(* the official deficit, not counting the total lack of reserves/money for Socialist Insecurity, bond indebtedness, pension guarantees, loan guarantees, and other unfunded liabilities; some estimates place the real deficit at about $30 trillion, i.e., $30 thousand billion. With about 100 million taxpayers in the U.S., each owes $300,000. Needless to say, this owed amount, on average, is substantially more than their complete assets, on average. Even with the "official" indebtedness, the amount owed (if one accepts a national debt as a personal indebtedness) is upwards of $60,000. I use the larger amount because the U.S. government actually _has_ incurred that debt, officially reported or not.)

This is slightly off the topic ... Some calculations done before by people who understand money flows (and are not at the same time priests of the Official Economy) show similar results. To me, this is a plausible explanation for the current domestic support of the US government. A majority of population (75% ? 90% ?) actually lives on ability of the US government to incur this debt and, having sufficient military power, not have to pay it back. The collusion with the government is much deeper than simple power of propaganda. Those who actually earn their standard of living (ie. their business is not contigent, directly or indirectly, upon US military supremacy) are the minority. This is the most fundamental transformation of the US society - massive recruitment by the government.