Can you believe we're only 6 months into the fiscal year and the nation is broke?

National Debt Day 2009

From Gather.com

April 26th marks National Debt Day, the day when our government runs out of operating money and starts borrowing to function. Can you believe we're only 6 months into the fiscal year and the nation is broke?

This is the earliest Debt Day on record, with most past debt days landing in July or August:

2002: Sept. 2

2003: July 29

2004: July 27

2005: Aug. 14

2006: Aug. 27

2007: Sept. 9

2008: Aug. 5

2009: April 26

The Obama (yes, AND Bush) Administration's stimulus funding, as well as layers of bailouts and corporate takeovers, have pushed the Debt Day to a record early date.

Families and households don't have the luxury of a debt day. We're forced to balance our budget every month or else we get bogged down in quicksand known as unsecured consumer debt. Our family should not have to balance our budget and still participate in this national fiasco. But we all do.

Right now each of us owes $35,000 to our national debt. The next generation will owe double that the minute they're born. Isn't it nice to know that the federal government is looking out for our best interests?

Happy Debt Day, fellow citizens!