$7,524,963,287,269.27

http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny.htm ^ | http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdpenny.htm

[combat_boots]

Well, I think they went for a song a while back there, fella. Must be under the C files at the Clinton library.

[bwteim]

Your point is ........... ????

[Jim Robinson]

Hmmmm... just out of curiosity, I wonder what the asset side of the balance sheet looks like?

[Judith Anne]

There you go, being reasonable. ;-D

[KoRn]

I'm glad some of my fellow FReepers know allot about economics. I'm college educated, and I can barely grasp the science of it. Well, that could be because I didn't go to school to be an economist. I'm just glad guys like you are there for us non-econ class peeps(actually I took econ 101 but it was very basic stuff). lol

[Fester Chugabrew]

You'll chip in whatever Uncle tells you to... at gunpoint if necessary.

Of course. My $0.27 is merely a donation to the nation. Uncle can find it under the sofa cushions and car seats around my place. Believe me, Uncle has had his way with me otherwise, right between the cheeks.

[Twinkie]

CHARGE IT!!!!

[Blood of Tyrants]

Looks like we have been over $7 trillion for a while.

[hollywood]

I think I'll call my friend, Bono (lead singer of U2) and see if he's still on that "even the Bible says that every 50 years, a man's debt should be completely forgiven" crusade. Oh, wait, he was on that crusade to have the US forgive other debtors. Nevermind. /sarcasm of wishful thinking

[Blood of Tyrants]

It's only money.

[Willie Green]

I wonder what the asset side of the balance sheet looks like?

Well we could always sell Alaska to the Chinese, if that's what you mean.

[Jim Robinson]

Hmmm... I dunno about that. Do you suppose they might be interested in Massachusetts?

[John Lenin]

Debt is good. Debt is good. Debt is good.

Can you imagine how many liberal programs would be law if we didn't have such a large debt? The debt goes away once you pay it off, try to get rid of a government program!

[Willie Green]

I think they already own Massachusettes.
Perhaps France might want Louisiana back, though.
It wouldn't cover the whole tab, of course.
But we oughta be able to get a couple hundred billion for it.

[Doe Eyes]

Point, please.

Many old style conservatives believe that excessive government spending is wrong. Unfortunately, todays conservatives do not want to control government spending.

[snowsislander]

For the U.S. government, you can find a simple balance sheet here.

Here are the 2002 and 2003 balance sheets:

---

The Federal Government's Balance Sheet, 2002 and 2003

---

(Billions of dollars)

				2002	2003
Assets
Cash and Monetary Assets				141.6	119.6
Receivables
	Accountsa			32.0	33.8
	Loansa			219.2	221.1
	Taxes			21.4	22.9
Inventories and Related Propertya,b				192.2	241.2
Property, Structures, and Equipmenta,b				324.7	658.2
Other Assets				65.4	97.1
		Total Assets		996.5	1,393.9
Liabilities
Accounts Payable				55.8	62.2
Debt Held by the Public and Accrued Interest				3,573.2	3,944.9
Federal Employee and Veterans' Benefits				3,589.4	3,880.0
Environmental and Disposal Liabilities				273.0	249.9
Social Insurance and Other Benefits Due and Payable				95.3	100.0
Insurance Programsc				53.9	69.9
Loan Guarantees				28.1	34.6
Other Liabilities				148.0	157.1
		Total Liabilities		7,816.7	8,498.6
Net Position (Assets minus liabilities)				-6,820.2	-7,104.7
			Total Liabilities and Net Position	996.5	1,393.9
Source: Congressional Budget Office based on Department of the Treasury, Financial Report of the United States Government (updated March 30, 2003), p. 58; Financial Report of the United States Government (February 27, 2004), pp. 62 and 123; and unpublished data from the Treasury's Financial Management Service. Note: The balance sheets are figured as of September 30, the end of the government's fiscal year. a. Reported on a net basis. b. The amount for 2002 excludes the Department of Defense's holdings. c. The category's title is somewhat misleading because the total for 2003 includes amounts for items such as retirement benefits owed to contractors working for the Department of Energy ($9.8 billion) and to the District of Columbia's teachers, police, and firemen ($8.3 billion).

For other bits of the economy, one good place to look is here.

In particular, you could find a number of non-governmental balance sheets in this file.

[AndyTheBear]

Overspending is rampant. Bush needs to quit trying to appease the Rats--who still don't think we spend enough on their pet piece of the budget (while complaining too much is spent in the total budget).

[wolfman]

I think all the states should secede except for one.. maybe rhode island.. and leave rhode island with the debt.

[FreedomCalls]

Do you prefer to be on the side that owes the money or the side to whom the money is owed? If you prefer to be the debtor and owe the money, then do nothing. If you prefer to be the person that the money is owed to, then go buy some U.S. Savings Bonds.

[ljswisc]

Why can't we just print more money? :^)