If this were the last bill being placed on a pile of $1.3 billion, it would be 88.25 miles above ground. (Photo by doctorwonder.)
The phony, unnecessary debt ceiling fight last year cost the government $1.3 billion [PDF] by increasing the Treasury Department’s borrowing costs.
$1.3 billion is a lot of money. So much so, that we thought we’d illustrate it in a way that opponents of raising the debt ceiling would appreciate. Here’s what $1.3 billion can buy you in various hyper-stereotypical liberal products.
- 56,520 low-end Priuses
- 100 million packages of Back to Nature Apple Blueberry granola
- 216.7 million jars of artisanal mayonnaise
- 16.25 million pairs of Birkenstocks
- 398.8 million grande Starbucks lattes
- 104 million bottles of Merlot
- 72,000 household solar installations
- 43.33 million indoor composting containers
- 13 billion square feet of recycled aluminum foil
- 8.125 million seasons of produce boxes from Front Porch Farm
- 812,500 hypo-allergenic Portuguese water dogs
Just think how much better off America would be if we’d spent our money on those things instead. (Slightly.) Suggest your own additions in the comments.
