I heard that NJ has a state indebtedness of $32 Billion or like $13,600 for every family of four ($3,400 each). The scary part is that doesn't count the obligations for state pensions and retiree health care. The report said if you included this the total would be something like $106 Billion!
I think the national debt is a lot of smoke and mirrors, and not insurmountable when looked at in the context of GDP. However state debt is a whole other animal. All that being said, Texas has a surplus this year of $13 Billion, and our state constitution insists that the budget is balanced each year (although they just raised the tuition at the state universities).
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I hope your friend gets his license revoked before he kills someone or himself.