We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act: Countries That Paid Off Their Debt – And How They Did It

Jeremy Black
Dec 14, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

(The Proof That America Can Do It Too – Faster and Better)

America’s $38 trillion debt isn’t inevitable. It’s a choice, made by politicians who borrow from your future to buy votes today.

But countries have escaped massive debt, and thrived.

They didn’t raise taxes. They didn’t cut core services. They cut waste, ended corruption, and enforced rules.

This is the proof in the pudding that the We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act works.

Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, all paid off crushing debt in the 1990s. All boomed afterward.

America can do it faster, with $1.95 trillion healthcare savings (Pillar 2) and the Lifetime Lobbying Ban (Pillar 1) ending elite theft.

Let’s look at the countries that did it, and how we do it better.

Sweden: From 70 % GDP Debt to Surplus in 5 Years – The Blueprint For We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 1993, Sweden’s debt hit 70 % of GDP, banking crisis, recession, bloated welfare.

What they did:

Cut spending 20 % (no sacred cows, welfare, defense, subsidies)
Pension reform (partial privatization)
No new taxes, focused on waste
Enforced strict budget rules

Result:

Surplus by 1998
Debt down to 40 % GDP by 2000
Growth averaged 3.5 %/year
Unemployment fell from 10 % → 4 %

Sweden proved: Cut waste, enforce rules, economy booms.

The We the People Fiscal Responsibility Act copies this, with Pillar 1 banning the revolving door that blocks cuts.

Canada: From 67 % GDP Debt to Halved in 10 Years – The Comeback Story

1995: Canada’s debt 67 % GDP, called “honorary member of the Third World” by Wall Street Journal.

What they did:

20 % spending cuts (no tax hikes)
Devolved programs to provinces (closer to people)
Ended corporate welfare
Strict budget caps

Result:

Surplus by 1998
Debt halved by 2005
Economy boomed, growth 4 %/year
Unemployment 11 % → 6 %

Canada proved: Cut bloat, push power down, prosperity returns.

The Act does the same, surpluses fund tax cuts and state power.

New Zealand: From 50 % GDP Debt to 20 % in 8 Years – The Radical Turnaround

1992: New Zealand debt 50 % GDP, near bankruptcy.

What they did:

Privatized assets
Welfare reform (work requirements)
Cut subsidies
Strict fiscal rules

Result:

Surplus by 1994
Debt to 20 % GDP by 2000
Growth 4 %/year
Unemployment halved

New Zealand proved: Radical cuts + rules = rapid freedom.

America has more waste, we save more.

U.S. vs. These Countries – The Numbers Side by Side

Country	Peak Debt (% GDP)	Time to Surplus	Debt Reduction	Growth After
Sweden	70 % (1993)	5 years	30 % points	3.5 %/year
Canada	67 % (1995)	3 years	33 % points	4 %/year
New Zealand	50 % (1992)	2 years	30 % points	4 %/year
America (projected)	130 % (2025)	5 years (with Act)	130 % points	2–3 % extra

America starts higher, but ends stronger.

Why These Countries Succeeded – And Why America Can Do It Faster

Common threads:

Cut waste, not essentials
Enforced rules (no loopholes)
No revolving door corruption
No new taxes, savings funded everything

America’s advantage:

$1.95T/year healthcare savings (Pillar 2)
Lifetime Lobbying Ban (Pillar 1) ends donor pressure
Larger economy, surpluses grow faster

We pay off $38T by mid-2040s, they took longer with less.

The Founding Fathers’ Vision – Debt-Free America Is What They Fought For

The Founders revolted over a 3 % tea tax and a distant king’s debt.

They would view $38 trillion as the ultimate betrayal of the Revolution.

Jefferson: “The public debt is the greatest danger”, he would see it as “slavery” and call for immediate paydown.
Hamilton: Favored some debt but managed tightly, he paid off Revolutionary War debt. He would demand balanced budgets as he did with the first U.S. debt.
Madison: “Power closer to the people”, he would decry bloated govt and push devolution to states.
Washington: “Avoid entangling alliances”, he would slash foreign aid and wars.

