Quote Originally Posted by Good Doctor HST
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 16 Feb 2007 at 02:17:41 PM GMT is:


Now, that figure includes all debt that the U.S. gov't owes to all people (including social security, intragov't obligations). When it comes to the amount owed by the U.S. gov't to those who just hold treasury bonds and other securities, that number shrinks to 4.9 trillion dollars. So it's not THAT bad.... (sarcastic eye-roll)

Now, out of that 4.9 trill, Japan leads the way with 644.2 billion dollars of bought-up U.S. debt. But CHINA!!! in recent years has been gaining ground, they're up to 339 billion dollars (All these figures are from Wikipedia).

The result of Japan and China buying up our debt is that the strength of the U.S. dollar depends on the Orient. In spite of not knowing a whole lot about how economics work, I can only assume that if China and Japan stop buying U.S. treasuries or decides to sell them lock, stock, and barrel..... we be in trouble.
I 'read' that but couldn't comprehend.