>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/111th-congress-added-more-debt-first-100
>
>Snippets:
>
>In her inaugural address as speaker, Pelosi vowed that Congress would engage in no new deficit spending.
>
>"After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: Pay as you go, no new deficit spending,” she said in an address from the speaker’s podium. “Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt."
>
>The federal government has accumulated more new debt--$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)—during the tenure of the 111th Congress than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures published by the U.S. Treasury.

With inflation, population and GDP growth etc. that's a stupid statistic.

A much better one would be a comparison of per-capita deficit spending vs. per-capita GDP. It would be interesting to compare that to the Great Depression, the periods during and post-WWII etc.