We all know that the U.S. economy is in trouble. But are you aware of the full extent of the current economic crisis? Basically, in recent months the government has loaned, invested or promised $7.8 trillion not only to failing American institutions but to struggling banks outside U.S. borders.

$7.8 trillion is an obscure number for the vast majority of Americans, so the reality of the government’s debt can be hard to comprehend. How about this: you’d have to collect over $25,000 from every single American (including men, women and children) to equal the amount of debt the government has amassed recently. Here’s another thought: before the economic crisis, the government was already swimming in roughly $10 trillion in debt that they’d acquired throughout the two hundred years of our country’s existence. Yet they managed to add three-quarters of that amount to their debt load in a matter of months. Scary, isn’t it?

For more interesting facts that might help shed some light on the true depth of the United States’ current economic troubles, please visit my website and read my article, “Savvy Investment Options: Making the Leap to Gold.”

Tags: America’s economy, Economic Crisis, Gold investment, investing in gold, investment options, investments, Ron Wellman