87,000,000,000 vs 87 Billion

[pbeal]

I feel that in Print at least the useing all the zeros gives a better feel for how big the number actually is.

[PAMod]

1. There's an old story where JFK made the budget office put the zeroes in...

He said he wanted them to know how much of the people's money they were spending.

[treepig]

2. yeah, and perhaps

big numbers like

87,000,000,000

would also help get the big number concept across

[RobertSeattle]

3. Excellent point

Innumeracy is rampant - most "Morans" can't tell the difference between a million and a billion.

Dont' forget the debt clock...

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

[Brian Sweat]

8. That's about $23,500 for every person in America

By the time Schleprock gets done, it will be up to about $30,000 or $120,000 for a family of four.

I was getting pissed of thinking about having to pay off my share of the national debt, but then I realized that I don't have to. Legally, there are a number of ways that I can get out of it. I can stop making money or I can leave the country. If they keep going at this rate, that is what is going to happen. Tens of millions of people are going to flee the country to avoid paying this debt. The people remaining behind will be saddled with an unsurmountable debt.

[proud patriot]

4. Wow

That does make a difference

[Jacobin]

5. Actually, it could be $87,000,000,000.00 Let's not forget the pennies

On the other hand, we are all forgetting the cost so far and the total is

$161,000,000,000.00 (so far)

Within five years, McCain says it'll be a TRILLION:

$1,000,000,000,000.00 How ya like them digits?

[HereSince1628]

6. A billions are probably unfathomable how about

$87,000 million? Then the lotto players among us can have an idea.

BTW I am NOT implying lotto players support the chimp, just that they think in the millions of dollars.

[TahitiNut]

7. $632.15 from every working person this year. More next year.

:shrug: We'll just take it out of your pay at $5/month for the rest of your life.

[HereSince1628]

9. Yeah $2500 for an average family of 4

Imagine what that sort of check from Uncle Sam would have done in terms of economic stimulus.

[karlschneider]

10. I've approached it a little differently the last 2 days talking with folks

I say "think of a million dollars. Now imagine a THOUSAND million dollars...that is ONE billion. Bush wants EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND MILLION."

(I think it comes across better spoken than written in any case.)
:eyes:

[pbeal]

11. how about

It would take a preson who makes $40,000 a year 2,175,000 years to earn $87,000,000,000.

[pbeal]

12. or this

If you drove 87,000,000,000 miles at 60mph it would take you 16,5415 years to reach your destination. Thats with out pee or meal breaks

Or to make it real to men 87,000,000,000 inches = 1,373,106 miles so next time any of the men here go to the bathroom Imagine trying to shake something that is 10,875,000,000 times larger.

[pbeal]

13. shameless kick

Kick