Interesting site. It's wrong, but interesting. Public debt is $4.8 trillion not $8.4 trillion.
Does anyone know if there are any other nations on the face of this earth that are so much in debt to other countries?
How much is our nation in debt to other countries?
U.S. Treasury statistics indicate that, at the end of 2004, foreigners held 44% of federal debt held by the public. About 64% of that 44% was held by the central banks of other countries. A large portion was held by the central banks of Japan and China. This exposes the United States to potential financial or political risk that either bank will stop buying Treasury securities or start selling them heavily. In fact, the debt held by Japan reached a maximum in August of 2004 and has fallen nearly 3% since then. However, even if both banks cease to buy U.S. treasuries, the U.S. could find new buyers by raising the interest rates they pay.
Oh I see, you're obviously referring to what is officially 'on the books' not the true indebtedness.
The perennially plundered vaults that were supposed to hold our FICA deductions don't count in government debt calculations for some odd reason...
I wonder how the federales are gonna "pay" for the boomers retirement?
Is that the sound of printing presses being warmed up?