Countdown Chaos: Times Square Billboard Sounds Alarm on $34 Trillion National Debt

The Committee to Unleash Prosperity has launched a new billboard campaign in Times Square, warning Americans about the looming threat of the $34 trillion government debt. The dramatic ad features people fleeing from a rising national debt before an explosion reveals the message, "Scared of the national debt? You should be." This initiative aims to educate the public on the dangers of unchecked government spending and the potential economic repercussions it poses to the nation.

Olivia Wilson March 8, 2024 2 min read

The Committee to Unleash Prosperity has set its sights on alerting the American public to the looming financial threat of the national debt through a striking billboard campaign in New York City’s iconic Times Square. The 50-foot-high billboard features a dramatic depiction of people fleeing from a rising national debt, culminating in a simulated explosion that reveals a chilling message: “Scared of the national debt? You should be.” This eye-catching display aims to underscore the urgency of addressing the nation’s skyrocketing debt, which has recently surpassed a staggering $34 trillion for the first time in history.

According to the organization, the campaign seeks to educate Americans about the dire consequences of unchecked government spending, which not only drives up prices but also jeopardizes the country’s financial stability, inching it closer to the brink of national bankruptcy. The Committee to Unleash Prosperity emphasizes a nonpartisan approach, focusing on identifying policies that promote economic growth and equitable prosperity for all citizens, both in the United States and globally. Their mission is clear: to advocate for policies that have a proven track record of fostering prosperity and to impart this knowledge to policymakers and the general public.

The stark juxtaposition of the current national debt figure with historical data serves as a wake-up call to the public. Just forty years ago, the national debt stood at a relatively modest $907 billion, highlighting the alarming rate at which the debt has escalated over the decades. Projections from the Congressional Budget Office paint a sobering picture of the future, with the national debt expected to nearly double in size within the next thirty years. By the end of 2022, the national debt had already reached approximately 97% of the gross domestic product, a troubling sign of the country’s growing financial burden.

With the current trajectory, the national debt is on track to swell to a staggering 181% of the GDP by 2053, surpassing all previous levels of debt accumulation. This mounting debt burden poses a significant challenge to the nation’s economic stability and future prosperity, underscoring the critical need for proactive measures to rein in government spending and address the root causes of the escalating debt. The Committee to Unleash Prosperity’s billboard campaign serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of this issue, urging Americans to confront the reality of the national debt and take action to secure a more sustainable financial future for generations to come.