riverman wrote:

By the way, for a real eye-opener, try graphing this data on excel. Then
project to 2008. Here, I'l help you:
http://www.die.net/musings/national_debt/

Using logarithmic scale (2nd graph) the largest increase in federal debt
occurred after (not during!) the Civil War. I have never heard this before.
Was it due to the high costs of Reconstruction?

And contrary to those who say "debt was worse during WW2" note that
per-capita debt is much higher now. It had started to decline a bit
during the Clinton era.

From a river-runner's perspective, I suppose the best thing about this
is that the Feds won't be able to afford Auburn Dam now!

I love graphs.