Many of you may not be aware that the national debt is setting records by the second. In the time it takes to write this sentence, the national debt has risen some $200,000. It stands a little over $22 trillion–$66,998 per citizen and $179,805 per taxpayer. The US workforce is 156.8 million, but there are 94.9 million not in the workforce. There are 158.3 million people receiving some form of government benefits, including 37 million on food stamps. In other words, national debt is nearly $180,000 per taxpayer (someone who is generating income, ie. working) and there are over 10 million more people receiving government benefits than are working. We have become a socialist state in dire financial condition.

These figures are found on the US National Debt Clock as provided by various government agencies. We are in great trouble as a nation. Even though the government has mandated that everyone must buy insurance, there are still 27.5 million people without insurance. The debt, according to the US Department of Treasury, jumped more than $30 billion in just the last month. I remember in the 1980s, the news media was busting on the Reagan Administration for adding $1.86 trillion to the national debt, raising the defense budget by 35% which brought a huge peace dividend when the cold war ended. Hardly a word was reported with the immediate past “president” raising the debt by nearly $8.6 trillion.

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Judd Gregg and Edward Rendell, co-chairmen of the nonpartisan Campaign to Fix the Debt, a project of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, issued a statement saying the debt eclipsing $22 trillion “is another sad reminder of the inexcusable tab our nation’s leaders continue to run up and will leave for the next generation. With deficits rising and gross debt scheduled to jump by more than $1 trillion annually, Congress must take action to put the country on a more sustainable path. The fiscal recklessness over the past years has been shocking, with few willing to step up with a real plan. We need responsible leadership to fix the debt, not a worsening of partisanship.”

There is an old saying, “If you dance all night, you have to pay the fiddler in the morning.” Trouble is, this debt dance by these cunning, incompetent elected officials is costing Americans so much that no one can afford even their part of the fiddler’s fee. At $22 trillion, this national debt could cause a huge economic collapse. It is increasingly difficult to live by the Biblical standard found in Romans 13:7,8, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.” From debt to taxes to customs to tribute–who is going to pay? I’ve also been told, “Love don’t pay the bills.” Leadership matters. Accountability is key. We need to demand better. (Used with permission. By Bill Wilson. Read more at www.dailyjot.com)