Who do we owe?

[vgrippa]

Simple question:

Who does the United States government owe over $20 trillion*?


*That sum includes: U.S. gov't debt: ~$10 trillion || U.S. people's debt: ~$6.7 trillion || Interest owed by both parties: ~$3.3 trillion

[TW501]

States, corporations, individuals, and foreign governments. It's a fairly complex system that I personally can't fully explain. Here are a few charts that might help.
Federal Debt (Sept. 2008)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Holders_of_the_National_Debt_of_the_United_States. jpg
Est. Ownership of Treasury Securities
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Estimated_ownership_of_US_Treasury_securities_by_c ategory_0608.jpg
Foreign Holders of US Treasury Securities
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Foreign_Holders_of_United_States_Treasury_Securiti es-percent_share_11.08.gif

[metalsoup111]

The almighty Google always knows...

[Yexley]

China has bought a ton of US debt.

[octocheese]

^ yep. and now the US is trying to assure them our money/credit is good so they won't sell it off and worsen the States finaical standing (as glorious as it is now). Well, whatever. I'm going to go start planning my victory garden now.

[Yexley]

They probably won't sell it, gives them a lot of political power and the ability to avoid most US bitching about anything they do.

[TW501]

As the question has been anwered, I'll be closing this thread now.