5-Minute Videos
America's Debt Crisis Explained
Economics · National Debt · Money · Captions
About This Video
Fact: America's national debt stands at $17 trillion. That's a tough number to grasp. Most people will never come close to making $1 million in any given year. How can we understand the magnitude of the hole our country is in? Well, imagine you owed your credit card company $200,000. On top of that you have to pay them about $4,000 per year in interest. You are bringing in $150,000 per year, but you are spending way more than that. How are you going to ever pay back that $200,000 debt? And what happens if you default? Well, that is America today. The problem is clear. And we brought Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, to propose a solution.
Standards Met in Ohio
- 9-12.AG.20Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe federal government uses spending and tax policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Regulatory actions carry economic costs and benefits.
- AMG.9-12.20Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe federal government uses spending and tax policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Regulatory actions carry economic costs and benefits.
- EFL.9-12.21.lp.mGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify credit as having possible interest costs when used.
- EFL.9-12.4.cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify an economic system.