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October 10, 2008
US Debt Clock Runs Out Of Digits
Until last month, the clock had enough digits to measure US debt levels
US debt clock runs out of digits
The US government's debts have ballooned so badly the National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits to record the spiralling figure.
The digital counter marks the national debt level, but when that passed the $10 trillion point last month, the sign could not display the full amount.
The board was erected to highlight the $2.7 trillion level of debt in 1989.
The clock's owners say two more zeros will be added, allowing the clock to record a quadrillion dollars of debt.
Douglas Durst, son of the late Seymour Durst - the clock's inventor - hopes to replace the Manhattan clock with its lengthier replacement early next year.
For the time being, the Times Square counter's electronic dollar sign has been replaced with the extra digit required.
For its part, the digital dollar symbol has been supplanted by a cheaper version - perhaps a sign of the times for the American economy.
Some economists believe the $700bn bail-out plan for ailing US financial institutions could send the national debt level to $11 trillion.
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Wild Thing's comment...........
"Somebody ride back into town and get a $#!tload of dimes!" - Slim Pickins, Blazing Saddles
No worries; the Obama "Messiah" will soon come to our rescue and all will be well!
Looks like I better get used to the next term "Quadrillion" if B. Hussein Obama wins this election.
Drop $1 per second into a hole -- it will take you
Eleven and a half Days to drop $1 Million.
Thirty One and A Half Years to drop $1 Billion.
Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty plus Years to drop $1 Trillion.
....Thank you Tom for sending me this article.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 10, 2008 05:47 AM
Comments
In less than 20 years America has almost quadrupled it's debt. Because of that debt, a big chunk of America is owned by China and the Arabs. The debt is climbing at a rapid rate and our leaders seem to not care. This is one of many things I have against George W Bush. He has been a big spender, like a liberal run amok.
Posted by: TomR at October 10, 2008 09:28 AM
Scary, after 30 years of trying to make the nation energy independent I find it a squandered effort in my life.
Some here remember the '70's when automakers moved to protect their own, Ford had a POS the Falcon and the Pinto that wasn't selling, underpowered, prone to breakdowns and shoddy workmanship, they lobbied to put in place an import tax on Japanese cars that were selling for up to a $1000 less than the same class domestic cars, the tax passed under Nixon's administration(remember, wage and price freezes), putting $600 to $1000 excise taxes on the import, Ford promptly added that increase to the base price of their POS.
I still snicker at the charade from the left and their "Buy American" campaign, it can't be done. Pick any arena from oil to agriculture. It covers up the fact that all the automakers have merged with or have outsourced to foreign companies, the NIMBY's want the perks of industry but heaven forbid that they reconstruct and start up the steel mills, why that might mean using the evil coal we have in abundance. They can't even keep abreast of the electrical needs and like Obama's side it's tax and conserve our way to prosperity.
Look to innovators like Wal-Mart to buy American made goods for retail, those labeled made in China, or Hecho en Mexico, foodstuffs, wow, now we are marketing Canadian and Mexican produce, American farmers just pollute too much and need further restrictions. As Tom correctly points out we didn't get there with out Bush's help.
Posted by: Jack at October 10, 2008 03:00 PM
Every body talks about energy independance but nobody does anything about it. Its all about Oil and we have plenty of Oil.
Lead, follow or get out of the way. The congressional democrats have made clear that they are an obstruction. Now it is time to shove them into the ditch and get somebody in there that will Lead.
Posted by: Mark at October 10, 2008 03:43 PM
Tom, your right, I saw a chart someplace can't remember. I tired to copy it and it would not let me, I wanted to put it with this post. But it showed how much what you said about Bush is exactly right.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 10, 2008 07:43 PM
Jack, I can't remember when everything I bought say on a shopping outing to get stuff that most of the products were only made in America.
waaaaa
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 10, 2008 07:47 PM
Mark, AMEN and DITTO all of that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 10, 2008 07:48 PM
