The federal government is facing difficult decisions about its finances, with a growing national debt and long-term fiscal problems that could seriously undercut the nation's prosperity.
After several years of decline, the federal deficit is on the rise to a projected $482 billion in 2009. Even more worrisome, the national debt has surged, topping $9.5 trillion. The nation's long-term obligations are staggering, as the baby boom generation retires and begins to strain the Social Security and Medicare systems. Former U.S Comptroller General David Walker, the federal government's auditor, calls the baby boomers' retirement a "demographic tsunami" that will overwhelm the federal budget. By 2040, there will be little money for anything else other than Social Security, Medicare and interest on the debt -- unless something is done.
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