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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend July 13, 2006 Since You Asked We keep hearing about the astronomical national debt, but not about the interest that is being paid on it. What are the figures for the interest being paid on this "loan?" -- Vivian K., Ashland Well Vivian, this certainly is an issue affecting just about everyone. The more the federal government has to borrow to service its debt through treasury bonds, the more pressure there is on banks and other financial institutions to obtain funds, and that drives up interest rates. And the larger the debt gets, the more it sucks from existing budget spending. It's currently the government's third-largest expense after social welfare and military spending. You could compare it to spending a third of your current take-home pay on last year's restaurant dinners. Got heartburn yet? The debt you speak of is the accumulation of annual budget deficits with compounded interest. We spend more than we make in America, and the national debt racks up. The numbers are simply staggering. According to the Bureau of Public Debt, a U.S. Treasury Department office, the total outstanding public debt on Wednesday was $8.413 trillion, up from $8.408 trillion on Monday. Spread across the nearly 300 million people living in America, that's more than $28,000 per person. The interest expense for the month of June alone was $98.255 billion, and it was $337.508 billion for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Vivian, your share of last year's interest expense was $1,125, so will you be paying for that in cash ... or credit? E-mail questions to [email protected] . We're sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews