This week, our nation’s public debt topped $16 trillion, an increase of over $5 trillion, since January 20, 2009.  To put that in perspective, the debt is equal to $50,955 for each person and $134,946 for every household in the United States. The debt is now greater than the current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $15.094 trillion, a measure of all that is produced in the economy. 

The debt ceiling, currently set at $16.394 trillion, is a cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow.  It appears inevitable that within a few months, Congress will have to vote again on whether to increase the debt ceiling.  

Our debt and deficit problem in the U.S. has not gotten better - it has gotten worse. Failing to take action to cut current spending, restrict future spending, and improve federal budgeting will continue to worsen our nation’s fiscal condition.  

The Heritage Foundation dissects our debt issue here.



Question of the week: Which measures do you support to reduce the national debt? (multi-answer)


(  ) Passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution requiring that congressional spending not exceed national revenues, unless approved by 3/5 of the House and Senate

(  ) Decreasing the size of the Federal Government by ending duplicative and wasteful programs

( )  Rolling back burdensome and costly regulations

(  ) Reducing spending in annual appropriations bills

( )  Holding Members of Congress accountable by tying their salaries to the growth in spending

(  )  Allowing current tax cuts to expire to increase revenue

(  ) Ending bailouts and stimulus spending  

(  ) Reforming the tax code to remove loopholes and inappropriate tax shelters

(  ) Other


Take the poll here.

Find out the results of last week’s instapoll here.