How Much Is 12.1 Trillion?

So, I'm taking a break from the day's project on deadline, and this story keeps popping up:

Timmy Geithner's letter to Harry Reid on Friday, telling him Congress needs to raise the US government's debt limit to 12.1 trillion(that's with a 't').

Otherwise, there's a possibility of default in October.

The 'D' word. That's not good!

The House is in recess, with the members hiding from their constituents, and shaking down the donors for 2010. Lots of folks on what vacations they may muster, and not paying attention, at least that's what the Obama administration hopes.

I can't think they'll be happy to hear that the letter's existence is now out in the open.

So, how much is 12.1 trillion dollars?

A billion is a thousand million. That's a lot of dough.

A trillion is a thousand billion. That's a lot more dough.

So, now we're at 12 times a thousand times a billion, this year alone.

That little 'point-one' stands for only a hundred billion--chump change for the Obama administration.

There are about 300 million people in the USA. So 12 billion(no need to worry with that 'point-one' divided by 300 million is....

(Had to do this on my spreadsheet, as my calculator won't do this..)

40,000 dollars for every man woman and child present in the country.

For just this fiscal year.

That's just the budget shortfall for this year.

That's what Congress is borrowing in your name, this year alone.

That's not factoring in that maybe 20 million of the 300 million are illegal aliens, and of course in every population there are those who cannot/should not work, such as the aged, small children, the ill and infirm. So, that 40,000 per person actually is a conservative estimate, and we'll ignore that 'point-one', since those in charge aren't too concerned about it, either.

This is before ObamaCare, or another 'stimulus' bill now being chattered about, or some emergency like another bad hurricane, or a war breaking out, or a bunch of biiig bank failures, etc.

Federal tax revenues are down 18% year-over-year, by the way, and real unemployment is well over 10%.

And Nancy Pelosi seems confounded that the voters are upset at their local Congressman/woman? She thinks it's just kooks, wackos and neo-nazis showing up to act ugly...

Maybe she's just out of touch and overworked.

So, What Does One Hundred Million Dollars Really Look Like?

One hundred million dollars is a lot of money to most mere mortals.

President Obama and friends are hoping that you never get past that initial emotional reaction.

One hundred million dollars!

That's like winning the Super Lotto five times in a row!

That's three Manny Ramirez salaries--at least when's he's not imbibing in performance-enhancing drugs...

That's, that's...more Ferrari's than can be driven in a lifetime!

But what is it, in proportion to the US Federal budget?

A clever young man has given us the best demonstration of all.

Gruff old Senator Everett Dirksen once growled during a 1960's budget debate, 'A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon, it adds up to real money!'

Indeed it does.

And Obama plans to exponentially expand spending.

We are looking at 50 Trillion (with a T!--that means 'thousand billion') in unfunded obligations, with Medicare, Social Security, and further entitlements. Spending already promised, already in the pipeline.

So, how much is one hundred million dollars?

Just enough to insult our intelligence.