They would react with rage, rally militias, write pamphlets, boycott taxes, and overthrow the “new tyrants.”

We the People must do the same, peacefully, with the Act.

The Act is their vision reborn.

The Psychology of Debt Acceptance – How Elites Keep Us Complacent

We accept $38T debt because elites use psychology to keep us compliant.

Learned Helplessness: “Too big to fix” (74 % feel powerless, Gallup 2025).
Loss Aversion: Fear immediate cuts more than future pain.
Confirmation Bias: Left blames “Republican tax cuts,” right blames “Democrat spending”, both ignore uniparty truth.
Availability Cascade: Media repeats “debt necessary” until it feels true.

The Founders rejected this, they revolted.

We must too.

What a Debt-Free America Looks Like in 2045 – The Vision Your Grandkids Will Live

Once debt is $0 (mid-2040s under the Act):

$2T/year interest savings back to taxpayers.
Lower taxes: 20–30 % cuts, $5–10k more for middle class.
Invest: $1T education, $500B infrastructure, $300B innovation.
Boom: Growth 1–2 %/year, millions of jobs.
Security: Modern military without borrowing.
Programs: Social Security solvent forever.
Freedom: Money is yours.

Your grandkids ask: “Did people really owe $115,000 at birth?”

You tell them how you helped make it end.

The Elite Enrichment Scheme – How Politicians Get Rich While the Debt Explodes

While debt rose $32T since 2000, politicians got rich.

Average Congress net worth: $1.5M (2000) → $8.2M (2025)
Pelosi: $21M → $120M+
McConnell: $1.2M → $35M+
Presidents: Bush $20M → $80M, Obama $1.3M → $70M, Trump $3B → $6.5B, Biden $9M → $15M+

How? Insider trades, book deals, speaking fees, all legal because of the revolving door.

Pillar 1 bans it. Future: Stock trading ban + pay cap to 1.25x median income.

The Founders envisioned citizen-servants

The Media's Role in Hiding the Uniparty Debt Scam

Left media: Blame “Republican tax cuts”, ignore Democrat spending. Right media: Blame “Democrat socialism”, ignore Republican wars.

Both silent on $700M Pharma donations split 50/50.

Both take billions in ads from the same cartel.

They keep you fighting red vs. blue, so you never fight the uniparty.

The Act ends the scam.

Frequently Asked Questions – 20 Objections Crushed

“We can’t balance the budget without cutting Social Security!” No, the Act ties to Pillar 1 & 2 savings ($1.95T healthcare alone) entitlements stay intact.
“This is too strict, what about emergencies?” Supermajority for emergencies, same as war declarations.
“Debt is good for growth!” At 130 % GDP, it slows growth 0.5–1 %/year (CBO).
“Tax hikes are needed!” No, spending caps + savings = surpluses without hikes.
“This hurts the poor!” Surpluses fund tax cuts and programs, poor win most.
“Politicians will ignore it!” Pillar 1 lobbying ban ends donor pressure.
“Countries that balanced budgets regretted it!” Sweden, Canada, New Zealand all boomed after.
“This is Republican austerity!” Non-partisan, both parties caused the debt.
“What about inflation?” Debt causes inflation, surpluses reduce it.
“The debt isn’t a problem!” $1.2T interest is a problem, more than defense.
“This is un-American!” The Founders hated debt, Jefferson called it “slavery.”
“We need more spending!” We need smarter spending, waste is $1–2T/year.
“Supermajority is too high!” Protects from special interests.
“This locks in bloated govt!” No , forces prioritization.
“What about military?” Debt weakens security, surpluses strengthen it.
“Media says it’s radical!” Media ignores the $38T crisis.
“It will never pass!” We primary them until it does.
“I’m not affected!” Your $115,000 share says otherwise.
“What about COVID-style crises?” Supermajority allows emergency spending.
“What do I do right now?” Call/email your rep demanding co-sponsorship. Join the movement.