The debt problem in the United States was supposed to destroy the economy. Instead, the deficit is shrinking

Heh. Notice a subtle substitution here :-) The deficit might be shrinking, but the debt keeps on growing.

Also, Scott Adams' list looks like the list of hysterics that a variety of Nervous Nellies threw over the last half a century or so. Media loves declaring a impending disaster for obvious reasons. How many of them were actual slow-moving disasters coming?