Maxing Out the National Debt Clock

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Hi!

Great idea, but will this work over the long run?

DAlbert of AL @ Jul 13, 2009 13:15:52 PM

Good People?

Where are they? In today's society, the cool things are sex, quick money, glamous, power of violence, diminishing all the serious punishment for bad guys, who wants to be a good guy?

I remember in Regan's era, the capatism boomed to the fullest, rich people get richer, debts is not a problem, deregulation of most commercial ban, introducing of Hollywood style life style as reuglar, talking tough and acting muchle....

Isn't moral deteriating since then?

I think capitalism promote greed and socialism retrict people's freedom of doing bad but giving power to a few that strive to get on top (so we have to depend on their capabality or goodness to function in life). Indeed, there are two of the evils, which one works better, depends on the situation we are in.

As for virtues, who are defining them and practising them?

Churches? Schools? Congress? Courts? TV stations? Hollywood?

Prisident? Or general people? I need the answer.

HH

HH of MA @ Jun 26, 2009 14:17:50 PM

the real problem

The real problem here is not fiscal -- it's moral. Good people do not need tons of regulations designed to force them to do the right thing. Yes, i'm a capitalist but i know that theoretically either Capitalism or Socialism would work under one very important condition -- that all people perfect. The more we are self-centered, greedy, lacking care for others, and unconcerned about our neighbor, the more short-lived any economy will be; laws are powerless but to delay what only a spiritual and moral awakening can reverse.

I think that if we look at the moral state of our nation, we will find that the economic rot we see is only one indicator of our moral rot in all areas. It's seen in the pornography purveyed in the name of advertising, the glorification of thievery and murder in order to sell video games, the excusing of a President's perjury to cover up adultery, the abandonment of church dogma in order to retain membership, and the lust of clergyman who not only sell their own souls but destroy innocent children in the process. It's the same disease whether it's destroying GM or eating up our family structure. No government can bail out our hedonism or buy us self-control.

It is a story worth repeating: once when The Times asked several prominent authors to write essays on the subject "What's Wrong with the World?" they received the following reply:

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely yours,

G. K. Chesterton

Marty of NY @ Jun 22, 2009 17:25:05 PM

National Debt

Capitalism, Socialism, Communism....you end up with the same thing, politicians who are irresponsible when it comes to expenditures and citizens who demand to be taken care of, but resent paying for it. All the regulations in the world are not going to prevent the eventual collapse of economies and financial structures. It's just a repeat of the arms race. Regulations spur the development of plans and methods to avoid them. A deficit the size of the one that the U.S. is currently building will eventually destroy the value of the dollar and probably take down a good deal of other currencies with it. Be realistic. You cannot borrow your way out of debt.

Walt of WA @ Jun 17, 2009 16:58:26 PM

National Debt

I have been concerned about the national debt since 1976 when I learned at age 20 the debt was $60 billion. Now were at $1.7 trillion for 2010. Are we looking at total collapse of the dollar and hyper-inflation and then bankruptcy. A new government will appear and it will not be good. Please explain how we as a people can survive?

Ed of CT @ Jun 03, 2009 01:15:22 AM

Debt clock

Will,

You miss the point. The clock is privately owned by a person who wants everyone to see what is going on!!!

The government does not pay for or want anyone to see the clock!

Craig of OR @ May 31, 2009 14:35:51 PM

Truth In Economy

Seriously, folks!

The US learned long ago we would NEVER be able to move backward in our spending. Our economy, Capitalism, complete with crooks, greedy folk, and the rest of us living beyond our means should have been a red flag long ago. Do you honestly believe we can afford luxury for what little we contribute. We are either ripping off the rest of the world to live like we did, or worse, we are lying to ourselves and printing money that pays things. If we were to take a step back and get a grip on our reality, we would definitely see what we saw this year with the banks...because THAT issue IS reality.

Let the deficit grow and enjoy life and, last of all shhhhhhh-don't tell the rest of the world!

Tom Ellis of NC @ May 27, 2009 13:55:00 PM

WHAT!?

This is the most rediculose thing ive ever herd, the money they wana use to make that clock go to 16 digits should be going to paying are debt so it dosnt hit that! heres the current debt people... 11,200,000,000,000.. this is what there saying it could hit... 9,999,999,999,999,999, do you have 1/304,000,000% of that money cause thats the u.s population. are goverment has failed us royaly and its are time to make a change, start saving your money!!

Phil the informer of VA @ May 17, 2009 18:53:15 PM

let's think...

They ran out of space on the original clock, took out the dollar sign to make room for another digit, and now they're building another clock...

Am I the only one who thinks that we should focus on ELIMINATING the national debt instead of building a bigger clock? Seriously, something is wrong with this picture here.

Will Smith of MA @ May 14, 2009 17:33:48 PM

What are we spending?

All this focus on Debt...Deficit Spending, Interest, etc...

Can we get a simple list of the final yearly tally of what was spent from this year back to 1976?

What is the Real number, versus the proposed budget...did we go over/under on the respective years?

Then what is the breakdown of those dollars spent...where did they actually go?

First some general information...then I would love to follow up with some detailed inquiries...

Obviously, the #1 key to reversing the trend it so live within our means...thus this requires a change in spending...effectively cutting costs. Remove Deficit spending and build up a surplus to pay down the debt.

Military Spending = I support our military and our National Defense. I would also like to know how is our military money being spent, and how can we lower this cost, without hurting our Security?

Health/Medical = same thing as military spending...where is the money going and how can we adjust our spending habits, while keeping America healthy...Could we lower medical costs by spending more on preventive medicine? How much money is going to organizations that are elective versus required? (Abortion and Homosexual issues) Who determines what is medically needed versus some political agenda medical issue?

Education = where is the money going...how can we cut spending and keep education strong? Are there too many Chiefs making too much money with a poor performance? How much are spending on materials, that could be used a bit longer? (Books, Technology, etc...) Facilities?

Infrastructure = How much are spending here...and where? Is it truly necessary ("Bridge to Nowhere") ... Can some roads do okay for a few more years, and thus perhaps slow down some the "Infrastructure Growth" How do we promote other means of commerce?

Other areas...

Bottom line, in my house, when our income is high and our spending is low, we are able to splurge on non-needed items...basically tapping into our wish list. However when our income is low, we adjust our spending and we stop doing those things that cause us to go in debt.

It's painful to do when the money is short, but it's a survival thing...We need some leaders in our government willing to make the difficult Political choices to benefit the financial health of our nation. Sometimes that might mean, spending less on a new Tank, or stopping funds to support a Planned Parenthood project, or deciding not to bail out a bank or some other 'Big Business', or giving funds to a "Community" organization such as ACORN that is all about Deficit spending rather than SAVING MONEY...

Out Government spending has risen to be out of control and we the people must stand up and change our governments direction with our finances.

When my kids ask me for money to do some cool school activity and I don't have it in my budget, I tell them NO!!! I don't put it on a credit card...if it's not on the budget and I don't have the income the answer is no.

92bDad of TX @ Apr 20, 2009 15:59:40 PM

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Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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