It appears even technology cannot cope with the global financial crisis: the National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits for the first time.

The electronic billboard hit its limit after US public debt rose above the $10 trillion mark for the first time on September 30.

As a temporary fix the dollar sign has been switched to a figure–the ‘1′ in $10 trillion. The clock is currently marking the US federal government’s national debt at about $10.2 trillion.

The Durst Organization says it plans to update the sign next year by adding two digits. That will make it capable of tracking debt up to a quadrillion dollars.

Certainly, Congress and the White House will figure out how to keep up their end of the competition.




  1. Improbus says:

    You know your finances are out of control when you have to use scientific notation in your budget to save space.

  2. Ranger007 says:

    With the people representing us now, both Republicans and Democrats, I’m not sure a quadrillion is enough!

  3. JimD says:

    How many remember when Bush said he was a “Financial Conservative” ??? Well, he went and BROKE THE NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK !!! Never before in the HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, has the government BORROWED MORE MONEY !!! The Repukes are SENDING AMRERICA TO THE ***POOR HOUSE*** WHILE POCKETING 100’S OF BILLIONS IN NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR THEIR CRONIES !!! “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” !!!

  4. Ranger007 says:

    #3 JimD said

    “The Repukes are SENDING AMRERICA TO THE ***POOR HOUSE*** WHILE POCKETING 100′S OF BILLIONS IN NO-BID CONTRACTS FOR THEIR CRONIES !!!”

    Not defending the lousy “Repukes” here, but I sure haven’t noticed Pelosi or Reid saying “enough already” let’s stop this spending! Or giving any of it back, either.

  5. Bob says:

    #4, yah Pelosi, the Dem, and the Republicans are all guilty. I think McCain might have slowed down our debt level a little (though that’s now in doubt considering he voted for the Bailout/giveaway), but Obama is sure not going to lower the debt one dollar, especially once he starts enacting all his new vote buying programs.

  6. Buzz says:

    If I pay the $86 grand up front, can I be exempt from future taxes?

  7. LDA says:

    If you do not realise that both parties are destroying America you will never prevent it. Every time someone else runs for President everyone calls them a spoiler.

    Solutions…

    – Make all representatives & Presidential candidates sign a statutory declaration binding them to the promises they make during their election campaign. If they do not or can not hold to their promise, replace them (and sue/charge them for breech of contract).

    – Vote for individuals not parties.

    – Nationalise the Federal Reserve.

    – Reinstate the constitution or vote on a revised or new one and arrest anyone who subverts it.

    The second two can only happen if you do the first two. Good luck.

  8. green says:

    Devaluation of the currency and outstanding debts is what this is about. Don’t expect them to tell the sheep that though.

  9. JimD says:

    Here is a Chart showing how the Repukes have ***SCREWED AMRERICA*** !!!:

    http://tinyurl.com/22as8y

  10. MikeN says:

    And Social Security and Medicare without reform will take it to $100 trillion.

  11. JimD says:

    Here is something even Republicans can understand:

    http://tinyurl.com/3rd4tp

  12. Carcarius says:

    We need to enact a ‘No Confidence’ vote.

  13. Angel H. Wong says:

    Didn’t Dick Cheney said once that the national debt didn’t matter?

  14. ECA says:

    MR Clinton cut alot of services to KILL the debt.
    MR BUSH Jr. cut MORE services to goto war, even services to PROTECT the USA. like the FDA and port inspections. He even wants to PRIVATIZE many services sot he GOV is paying MORE..

  15. Ben says:

    I think we need to suspend government services until this debt is paid. First suspend pork and Congressional pay raises. Second, suspend things that are not enumerated by the Constitution for Congress to do.

  16. Ranger007 says:

    #9 JimD

    Your chart (I believe) is of the deficit (and I saw it is referenced from the Bureau of the Public Debt), not the debt. The debt has been on an upward move for years and years and years. During Clinton’s years also.

    I don’t have the least idea what the answer is, but to expect relief from either party is folly at best, stupidity at worst.

  17. Breetai says:

    I love all the partisan goons blaming Republicans it so cute and stupid. Kinda like they’re dumb enough to think Democratic candidates are any different. Oh that’s right jokes on you they’re not.

  18. Sea Lawyer says:

    Well at least we can all be certain that the party will finally end when nobody is willing to loan us any more money.

  19. LibertyLover says:

    Here’s a whole bunch of trends of the national and federal debt showing the problem across party lines.

    http://tinyurl.com/4ylnjy

  20. t0llyb0ng says:

    #15 said “we need to suspend government services”

    Milton Friedman used to say we should let the fed gov’t shut down when it was in trouble. With every that would go by, we’d find ourselves better off.

    How prescient. Ain’t gonna happen though.

  21. LibertyLover says:

    I found this really great quote. How appropriate.

    “Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves.”

    Andrew Jackson

  22. Breetai says:

    #21 that my friend is why they impeached him. He wouldn’t play ball. Things are no different today.

  23. Breetai says:

    Dang it stuck my foot in my mouth

  24. John Paradox says:

    # 22 Breetai said
    #21 that my friend is why they impeached him

    HUH?!

    # 21 LibertyLover said
    […]
    Andrew Jackson

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson

    J/P=?


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