On Oct. 1, America was propelled into its first shutdown in over a decade when Congress was unable to pass a yearly budget for agencies, programs, salaries, and the new Affordable Healthcare Act as Republicans refused to raise the debt ceiling and Democrats refused to cut spending—or more simply put, our representatives could not get along.

It’s hard to imagine a situation where owing 17 trillion of anything would be acceptable, whether it be pennies, hugs, or handwritten notes, let alone money. The frightening fact is the national debt is quickly approaching 17 trillion dollars and the Obama administration is not doing anything to solve it.

In order to end the shutdown and not potentially default on foreign loans, Congress agreed to raise the debt ceiling until Feb. 7 of the next year, when they could  reconvene and decide on a solution for the future.

But won’t this temporary “fix” actually worsen the situation? As Congress members sit idly, waiting for another showdown to start the new year, the debt continues to rise.

The immediate answer is simple: cut spending.

The debt supposedly capped three months ago at $16.7 trillion and yet federal expenditures have not stopped. The debt remains increasing and it will continue to do so until we either raise taxes, stop spending money, or both.

“[Congress] needs to quit spending. The need to compromise and not worry about being reelected,” Angela Gardner, AP Government teacher, explains.

It is unlikely even our great-great-grandchildren will see the end of the mounting debt and future generations will continue to pay for current negligence.

Our congress needs to take a page from the kindergarten book and learn the number one rule: compromise makes the world go ‘round.