Are either of these numbers impactful?

[melm00se]

US Public debt: $14.3 trillion

US "unfunded obligations": $61.6 trillion

Both of these numbers are staggering in size even in comparison to the US GDP $14.7 trillion

Is it possible to get out from the 1st number much less the second?

Also, is the second number or is it just a republican talking point on government spending?

[Turbineguy]

1. It's a Republican talking point.

Take my 5 year old Grandson. Food, clothing, housing, education, etc. for the rest of his life is an unfunded liability. Say, $1,000,000. He earns nothing now because he's 5. So it looks like he's in serious financial trouble.

To put the $61 trillion in perspective, I calculated some time ago that George W Bush cost $17 Trillion over 8 years.

[alc]

2. not important today

But the projections for interest, SS, and Medicare as a % of GDP in 2021 are scary. (yes, I know SS trust fund is fine until around 2037. But it needs to cash in bonds from the general revenue in greater amounts every year)

The longer we put off the ending of wars and slowing growth curves of debt and SS the harder it will be to get fiscally stable. 10% of GDP on debt service will be very bad for our economy. With everything else added we won't be able to tax enough to cover what is needed. And borrowing more at that point will not be an option (what's too much: 20% of GDP for debt service? 25%? 50%? The higher it goes the lower GDP growth will be)