A trillion is such a large unit of measure that is incomprehensible to the average person. But, when a trillion is used in the context of more frequently understood units of measure (hours, years, etc) it quickly reveals just how gigantic a trillion is. Thank you @James Lavish for putting $35.3 trillion of US debt into context for us. View quoted note →

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Agreed. To pay it down would require an increase in taxes collected and a reduction in government spending. Both of these are politically unpopular so what politician is going to put the financial health of the country ahead of their career?