Why should Americans care if our federal government has promised $56.4 trillion?
Because it is $56.4 trillion that our government does not have. This staggering amount breaks down to a $483,000 burden on every American household, or a $184,000 burden on every man, woman, child and newborn in this country. At some point, we will either need to cut back on those promises and/or raise more revenues to fund them.
