News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:The Economy by muzz on Monday June 30, 2014 @05:03PM (#7967691)
Interest payments as a percentage of GDP are actually much lower now than they've been in the past:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/FYOIGDA188S

Re:The Economy by jeffdavis on Monday June 30, 2014 @06:00PM (#7968003)
That doesn't dispute my point at all. I'm not worried about the payments now. I'm worried about the payments if interest rates go up.

And we shouldn't be surprised if rates go up substantially, because they are at historic lows right now.

Re:The Economy by muzz on Monday June 30, 2014 @07:31PM (#7968322)
There is a reason why they are at historic lows-- it is the decision of market participants. Your concern is essentially that market participants will somehow do a complete 180, for no stated reason.
Re:The Economy by jeffdavis on Monday June 30, 2014 @08:02PM (#7968456)
"Your concern is essentially that market participants will somehow do a complete 180, for no stated reason."

If market participants demand a higher interest rate, I wouldn't call that a "complete 180".

Regardless, change is the only constant, as they say. Markets move. Behavior changes in response to the environment. If we really are supposed to be a risk-free place to loan money, then I would think we'd be a little more resilient to rising interest rates, which happen fairly often historically.

Re:The Economy by skylan_q on Monday June 30, 2014 @08:08PM (#7968484)
If you count the federal reserve as a market participant.
Re:The Economy by JetSpiegel on Monday June 30, 2014 @05:59PM (#7967999)
Interest doesn't get come out of the GDP, only the Government pays it.
Re:The Economy by dllthomas on Monday June 30, 2014 @08:52PM (#7968633)
The government pays it, ultimately, out of tax revenues derived from GDP.