Posted on 07/01/2015 9:11:48 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski
United States' projected debt over the next 25 years looks a lot like Greece's over the past 25. With all the chaos unravelling in Greece, Congress would be wise to do what it takes to avoid reaching Greek debt levels. But it's not a matter of sticking to the status quo and avoiding bad decisions that would put the budget on a Greek-like path, because the budget is on that path already.
A quarter-century ago, Greek debt levels were roughly 75 percent of Greece's economy about equal to what the U.S. has now. As of 2014, Greek debt levels are about 177 percent of national GDP. Now, the country is considering defaulting on its loans and uncertainty is gripping the economy.
In 25 years, U.S. debt levels are projected to reach 156 percent of the economy, which Greece had in 2012. That projection comes from the Congressional Budget Office's alternative scenario, which is more realistic than its standard fiscal projection about which spending programs Congress will extend into the future...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Psalms 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works . 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6 O thou enemy , destructions are come to a perpetual end : and thou hast destroyed cities * ; their memorial is perished with them. 7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble *. 13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: 14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. 15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made : in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth : the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten : the expectation of the poor * shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise , O LORD; let not man prevail : let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear * , O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Is not our debt (on a per-capita basis) already worse?
Greek Trade deficits were huge prior to their economic collapse.
Once they ran out of money to spend on cheap foreign goods, the trade deficit shrank.
Fortunately (for us) the US dollar is a reserve currency. (It may not be by the end of the year, but it is for right now.)
You are joking, right?
Wiemar Republic, Argentina, Zimbabwe couls also print as much as they wanted.
Actually, the U.S. ran the debt%gdp up from 75% to over 100% in just the past five years. It took the Greeks three times as much time to run up that much debt.
After reaching a hundred, it took another decade for the Greeks to default, so maybe the U.S. can top that record too.
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