Notice the Federal debt AFTER the Federal Reserve was formed. Also private debt started to increase. The chart makes this look like a depression instead of a recession. Maybe a "little" inflation would help bring down the debt.
Also NOTICE that the Federal debt grew SLOWER than the economy from Reagan through GW Bush. Then look at how the Federal debt grew AFTER Obama faster than the economy.
The economy has to grow,
We have to have inflation,
or we go into depression.