US government debt soars to the heavens.

A few quick facts about US gross federal debt:

As of December 2008, the outstanding stock stood at $10.7 trillion.

During 2008, the debt stock increased S1.4 trillion, which is a 15 percent growth rate.

Since 1966, US federal debt has increased by 3,233 percent.

Whatever you might think about the merits of government borrowing, the US federal debt stock is extraordinary achievement. How did the Feds convince people to lend them so much money?