National Debt Clock Ran Out of Digits

Just read that the National Debt clock in near Times Square has run out digits in an email from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (I signed up for this email list after seeing I.O.U.S.A.):

National Debt Clock Ran Out of Digits
Now Follow the National Debt on Twitter.

In October, the National Debt Clock in New York City ran out of digits because of the escalating fiscal burden on our government. The clock serves as a reminder to everyone who passes that the government owes more to the public (in the form of Treasury bills and savings bonds), and more to itself (in the form of money it borrows from one pot to spend on another) with each passing single day. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation has found a way for everyone to follow the debt using Twitter at http://twitter.com/nationaldebt.

What is Twitter? Twitter is one of the newest social networking services through which each user answers the question "What are you doing?" using 140 characters or less.

The answer to that question is known as a "tweet," and it's visible by those who "follow" you. By "following" others, you'll get their latest updates. It's free, easy to use, and by "following" the national debt on Twitter, you'll receive a daily "tweet" of the national debt as reported by the Treasury Department. Although this official number is the most commonly-cited national debt, it doesn't scratch the surface of the actual federal fiscal burden.

I suppose that $700 billion bailout put us over the top huh?

On the bright side, the email also shared the good news that I.O.U.S.A. is on the Academy Awards short-list for a best documentary feature nomination:

I.O.U.S.A. Makes Oscars Short List
For Best Documentary Feature

We're proud to announce that our critically acclaimed film I.O.U.S.A. has just received another honor - and with it, the film is now a step closer to earning one of the highest awards a documentary can receive.

I.O.U.S.A. is officially on the short list for an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary Feature category. The film, directed by Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay), is among the 15 documentary features that will now advance in the voting process designating the final five nominees for next year's Academy Awards.

An Academy Award nomination would be more than just an honor for I.O.U.S.A. With the audience that the broadcast attracts - more than 30 million for last year's ceremony alone - an Oscar nomination would be another chance to show the entire nation just how alarming our current economic situation really is.

Watch I.O.U.S.A.: Byte-Sized - The 30 Minute Version of I.O.U.S.A.

I highly recommend this movie.

That reminds me, I ought to finally read my copy of Peter G. Peterson’s Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do about It.

Click here to view the table of contents, here to read an excerpt, or here to read a chapter by chapter summary.