system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does the US credit rating that went down from a AAA to AA affect me, the average consumer?
gpt
Your dad is the head of the household. He's is real good on paying back people and makes a lot of money and is rather wealthy, so people trust lending him money. In the last couple of years, your dad did some irresponsible things and even threatened to not pay even though he can. Finally, one of the community leaders/experts said that your dad may not be as trustworthy as everyone thought.

So either people ignore that suggestion or people start asking more money (interest) when not only your dad asks for money, but when anyone in your family does. 

So anything with interest from credit cards to variable rate mortgages to private student loans COULD, but may not, increase. What if you don't owe any money? Well states and cities may also find their borrowing rates higher and may struggle keeping things running while maintaining services and not raising taxes.