Arguments For
The greatest threat is that, due to the large size of the debt, at some point investors will lose confidence that they will get their money back. No one knows what this tipping point could be, because no country with an economy this large has ever run a debt this large. Once investors lose confidence, a panic could ensure, causing everyone to sell their Treasury Notes immediately, at any price, to avoid losing more money.As the safety of Treasury investments is questioned, other investments will become more attractive:
- The global stock market is becoming more transparent. Latin American and South East Asian countries have become more open to investment.
- Japan's economy is finally recovering.
- Central banks throughout the world have not dropped rates as low as the U.S. This makes their own countries' bonds look more attractive.
- U.S. Senators are putting pressure on China to raise its currency to allow the U.S. to become more competitive. The higher China allows its currency to rise, the less Treasury Notes it needs.

