[Screaming_Gerbil]

The unfunded liabilities of US government are roughly 30 trillion according to the GAO (multiply by Pi for the real number). Americans only hold about 40 trillion in wealth. In order for the government to honor its obligations it would have to seize nearly all private property. I suspect the true level of obligations greatly exceeds all privately held wealth in America.

Let's forget about trying to guess which number to multiply by to get the true total - Are those figures ($30 Trillion US government Unfunded liabilities / $40 Trillion wealth held by all Americans) true?

If so, that's quite shocking - and frightening in what it implies for our future.

[AdamSelene235]

Concord Coalition: Social Security Liabilities Top $24 Trillion

Plus

The Outstanding Public Debt as of 07 Jan 2004 at 10:39:07 PM GMT is:$ 6,994,196,896,291

Don't get me started about the cost of, say, I dunno, a GSE bailout.

[AdamSelene235]

Mind you 30 trill. is gooberment number. You know, the guys who were projecting budget surpluses as far as the eye could see? Since its a GAO #, I assume they are probably only understating by 3X or so. Congress is usually off by 10X. Fer instance,if you think Bush's 400 billion dollar expansion of Medicare is only going to cost 400 billion, I've got a bridge you might consider purchasing. Throw another couple trill on the pile.

This is how you destroy a civilization, folks.