SIMPLIFICATION, or "IT'S THE BORROWING, STUPID!"

In science and engineering, Scientific Notation is used to handle large numbers so they may be understood by those of us who are mathematically challenged:

Lesson # 1:

* U.S. Tax revenue:   $2,170,000,000,000

* Fed budget:             $3,820,000,000,000

* New debt:                $1,650,000,000,000

* National debt:        $14,271,000,000,000

* Proposed budget cuts: $38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household

budget:

* Annual family income:              $21,700

* Money the family spent:           $38,200

* New debt on credit card:          $16,500

* Outstanding card balance:     $142,710

* Total family budget cuts:               $385

Time needed to pay off debt: 512 YEARS!!

Got It ??

OK.

Now, Lesson # 2: Another way to look at the Debt Ceiling:

Let's say you come home from work and find there's been a

sewer backup in your neighborhood and your house has sewage

all the way up to your ceilings.

What do you think you should do: 

(A) raise the ceilings, or

(B) pump out the crap?

Your choice is coming Nov. 2012

Hat Tip:  Dr. GOG

-neon leon