"The budget of the United States will be released Monday. In its pages you'll discover all sorts of new cuts to federal programs, ranging from fewer farm subsidies to more restrictive student loans. The House leaders praised their own fiscal prudence, saying the $39 billion in savings will streamline the government.

$352,350,252,507.90 is what the government spent on interest payments last year. Oh, brother! That's one way to look at that drop in the bucket.

That $352 billion dwarfs what the country spent on roads, space missions, public health, student loans or even the war in Iraq. There are only two other programs that cost more, Social Security and Medicare."

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: Interest-ing way to look at federal debt (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 2/5)

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