US debt clock running out of time, space

[RicardoHead]

Ds & Rs are the S.O.S.
Freakin politician bastards....


US debt clock running out of time, space (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/afplifestyleusbudgetclock)So rapid is the rise of the US national debt, that the last four digits of a giant digital signboard counting the moving total near New York's Times Square move in seemingly random increments as they struggle to keep pace.

The national debt clock, as it is known, is a big clock. A spot-check last week showed a readout of 8.3 trillion -- or more precisely 8,310,200,545,702 -- dollars ... and counting.

But it's not big enough.

Sometime in the next two years, the total amount of US government borrowing is going to break through the 10-trillion-dollar mark and, lacking space for the extra digit such a figure would require, the clock is in danger of running itself into obsolescence.

The clock's owner, real estate developer Douglas Durst, knew such a problem could arise but hadn't counted on it so soon.

"We really expected it to be quite some time," Durst told AFP. "But now, with the pace of debt growth only increasing, we're looking at maybe two years and certainly before President (George W.) Bush leaves office in 2009."

[melendipity]

its real scary.

With the cost of the war in Iraq and with no end in sight. Ya infrastructure is stuffed. Pesky immigrants, that Bush wants to give amnesty to. And the lack of immediate clean up of New Orleans ......... man if i was an American , i would be worrying big time.

[shotglass]

The lack of immediate cleanup after Katrina?

Compare the cleanup of Katrina to the cleanup after 9/11. You didn't see Guiliani or Pataki whining to the feds, they just got to it. In New Orleans, on the other hand, 'Chocklit' Nagin and the merry band of idiots that run Louisiana whined and blamed everyone but themselves for the mess.

Why was New York self-sufficient after a disaster, while Louisiana was already a disaster, and a storm only made it obvious to the rest of us?

[shotglass]

Duh. Anyway,

Ya infrastructure is stuffed.

To what exactly does that refer?

[Spaz59]

I thought Clinton left office with the books in pretty good order?;)

[shotglass]

No, the economy was well into recession when Clinton left.

[Farouka Hookah]

The lack of immediate cleanup after Katrina?

Compare the cleanup of Katrina to the cleanup after 9/11. You didn't see Guiliani or Pataki whining to the feds, they just got to it. In New Orleans, on the other hand, 'Chocklit' Nagin and the merry band of idiots that run Louisiana whined and blamed everyone but themselves for the mess.

Why was New York self-sufficient after a disaster, while Louisiana was already a disaster, and a storm only made it obvious to the rest of us?

9-11 clean up would not have gotton anywhere without federal help.

[BCP]

Point is, a natural disaster will be a small bump on the road to a booming city, but a lethal blow to a dying one. New Orleans = the latter.

L.A. and S.F. have both been hit with major earthquakes in the last 20 years that wiped infrastructure and leveled housing. Houston has flooded out on numerous occasions, giving rise to such memorable images as people riding Sea-Doos through what were once freeway trenches.

While it is true that all of those cities received federal aid, none of them were still in "crisis" nearly a year after the event. They rebuilt, they moved on. In the case of N.O., no one wants to move back.

[RicardoHead]

In the case of N.O., no one wants to move back.Hard to believe no one wants to live in a fucking sewer.

[brianw13a]

It's all Bush's fault! Well..... partly anyway. Congress is to blame which is controlled by the reps. Doesn't anyone know how to say no anymore?

[RicardoHead]

Doesn't anyone know how to say no anymore?Sure. But they'll never get elected because the average voter is too big a pussy to accept the hard facts.

[brianw13a]

Sure. But they'll never get elected because the average voter is too big a pussy to accept the hard facts.
Well when the US is bankrupt they'll get a good lesson :evil:

Actually in thinking about a bit, it would seem that us voters are ultimately to blame.

[BCP]

Well when the US is bankrupt they'll get a good lesson :evil:

Actually in thinking about a bit, it would seem that us voters are ultimately to blame.Ding Ding Ding!

[smutman]

What do you mean"WHEN" the US is bankrupt?The US has been living on credit since the seventies.This country has been technically bankrupt for years and they just fire up the presses and print more cash!!!

[melendipity]

Duh. Anyway,



To what exactly does that refer?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20199544/

In all, 44 vehicles have been removed from the bridge since its collapse. About 100 vehicles had been on the structure when it fell on Aug. 1, said Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Gutknecht.

Most vehicles on the bridge’s north end were gone; Gutknecht said work would focus on the south end for the next day or two.

Broken glass remained on a slanted section on the bridge’s north end as pedestrians and cyclists peered through a mesh fence put up to keep them from getting too close.

So far, crews have cleared cars from parts of the bridge that fell onto land. Equipment is positioned to start major debris removal once the recovery efforts are finished.

100 injured
About 100 people were injured in the collapse, but only eight remained hospitalized, their conditions ranging from serious to good. Hennepin County Medical Center released one patient and upgraded another from serious to satisfactory condition, a spokeswoman said Sunday.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20093413/

26% of America's bridges are in need of demolition.

2 years since the hurricane hit New Orleans. And this ...

U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy
Lack of insurance, obesity, racial disparities to blame, experts say. For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.

............................. do you all think Bush is still doing a good job???

[STIBROKER]

26% of America's bridges are in need of demolition.
U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy
Lack of insurance, obesity, racial disparities to blame, experts say. For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.
............................. do you all think Bush is still doing a good job???

yea is all his fault.....what do you suggest.....

[Ojive]

yea is all his fault.....what do you suggest.....

yeah I always like those sideline hecklers who always have something smart to say but bring nothing to the table.
Oh and I have a few suggestions that might get taken serious but at least I have ideas.

[Sideout]

Yeah - especially bringing back a year-and-a-half-old thread :rolleyes:

26% of America's bridges are in need of demolition.
Thanks for your concern - if you could just point them out...

2 years since the hurricane hit New Orleans. And this ...
Jump in and head down there to help out anytime.

U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy
Lack of insurance, obesity, racial disparities to blame, experts say. For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.
Luckily we've never heard this before - US sucks - the rest of the world is so much better...blah blah blah :rolleyes:

[shotglass]

2 years since the hurricane hit New Orleans. And this ...

U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy
Lack of insurance, obesity, racial disparities to blame, experts say. For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.

............................. do you all think Bush is still doing a good job???

Lack of insurance? We've got illegal aliens and welfare recipients who use our emergency rooms for minor injuries like stubbed toes and splinters. Sounds like they have medical care, regardless of insurance status.

Obesity. AKA Push Away From The Buffet. Each person is responsible for his or her own appearance, not the government.

Racial disparities? Name them. Then tell me which ones Bush implemented.
Then explain why Clinton, the first black President, didn't fix them when he was in office.

Let's see....no new terrorist attacks on US soil since the first one. Economy still pretty strong, Scooter Libby sentence commuted, all in all a good day.

[Sideout]

Ya know Shotty...I am touched by how concerned the rest of the world is that we're ok :cool:

[Ojive]

When any liberial can come and make statements and back them up with legitimate proof-> like that bridge fell because Bush cut off federal funds to state hi-ways thus reducing the capability of states to properly inspect for stress points for example. Or Bush One and Clinton caused global warming when they signed NAFTA in to effect in the early 1990's another example. And then actually counter these proofs with solid backing on how to fix, correct or make the quality of life better for actual tax paying Americans then I'll listen but until then we all can just wait and see.