According to Washington, accumulating national debt can be avoided by

Answer: He further reminded his fellow countrymen, and by extension today's citizens and policymakers, that "towards the payment of debts there must be revenue; that to have revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant."

This "choice of difficulties," he noted, "ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time dictate."

In modern times, we would call this a "pay-as-you-go" philosophy. It is a philosophy that is now very much at risk.