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Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson - Derek Thompson is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where he oversees business coverage for the website.
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He is a visiting research fellow at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget at the New America Foundation. Derek has also written for Slate, BusinessWeek, and the Daily Beast. He has appeared as a guest on radio and television networks, including NPR, the BBC, CNBC, and MSNBC.

America's Top Fear: It's the Federal Debt

By Derek Thompson
Jun 9 2010, 2:00 PM ET Comment

Frankly, this shocks me. Independents perceive the federal government's debt as the single gravest potential threat to U.S. future well-being.

Perceived Threats to U.S. Future Wellbeing

Perceived Threats to U.S. Future Wellbeing, by Party ID (Percentage Rating Each as Extremely Serious)


Of course, ask them for solutions and they'll suggest we start by cutting foreign aid -- less than 0.1% of the budget. That'll reduce the federal government's debt burden the way eliminating the occasional whipped cream topping from your diet reduces your BMI.

[Hat tip: Annie Lowrey]


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