Due to the recent economy stimulus plans, the U.S. national debt has rapidly reached to a new high - over 10.6 trillion as of 1/13/2009. And, the increasing rate is not expected to slow down, until the economy turns around the corner. By any standards, a corporation with a red ink of this kind in its book would have filed for bankruptcy long ago. Luckily, the nation is run by Uncle Sam who can keep borrowing money from foreign countries without worrying who has to pay for it. Just don't tell your kids about it.