The article lists a number of possible reasons but offers no definitive conclusions. You guys can speculate all you want that it's the national debt or what some POTUS or other did or didn't do, whatever is ideologically convenient for you. However, the reality is we just do not know.
Good point, and leads to the point that blaming a politician or political party is ridiculous. They are all on the payroll of special interest groups. Until that changes we are stuck in the mud.
We've got to stop taking sides and picking fights and realize that we need to help each other.
Jumping down off soapbox now...