A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.

With all of the talk of big numbers in the budget and the bailout, it can be tough to maintain a sense of scale. Though the difference between a thousand and a million is very clear to me, the difference between a billion and a trillion is tough to grasp. Here’s an illustration of the progression from $100 up to $1T. It’s surprising how little space that a million dollars takes up, and the gap between a billion and a trillion is particularly amazing.

You’ve probably heard the statement famously made by Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) that comprises the title of this blog entry. Unfortunately, as with so many great quips, Dirksen probably never actually said it. But don’t let that stop you from employing it—it’s a perfectly cromulent phrase.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »

5 replies on “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.”

  1. The controversy over the statements reminds of the line from the movie Patton, when a reporter asked the general if he had said “If I were surrounded by the Nazis and the Russians, I’d order an attack in both directions.” The response (in the movie): “No, I never said that. I never said any such thing. But I wish I had.”

    This is one of those turns of phrase where, if he didn’t say it, he should have.

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