If you surf the financial web sites or spend time watching the financial news channels on television, you hear a lot of BIG numbers being tossed around these days. Take the number for the US National Debt. It’s more than 12 Trillion (with a “T”) dollars. That’s a HUGE number!
Most people have trouble remembering numbers larger than 7 digits. And the phone company figured out long ago that splitting 7 digits into two smaller numbers of 3 and 4 digits makes it even easier for people to remember.
What do you do with $12 trillion? It’s 14 digits! And it changes constantly.
And how much debt per citizen or debt per taxpayer is $12 trillion?
There are other large numbers, too like the US Federal Budget Deficit ($137 Billion), total personal debt in the US ($16 Trillion) and US Credit Card Debt ($842 Billion).
One of the most fascinating web sites I’ve found related to the U.S. National Debt and these other large numbers is found at http://www.usdebtclock.org/. Don’t miss this visual feast of mind boggling numbers. And be prepared for shock. The numbers are not pretty, but the experience will be eye-opening!
