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Federal debt

Political leaders once agreed that the U.S. should borrow only for well-defined purposes. But, in the last 20 years, we’ve ignored their guidance and added a staggering $25 trillion to the federal debt.

Editor’s Note: Pres.

And how it grew, and grew, and grew…

The federal government was still in the process of establishing itself in 1792 and did not have a good year financially. Total income was only $3,670,000, or 88 cents per capita. Outlays were $5,080,000. The budget deficit therefore amounted to fully 38 percent of revenues.

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