I am looking at your iconic debt vs GDP graph that is consistently referred to on this blog as a sign of impending doom.

I agree with the mathematical conclusion drawn, but would like more context about what makes up the debt. Is this both public and private debt? The accumulation of budget deficits * interest?

A little context here would make me a more knowledgeable person.
Thanks,

search bar at top is your friend......after some searching if you do not find what you are looking for re-post ans someone will point you to some links

okay - after doing some research on my own (the forum history was no help) - I've made productive use of my morning! I get some of what is being explained here... I think an in depth dialogue of the drivers might be worth going into - for all you anti-gov't folks - there is more blame to go around than on your Congress and Presidents - though the buck stops with them in terms of regulation, so maybe I'm wrong...

What it looks like to me, is that there are three main drivers of debt: 'domestic financial sectors', Home Mortgage, and the Federal Government - in that order...

Hopefully my attached research appears (it doesn't appear in my preview - so I'll cross my fingers)

The debt to gdp number (14 trillion) is JUST the current outstanding debt of the federal government. http://www.usdebtclock.org/ does a wonderful job breaking this down.

It DOES NOT include:
1) Any debts held by banks (your loans and mortgages)
2) Debts held by GSE's (Fannie, Freddie, and Sally) - although it should
3)Future obligations (tomorrow's social security, medicare, government retirement payments, etc)
4)Other state, local government debts including their future obligations for state employee retirement, benefits, etc
5)Other private corporate debts

It's only the accumulated operational debts still outstanding from running our government. Many put the real debt number including the **** in 1-3 at 75+ trillion. No ****ing clue what the 1-5 number is.