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    The Newsroom

    Debt interactive: Countdown to the default deadline

    By Christine Kang | The Newsroom – Thu, Jul 28, 2011

    Congress has raised the debt limit 10 times in the last decade to accommodate growing spending. America is once again close to hitting that ceiling, and lawmakers must act quickly to agree on a plan to avoid a government default by Aug. 2.

    Take a look at this AP interactive for an overview of the issues:

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    517 comments

    • dinkster
      dinkster  •  9 mths ago
      Don't mess with our social security checks, we paid into it so leave it alone, how would you like it if we take away congress pay checks and the presidents! and give it to the American people out their who strive on what little they get to make ends meat !!!!
      • Rico
        Rico 9 mths ago
        Perhaps you could write to McConnell, Boener, Cantor, Paul, etc. I'm not sure if it would help (in that their constituency are their top donors who are directing them to do something different, not us) but you never know. You're sort of preaching to the choir in this forum.
      • Kensolar
        Kensolar 9 mths ago
        Too late, Reagan stole all the money out of the SS trust fund and gave to the wealthy as tax breaks. Like Yogi said, you can look it up.
      • Danny
        Danny 9 mths ago
        They've already spent your money. I hope you understand this. If voters would like the money to be "left alone" as you say,they must begin planning thier own retirement. Add up what you've paid over the years and then do the math and you'll see you have gotten a negative return on your investment. If you had paid the same cash into any of the many investment vehicles your monthly would be roughly double. But social security is "good enough for government work".
    • woody
      woody  •  9 mths ago
      Hmmm...raising the debt limit to eliminate your debt??? That would be like drinking more beer so you don't get drunk.
      • James A
        James A 9 mths ago
        AAAAHHHH but if you drink light beer you'll only get a slight buzz.. this Bud's for you!!! stay thirsty my friend!!!!!
      • Grace
        Grace 9 mths ago
        All this is, is making sure the money is in the bank account before you make your bill payments. Has NOTHING to do with spending MORE money than the debts and charges that have already incurred. If you go forward and again spend more than you know you have in your account to repay, then yes, that is just being dumb.... and irresponsible. Thanks Bush... and I hear his twin Rick Perry is now moved on top in the polls??? God HELP save us from our chronic stupidity.
      • Human BackPack
        Human BackPack 9 mths ago
        Actually Grace - I believe Obama as much as Bush. I thought people voted him in for change. I don't see any change. Believe it if you are ignorant enough...
    • Hubert Hutchens
      Hubert Hutchens  •  9 mths ago
      I' will vote for the first plan (or person) who suggest that the FIRST CUT is to the entitlements for our Senators and House Reps! The do four/six years of "work" and get paid for LIFE!!! in pensions to say nothing of all the Medical, travel, offices, body guards, and corporate perks. We could balance the budget with just those guys! to say nothing of the retirements perks of the top military brass (most of whom have no active service!) I say give that to the active military and retire theCongress on Social Security...They wouold then protest Social Security like bull dogs!!!
      • Andrew
        Andrew 9 mths ago
        Wouldn't even come close to balancing the budget, but it is a good place to start.
      • Michele
        Michele 9 mths ago
        I like this idea also....what happened to our government working for us instead of us little people working for them?? To much government with all their perks and raises and we the little people need to stand our ground, vote them out and change the rules!
      • DwightF
        DwightF 9 mths ago
        I like your thinking. I wish there was a grassroots movement to bring these fat cat politicians inline with the rest of us. If they had to be on Medicare and Social Security they would be voting for the people. They actually get to vote on their own pay raises and that pension is ridiculous. Most of us have to work five years before we are vested in pension funds.
    • Terri
      Terri  •  9 mths ago
      For starters, elected officials should not have the ability to increase their own pay or grant themselves more benefits. That should be the job of the voter, their boss! In good times and when they have done a good job for the people who elected them they voting public should grant them an increase. When times are tough, they should not get increases, just like the rest of us. Why do they have the right to live above the rest of the people? Wouldn't we all like to go to our bosses and tell them we decided we deserved a pay raise and give it to ourselves? Yeah, right! We'd be fired! NOW THAT'S "ENTITLEMENT"!
