Changes

[[File:Federal Debt graphic PD WC.jpg|thumb|280px|Components of Federal Debt As Percentage of GDP FY1980-FY2007]]

[[File:Federal Debt graphic PD WC.jpg|thumb|280px|Components of Federal Debt As Percentage of GDP FY1980-FY2007]]

There are two components to the Federal Debt, namely the debt held by the public, and intra-governmental debt. The former is defined as the debt held by any individual or entity that is not the federal government, such as a mutual fund, individual investor, foreign government, or a municipal government <ref>http://www.concordcoalition.org/issue-briefs/2011/0708/understanding-federal-debt-limit</ref>.  Intra-governmental debt is debt the government owes itself, such as the Social Security Trust Funds, the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund <ref>http://www.concordcoalition.org/issue-briefs/2011/0708/understanding-federal-debt-limit</ref>.  Currently debt held by the public comprises roughly ²/₃ of the total Federal Debt.

There are two components to the federal debt: the debt held by the public, and intra-governmental debt. The former is defined as the debt held by any individual or entity that is not the federal government, such as a mutual fund, individual investor, foreign government, or a municipal government <ref>http://www.concordcoalition.org/issue-briefs/2011/0708/understanding-federal-debt-limit</ref>.  Intra-governmental debt is debt the government owes itself, such as the Social Security Trust Funds, the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund <ref>http://www.concordcoalition.org/issue-briefs/2011/0708/understanding-federal-debt-limit</ref>.  Currently debt held by the public comprises roughly two-thirds of the total federal debt.

== Obama debt ceiling crisis ==

== Obama debt ceiling crisis ==