Can You Say 'Cash-Burn'?

I knew you could.

The US Treasury burned through 81.6 billion dollars in the first four days of March.

It has about 100 billion left on hand. About 5 days of cash, at the current burn rate.

The debt ceiling is only 14.294 trillion. That's trillion, with a 'T'. We've been rolling over Federal gubbmint debt since the early 1930's, from when OS's sainted mother was a pre-schooler. The debt limit has to be raised, the gubbmint sez, in order to stay in business.

The Democrats in the Senate beat their breasts, and declare with much weeping and gnashing of teeth that the House bill, cutting 60 billion of spending out immediately, is just completely, well well well(lip trembling, eyes tearing up) draconian!

HowKoodJoo! HowKoodJoo! HowKoodJoo! YouBrute! YouBrute! YouBrute!

Three days of spending equals 60 billion dollars. Three days. We've got the fleet and the military deployed around the world, five days of cash on hand, and the Democrats won't consider spending a penny less on anything, anywhere, anytime.

The chaos in Africa (and it ain't jest North Africa, ya'll), the Middle East (The House of Saud just may be a house of cards), and tomorrow's deadline for the Spanish cajas to get their act together or else, sent a huge passel of money in the direction of the latest 10yr T-bill auction, so thus far we haven't had a real mess on our hands. Yet. OS also wonders if the recent stock market spikes aren't the assets of the Rich Who Don't Wish To Be Famous parking their cash in a safer clime.

The Treasury’s largest single expenditure in the first four days of March, according to the Daily Treasury Statement, was paying off maturing debt. During those four days, Treasury paid $128.477 billion to redeem old bonds. At the same time, it borrowed $133.196 billion by selling new bonds.

Wonder what happens if and when those interest rates go up?