WASHINGTON, D.C.  April 23 (DPI) – Global debt levels have doubled in the last 15 years, a development that doesn’t get much attention in this age of hyper-partisanship and general obsession with social issues. But Economist Robert Samuelson, in another recent column, posed the question of how much debt is too much debt, and whether rising interest rates will derail economic growth.  The bottom line is that we may soon find out, he writes.

As Samuelson put it, “No one knows the “right” level of debt. It varies among borrowers and may change abruptly, depending on shifting economic and financial circumstances. What seems prudent Tuesday may become inadequate Wednesday.”

Such on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand ruminating doesn’t go over well with many readers, who generally blame Republicans – and especially their recent tax cuts – for accelerated deficit spending.   Public and private debt, it turns out, is merely the source of another pitched battle between conservatives and progressives.  The most popular reader comments on WashingtonPost.com was a deeply sarcastic screed:

Debt is no problem. If the US or world economies start to collapse we will just pass new tax cuts. Works every time. Doesn’t it? And our government agencies will be unrestrained in providing liquidity and regulatory support. Won’t they? Maybe, just maybe, the tax cut uber alles gang should read all of Keynes theory and start acting prudently. As it is the tax cut, borrow and spend gang only knows that Keynes advocated deficit spending when the economy was sluggish. They ignore the rest of his theory that called for surpluses when times are good and, over the long term, a balanced budget.

Another popular comment:

The tax cut here in America has set us up for a recession and the inability to deal with it. It is barely stimulative at all, with the majority going to the wealthiest and their businesses to be used almost exclusively for stock buybacks, dividends, and raises for the top as all but the GOP economists predicted. If debt is the problem going forward, tax cuts were stupid policy. In fact, tax increases on the wealthy and increasing the minimum wage would have been better policy in the long term. That and infrastructure spending, expanded medical care, and working on better funding for education, entitlements, and pensions would have helped long term growth.

Other comments reflect the deep political divide:

You simply don’t understand. GOP debt is good debt. Dem debt is bad debt. It’s simple really.

Debt?! That only matters when Democrats are in charge.