downgraded when the debt limit isn't raised. those states have an above-average dependence on federal revenue, which means a downgrade in the federal government's credit would directly affect them. south carolina's state treasurer, a tea partier, in a statement begged congress to conclude its debate and raise the debt ceiling, lest his state's aaa rating be downgraded. thousands of federal employees call virginia home. 60,000 federal jobs are based in arlington, virginia, alone. virginia collects income taxes from every one of those federal employees. it needs them to be paid every week. federal procurement contracts are a large part of virginia's gross domestic product. it will be bad for all 50 states and for the world if the united states goes into default, but it will be very, very bad for