How much people do you think, understand what 10 $Trillion national Debt means?

Question

I see a lot fo times confussion on this boards about Billions Trillions and Millions. Same like people don't seem to know, we are in two wars, they mix up numbers, like its no concern. Do you think, that most poeple minds can not comprehend a Billion or Trillion?

Ahh, the spell obsessed are among us too. God bless your teeny brain.

Answer 1

You forgot the 2 trillion the feds owe the sos trust fund

Answer 2

The American people have no one else to blame but themselves for this insanity !! They have been lead down a road of FEAR to the point of giving an absolute Carte Blanche to the Federal government to do whatever they saw fit --- when from decades in the past we have seen --- what they have"seen fit" to throw tons and tons of money at and it hasn't EVER been reasonable OR fiscally sound --- even with the tightest of restraints !!!
We have sit back and allowed the current administration throw Multiplied Billions into the "rebuilding" of Iraq by way of a company --- undeniably attached TO the White House in business that wasn't even considered to go anywhere else BUT there !! And, even to the tune of that same company actually LOOSING SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVEN'T ACCOUNTED FOR TO THIS VERY DAY !!!

Bush has seen fit to throw money at EVERY conceivable project having to do with the efforts on every level of every form of bureaucracy -- while shooting down every program for Public Benefit that has come across his desk (ie the recent children's health care initiative !!)

The National Debt has been increased THREE TIMES OVER in the term of this administration --- and, this while they have seen fit to cut the wealthiest American's loose from their tax responsibilities !!!
The Republicans talk of Democrats being TAX AND SPEND
while they, themselves prefer to spend and spend and spend and leave the taxation necessary to cover these debts to the fiscally responsible actions OF the Democrats --where they can then point a boney finger at Democrats and say --- SEE there they are taxing you again !!! If you spend -- you must PAY sooner or later -- PERIOD !! And this number you have thrown out here is not even comprehensible to most people -- it is a debt load --- that with only the middle class to pay --- will take GENERATIONS of people being taxed to the absolute hilt !!!!!
But, there are those that say that this IS THE PLAN -- to burden the people with so many debts that they are literally ENSLAVED BY THEM !!! And, if that is the plan --- it seems to be working ----- quite well indeed !!!

Answer 3

I have a hard time with only a Billion.
A Billion seconds ago it was 1959
A Billion minutes ago Jesus was alive
A Billion hours ago our ancestors were in the stone age
A Billion days ago NOONE walked the earth
A Billion dollars ago with our dept was only eight hours and twenty minutes ago
If New Orleans gets 250 Billion dollars to rebuild - it would mean - over $500,000 for each of the almost 500,000 residents
or
over $1,329,000 per home

Answer 4

lol
nice point!
The debt... at times be on shaking ground... especially when Foreign investors are not ON BOARD!

As soon as Foreigners seek to purchase bonds else where... despite HOW bad our Housing market is... or good our so called inflation rate... unemployment rate....
It means ONE thing only!

INterest rates go up!!!

We are so use to watching our SHORT TERM rate calls through the federal reserve.... people do not comprehend that foreigners can manipulate the direction of WORLD interest rates..... if they lose the confidence of the US economy... others look to be better investments... ie/ Canada's housing... export and resources (oil) markets ALL look better than AMerica's ... hence... Canada's interst rates and or Canadian dollar appear to be stronger and or appealing.

Back on topic:
Debt needs to make returns...
Loan sharks... reach a point where if their biggest client's debt is too big... will they continue to lend them money?
or do they just give him a pair of cement shoes???

my two cents worth.

w

Answer 5

They can't perceive the size of the debt because they don't understand that consequences of it. The funny thing is that it's hurting their wallets, so how could it be that they don't perceive it?
You have to take all government employees and people on welfare out of the equation. They have no idea how much the money is worth because they don't work for money, they just "are" for money, they truly believe that they're entitled to money for being. You know, human rights, socialism, etc.
But for the worker, the one who gets paid for his work, it's different. He knows how much sweat a dollar is worth and he suffers dearly every time the government takes the fruit of his sweat to spread it around. He's the one who suffer the dimension of the debt because he's the one carrying it over his shoulders.
For the others, it's just a number. They don't have to work for it.

Answer 6

Most people can't comprehend how much it costs them when their credit cards are maxxed out. To even try to imagine billions or trillions of debt is beyond the realm of possibility for most of us. All we can be certain of is this: we'll be paying off that debt for decades - perhaps even generations. -RKO- 11/02/07

Answer 7

Well, since a large percentage of Americans cannot point out America on a globe, I am guessing that the billion/trillion thing is way over everyone's head.

Answer 8

If divided evenly and considering that there is 300million in the US.Every American is owes $33,333.If taxed equally every one would have to pay at least $1500 a year just to cover the interest.That`s scary!

Answer 9

my calculator doesnt go that high

im in construction and i tend to imagine big things in dump trucks

like how many dump trucks would it take to haul an oil tanker?

anyone know the conversion factor for the weight of dollar bills to tons? LOL

Answer 10

Millions and millions, just like the millions that don't comprehend how easy it is to use the check spelling function.