The idea of a debt clock was conceived by a New York real estate developer, Seymour Durstin 1989, and installed on 42nd street close to Times square. It is maintained today by his son Douglas Durst who became president of the Durst corporation after his fathers death. The National debt is the total amount of money owed by the goverment and the federal budget deficit is the yearly amount that spending exceeds revenue. If you add up all of the deficits for the past 200 or so years and subtract the few surpluses we have had you get the current National Debt. Do not be fooled when politicians tell you that the "deficit is down" it just means we are not adding to the debt as much as the previous year, but make no mistake- we are adding to the debt we owe.

Debt Clock.org