Comments on: Who is owed the United States' debt?

Question: Who is owed the United States' debt?

ajr — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:13:13 -0800

Who is owed the United States' debt?

By: rudyfink

rudyfink — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:30:08 -0800

U.S. Treasury Debt online page

From that page under "who holds the debt":
Who holds it
Explanation of terms used in the above

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:32:38 -0800

The short answer is those entities which own United States Treasury-issued bonds and securities. A longer answer is here.

And, on preview, rudyfink has linked to a still longer answer.

By: j

Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:34:03 -0800

I just looked on google:
Google

and on the first page that came up is this:
debt clock

By: rudyfink

rudyfink — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 22:16:29 -0800

U.S. Treasury Debt online page

Not sure what happened with that link the first time.

By: rdr

rdr — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 22:40:25 -0800

A related question that I've wondered about recently. When politicians talk about forgiving a country's debt. Does that mean that the banks that hold the debt are strongarmed into giving on the money or does the government reimburse the banks. As an example, who was owed Iraq's debt and who ended getting paid or not paid when France, Germany, and the United States forgave portions of their debt?

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 00:18:19 -0800

who was owed Iraq's debt and who ended getting paid or not paid when France, Germany, and the United States forgave portions of their debt?

Though not all of it, a lot of the "debt" that France, Germany and Russia has with Iraq was really unfulfilled contracts (oil, construction).. that since the contracts would not be fulfilled there would be a penalty for breaking the contract... so there was really no actual "debt" in some cases...

By: mookieproof

mookieproof — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 07:53:57 -0800

China is a heavy investor in US Treasury bonds and has significant American currency reserves.

By: blindcarboncopy

blindcarboncopy — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 10:53:29 -0800

From http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdfaq.htm#opdfaq33:

How do you make a contribution to reduce the debt?

Please follow these important steps to make a contribution to reduce the debt.
Make check payable to the "Bureau of the Public Debt"
In the memo section of the check, make sure you write "Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public "
Mail check to -
ATTN DEPT G
BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
P O BOX 2188
PARKERSBURG, WV 26106-2188