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Reason.tv: Budget Deficits for Dummies or, How I learned to stop worrying and love $1.4 trillion

The U.S. budget deficit for fiscal year 2009, which ended in
September, was a
record-shattering $1.4 trillion, equal to about 10 percent of
Gross Domestic Product. In case you're wondering, the previous
record had been set in...2008.

$1.4 trillion dollars is a lot of money and it's hard to get your
mind around that figure. One way to appreciate the sum is to
think of it in terms of all the things that you could buy with
that dough. The budget deficit, for instance, would pay for more
than 1.2 billion nights at Rep. Charles Rangel's vacation condo
in the Dominican Republic. And that's just for starters.

Don't worry if you have trouble doing the math, because
you'll get another chance next year. The Obama administration has
just released its estimate for the fiscal year 2010 budget
deficit. The number?
Another $1.4 trillion.

Approximately 1.30 seconds. Written and produced by Meredith
Bragg and Nick Gillespie.