[Robert Drobot]

Shut off the sale of Treasury bonds, and our country will suffer a total collapse.

[RockinRight]

There's still time to stop it.

[VRing]

If I give them $166,000 do I get my Liberty back?

[MikeA]

I hereby announce that I am defaulting on my part of that $166k. Go ahead and put it on my credit report. One more ding against my credit won't make any difference.

[mnehring]

Wow, that's great that the government owes me this much. I'll be sure to buy bonds so I make money off the interest paid on this.

[MeanWestTexan]

Can I pay it back now and not have to pay tax anymore?

I'll write a check.

[billbears]

According to the Treasury Department, from 1776-2000, the first 224 years of U.S. history, 42 U.S. presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign governments and financial institutions, but in the past four years alone, the Bush administration borrowed $1.05 trillion

But remember. Keep voting Republican because....because....because....well I know there's an excuse or two the party faithful remind us we have to keep voting Republican, but for the life of me I can't remember it...

[Rebelbase]

Can you explain the implications of this in better detail? The comments up to now see to imply that massive debt is no issue and is of no concern.

[Restorer]

American "wealth" is an illusion based on borrowed funds that will soon be cut off, followed by creditor claims.

Yup. Japan is gonna foreclose on us. Guess we'll just have to hand over the keys to the Capitol and become serfs.

[humint]

Are you ready to repay the $166,000 spent on your behalf?

Who do I pay? And do they take American Express... I could probably get a couple of first class airline tickets in the process... ;)

[Fido969]

Me and my kids - 4 of us, owe $664,000? To who?

[CodeToad]

Naw. I'm passing my share on to the next generation. In fact, I'll do what I can to borrow more against their labors. /drippysarcasm

[Rebelbase]

"According to the Treasury Department, from 1776-2000, the first 224 years of U.S. history, 42 U.S. presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign governments and financial institutions, but in the past four years alone, the Bush administration borrowed $1.05 trillion"

Is this true? Seems to be to be complete irresponsiblity on the part of Bush if it's true.

[libertarianPA]

Meanwhile, the new Medicare prescription plan already costs double what they first projected. Yet we went ahead with that without reservation.

There are no more Republicans or Democrats anymore. Just politicians who have spent too much time away from the private sector, producing for the consumer.

I see no end to this without economic collapse.

[jec41]

Already paid mine and retired. Good luck!!!

[Cliff Dweller]

They'll take a check????? Wait right there.

[billhilly]

Where do we go to pay? Each time an estate is large enough to be taxed, the full amount should be first reduced by the deceaseds amount owed to the national debt before it can be used in the general revenues.

All kinds of people would be dying to pay off the debt.

[A CA Guy]

That is why the death tax should be directed to repayment of the national debt.
There needs to be laws in place that forbid government from spending the income elsewhere and with lots of wealthier people dying over the next 30 years, that wealth should go to pay off the debt they helped make IMO.
That would be the responsible, self-reliant and conservative thing to do, rather than let them leave the world and debt to the future generations. That IMO would be pathetic.

[flashbunny]

Just sell off some of the federal land in this map, and we'll get that debt down in no time...

[Uncle Miltie]

So let's say we get into a real spat with China, which holds many of our bonds.

Default.

Thanks for the loan, suckers! We ain't payin' you back.

[manwiththehands]

Either I'm reading this wrong or there is a gap in your story. How did you get from the first 224 years of U.S. history, 42 U.S. presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion and but in the past four years alone, the Bush administration borrowed $1.05 trillion to When the government next reports these numbers Dec. 15, the total is expected to reach $46 trillion to $50 trillion ...

How do we get a "total" of "$46 trillion to $50 trillion"?