Uninvested cash loses value the longer it is held.
Provide documentation for that $1.5 trillion that corporations hold.

Exxon (2007 report- (last one seen)
Total assets- 282 billion
Liabilities- 120 billion

Shareholders equity, and liabilities- 242 billon

Cash + equivalents- 33 billion at end of year- in other words, About 12 percent is held in cash.

All businesses try or would like to hold about 10 percent of assets in cash. Exxon in 2007 had 12 percent, not out of line. (Of course that 10 percent or so is with a trust or bank, so it is earning a small amount).

Try that with other corporations and they come out about the same.

Now look at these figures:

China holds about 1.2 trillion in U. S. securities.
Japan- 880 billion
UK- 280 billion
Oil exporters- 211 billion
Brazil- 200 billion
Caribbean bankers- 170 billion
Etc.
Total- 4.45 trillion. (Dec. 2010)

Total securities held by Americans- $14 trillion

Is the U. S. in hock? Yes siree bobtail!