      • tnagew
        tnagew 9 mths ago
        Those elected officials in Congress do not vote themselves a pay raise, it's always the term before them. Believe it or not the Bush era Congress voted in pay raises to the following Congressional term. That way they can say: We never voted are selves a pay raise. Just another sneaky way the government works!
    • G st anthonyfirst name
      G st anthonyfirst name  •  10 mths ago
      why are we broke? how did it happen? where are we getting to give to other countries if we are broke?
      • Harry Browne
        Harry Browne 10 mths ago
        "...to give to other countries?" We give next to nothing to other countries, and it's shameful.
      • Benji
        Benji 10 mths ago
        both of these statements are unintelligible.
      • Sonny
        Sonny 9 mths ago
        Ask George Bush.
    • CAROLINE
      CAROLINE  •  9 mths ago
      Our ancestors left Europe to escape being enslaved serfs of Kings,Queens and feudal lords to establish a country 'BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE'. This country is quickly falling back to the suppression our ancestors fled from, now we will soon have the form of government not envisioned by them. But, we now have corporate fuedalism. Two classes, the uber-rich and the very poor. The new rich will be crushed also.
    • Ben Richardson
      Ben Richardson  •  10 mths ago
      Well maybe its time to get GE to pay taxes this year that they didn't pay
    • alen
      alen  •  10 mths ago
      These phonies never have any problems voting themseles a pay raise.
    • Baby Clam
      Baby Clam  •  9 mths ago
      Our government is sick.
    • John812
      John812  •  9 mths ago
      Many major corporations did not pay many taxes last year and usually pay very little. Some time ago the tax laws were written so that large companies could expand without having to worry about taxes while making a profit. It's like NO PROFIT NO JOBS. The problem is these companies have been running with heavy profits for a long time and nobody has cared if they pay much in the way of income tax. The tax "write offs" for large corporations has grown out of control! I would like to see every citizen pay a small tax and the large corporations pay more!
    • John
      John  •  10 mths ago
      It's not rocket science...dont spend more money than you have coming in. Doesnt matter what party you are from..
    • juneh
      juneh  •  9 mths ago
      How about "Help the United States." We help everyone else and people are losing their homes and jobs....but which countries help us expecting no return? We have people dying and living on the streets, and a deficit with a ceiling we keep raising but we have to pay it all back. Which countries help when we have disasters, to rebuild our cities and towns and forgive our debt???
    • Matt
      Matt  •  10 mths ago
      Explain to me how SSI benefits represent 20% of the budget if it is self funded? That money is paid by today's workers for today's retirees. The government should include this as expense
    • Felon in Congress
      Felon in Congress  •  10 mths ago
      They need to include another graph that shows the opposite trend of money increasing in the politicians' campaign funds. That's all the politicians really care about.
    • phil
      phil  •  9 mths ago
      Sell the White house and all federal buildings and seize all assets of all politicans past and present and overseas accounts. Give them free trip to gitmo for waterboarding to get the truth. Judges too let american's people sit in judgement so justice will be served
    • anonymous
      anonymous  •  10 mths ago
      MAYBE THERE SHOULD A CONSTITIONAL AMENDENT THAT SAY SAYS YOU SHOULD NOTACCEPT BRIBES OR MONEY FROM WEALTHY COMPANIES THAT WILL INFLUENCE HOW MAKE LAWS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OR RAISE REVENUES.
    • Shane
      Shane  •  9 mths ago
      I personally think, its disgusting there how that picture portrays these political idiots celebrating. They should have there heads down in shame for holding this country and its people to ransom for political gain.
    • FIRE
      FIRE  •  10 mths ago
      How many of the people working in Washington will say "Ok, pay me less" ? Answer: None!!!!
    • Greg
      Greg  •  9 mths ago
      PAY BACK the TRILLIONS Stolen from SS and Medicare throughout the years.
      The 2 Largest Drains on the American Taxpayers are
      $750 Billion Budget+ $500 Billion for 2 Wars/ The Military, Industrial Complex
      $388 BILLION in Services Given To and Stolen By Illegals
      THESE 2 ALONE WOULD DO MORE THAN A L L OTHER CUTS!
      NOT COUNTING THE WAR IN LIBYA, AND NOW YEMEN!!

      GE, Big Oil, and MOST other Corporations pay NO TAXES...get the Money they owe!
    • Ray Taylor
      Ray Taylor  •  9 mths ago
      we need a balance buget amendment so they have to balance the buget and take sending power out of these fools hands . they cant stop spendin our futher away.
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