Just How Big Is $ 1 Trillion?
atomikmom
2011/06/19 04:10:22
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43% | ||
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14% | ||
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2 votes
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29% | ||
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14% | ||
WritJust How Big Is $1 Trillion?
Posted June 17, 2011 at 3:00pm in Entitlements 23 Print This Post Print This Post
Billion used to be a big number in the United States, but today trillion is tossed around with increasing regularity. We could use your help communicating its significance.
Whether it’s the $14.3 trillion public debt or the $62 trillion owed for the government’s unfunded liabilities, the number is so large that many folks have no real comprehension of what it means. How, then, do you convey its size?
Over the past year, my colleague Bill Beach and I have traveled to several cities across the country to talk about the debt crisis. Our audience is the Debt-Paying Generation, young professionals under 40 who are on course to inherit a country plagued by unprecedented levels of debt.
Talking about these large numbers can be a challenge, so we tackle the trillion-dollar question early on. A few examples of how we explain it:
1,000 billion
$1,000,000,000,000 (that’s 12 zeros)
At $45.8 million per year, LeBron James would need to work 21,843 years
Average life in the U.S. lasts 2.4 billion seconds
One billion seconds ago = 1979
One trillion seconds ago = 29,700 BC
Some of these work better than others depending on how you relate to large numbers. So as we prepare for our next presentation in Raleigh, NC, on Thursday night, we have a question for you: How would you explain $1 trillion?
Please leave a comment below with any examples.
e your opinion here...
Posted June 17, 2011 at 3:00pm in Entitlements 23 Print This Post Print This Post
Billion used to be a big number in the United States, but today trillion is tossed around with increasing regularity. We could use your help communicating its significance.
Whether it’s the $14.3 trillion public debt or the $62 trillion owed for the government’s unfunded liabilities, the number is so large that many folks have no real comprehension of what it means. How, then, do you convey its size?
Over the past year, my colleague Bill Beach and I have traveled to several cities across the country to talk about the debt crisis. Our audience is the Debt-Paying Generation, young professionals under 40 who are on course to inherit a country plagued by unprecedented levels of debt.
Talking about these large numbers can be a challenge, so we tackle the trillion-dollar question early on. A few examples of how we explain it:
1,000 billion
$1,000,000,000,000 (that’s 12 zeros)
At $45.8 million per year, LeBron James would need to work 21,843 years
Average life in the U.S. lasts 2.4 billion seconds
One billion seconds ago = 1979
One trillion seconds ago = 29,700 BC
Some of these work better than others depending on how you relate to large numbers. So as we prepare for our next presentation in Raleigh, NC, on Thursday night, we have a question for you: How would you explain $1 trillion?
Please leave a comment below with any examples.
e your opinion here...
Sort By
- John-Michael 2011/06/19 23:37:22We should keep that $1 Trillon in our own Country
A trillion is a million million. Every penny needs to stay in America. They don't want us to be the world's police then they should not object to our not wanting to be the world's Piggy Bank.reply - gkirmani 2011/06/19 09:39:51America is going broke+1YES THE COUNTRY IS GOING BROKEEEEEEEreply
- *Idontcausecommotions,IAMone* 2011/06/19 09:26:16UndecidedIm not sure but we could do a lot with it to help make the world a better place.reply
- Katfish 2011/06/19 09:22:44America is going broke+1We need to learn how to be extremely fiscal conservative very quickly.reply
- Nay Nay 2011/06/19 07:38:57$ 1 Trillion dollars, a Dream Come True to Struggling America+1Some if us Americans need that much money like mereply
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$ 1 Trillion dollars, a Dream Come True to Struggling America+1We could help rebuild our own country and not waste it on others.reply
