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In a federal budget filled with mind-boggling statistics, two numbers stand out as particularly stunning, for the way they may change American politics and American power. The first is the projected deficit in 2011: nearly 11% of the country’s entire economic output.

The second number is the one that really commands attention: American deficits will not return to what are widely considered sustainable levels over the next 10 years. In fact, President Obama's budget draws a picture of a nation that simply cannot get above water.

Obama’s chief economic adviser, Lawrence H. Summers, used to ask: "How long can the world's biggest borrower remain the world's biggest power?" The US may end up like Japan: as debt grew more rapidly than income, Japan's global influence eroded.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/us/politics/02deficit.html?hp