The National Debt Clock Doesn’t Go To 11

As Portfolio notes, yesterday was the first day of the federal government’s new fiscal year.  But as our cumulative debt climbs — “The proposed $700 billion bank bailout would require the U.S. government to raise its debt ceiling from $10.6 trillion to $11.3 trillion” — there is one little-noticed potential casualty:  the beloved national debt clock near Times Square.  It is not equipped to handle the sheer ridiculousness.  “The current debt stands at nearly $9.8 trillion, and the clock isn’t equipped to go to ten.”  Gah! (Remember when the thing was turned off because things were relatively stable?  Heady times!)   But wait!  Thanks to some bureaucratic bean-counting, blah blah “estimated future earnings” blah, that $700 billion will not factor in and the clock will not explode and we can all gaze up at it in wonder when we want a break from panhandling for change on the street corner.  Hooray!

Update: I was wrong (I can’t read)!  Debt clock Makeover!  “It’s passed $10 trillion, and the Durst Organization will have to add another a spot for a 14th digit.”   It is now an ongoing reminder of our wanton spending.  So, ignore it and go shopping!  [Gothamist]

[via Ideas/NYT]