Fiscal cliff and debt ceiling made simple

Someone sent me this so I cannot take credit for it. But the pure simplicity and common sense of it appealed to me.

Lesson # 1:

* U.S. Tax revenue: $ 2,170,000,000,000
* Fed budget: $ 3,820,000,000,000
* New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
* National debt: $ 14,271,000,000,000
* Recent budget cuts: $ 38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

* Annual family income: $ 21,700
* Money the family spent: $ 38,200
* New debt on the credit card: $ 16,500
* Outstanding balance on the credit card: $ 142,710
* Total budget cuts so far: $ 38.50

Got It ?????

OK now, Lesson # 2:

Here's another way to look at the Debt Ceiling: Let's say, You come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your neighbourhood....and your home has sewage all the way up to your ceilings.

What do you think you should do ...... Raise the ceilings, or remove the sh*t?