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It's not just an idea; it's in our Constitution!

Fourteenth Amendment, section 4: "The validity of the public debt of the United States...shall not be questioned."

This seems to be in contradiction with the first amendment

That's not what "shall not be questioned" means. It's a term of art meaning that the Government cannot refuse to pay valid claims on its debt.

Ah, that makes sense

As long as the debt is in its own currency printing to repay is always an option.

Read it not as 'may not be', but 'nothing shall be done that should give cause to'.