70% of the Current US Debt was created under 3 Presidents

[Phred42]

[Fresh_Start]

1. I like the visual on this graph

http://zfacts.com/p/480.html

[TahitiNut]

8. Two graphs ... theirs and mine ...

Mine shows the portion of the debt held in Trust Funds ... primarily the Social Security Trust Fund.

[kirby]

2. However...

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Treasury Department have warned that debt levels will increase dramatically relative to historical levels, due primarily to mandatory expenditures for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest.

How come the debt which is increasing isnt due to more and more people using those programs? At some point those will need to be addressed in some manner. With an aging population and longer life expectancy, the expenditures are rapidly increasing. In my opinion, even more reason for a National Healthcare system.

[Phred42]

12. Here's one reason

[kirby]

13. While that looks dramatic...

http://facts.kff.org/upload/jpg/enlarge/3%20National%20Health%20Expenditures%20and%20Their%20Share%20of%20Gross%20Domestic%20Product,%201960-2006.jpg

[Phred42]

14. Bombs or Healthcare - your choice.

"dramatic"? It's fucking insane.

[orwell]

3. The graph really breaks out...

...at the end of Johnson and the beginning of Nixon. It starts really entering a new phase after Nixon decoupled the dollar from gold. That was when all market discipline was lost.

Nice chart by the way...thanks!

[Phred42]

7. Tx - yw

[radfringe]

4. I can name that debt in presidents... lol

didn't even have to open the post for a hint...

REAGAN
POPPY BUSH
SMIRK-BOY

[tama]

5. The debt bubble

began really inflating after the real Peak Oil, after 1979 when oil/capita peaked.

[Selatius]

6. Here is another graph. This one is national debt as a percentage of US GDP.

The reason it is so high at the beginning of the graph is because we borrowed massive sums to fight World War 2, but fiscal discipline held throughout US history until Reagan entered office. Prior to that time, every American president paid down a portion of the national debt. The national debt got to its smallest level under Jimmy Carter. It has never been that small since then.

[TahitiNut]

9. Yup. Here's MY version which shows the portion held in Federal Accounts (e.g. Social Security) ...

It's important to note that the Creditors are domestic, foreign, AND federal trustees.

[bdamomma]

10. good informative graph

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. that is absolutely correct!! Recommended!!