation of that tradition."