1. Figure 4 is based on year-to-date figures from the Monthly Treasury Statement of September, 1999, the last month of the government's fiscal year. Monthly statements are prepared by FMS (the Financial Management Service of the U.S. Treasury), published about two weeks into the next month, and made available at the Treasury's website.

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2. Remember, though, that we're only showing it that way to focus upon the part that affects government. Another part should go into private sector investments. The point here is that no part goes to pay current benefits. Those are paid by the return on past investments, whether in the private sector or the public.

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