Here’s the cover from a Time Magazine story on the finances of the United States government: If you squint you can see the date of this publication in the upper-righthand corner. It was published in 1972. Here are some excerpts from the story: In terms of its ability to pay for the public services—health care, education, welfare, garbage pickup, pollution control, police and fire protection—that make the life of its citizens pleasant, or at least tolerable, or in some cases even possible, the country seems almost to be going broke. If the country’s governmental units follow their present course, they will respond ... (full story)