The National Debt, Visualized

For John, BLUF:  The interest on the debt is the secret killer, since it keeps compounding.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

At the NPR web site we have this graphic on who owns which part of our national debt.  It may be a shock to some, but China doesn't own it all.

(If you click on the image below it may make it bigger.)

 

On the other hand, the really scary part is that for FY2014 we will be paying $222.9 Billion in interest on this debt, going up toward $800 billion by 2020.  That would buy a lot of schools and still have money left over.  It would even pay off the Big Dig, and 14 others like it, with pocket change left over.

Regards  —  Cliff