Answer:
These comparisons showcase how the national debt is a massive sum, much larger than individual or even many combined household expenses. It represents a significant financial burden on the country.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individual Costs:
It's significantly higher than the cost of a college education (both in-state and out-of-state for a year at Kean University).
It's much larger than the average student loan debt in the US.
It dwarfs the median household income in the US.
National Costs:
While a direct comparison to a median home price isn't perfect (homes are assets, debt is a liability), it highlights the vastness of the national debt.
Calculations for Scale:
Divide the National Debt by the median household income: $17,200,000,000,000 / $52,762 ≈ 325,730
This means the national debt is roughly equivalent to the combined income of over 325,000 median-income households in the US.
Divide the National Debt by the average student loan debt: $17,200,000,000,000 / $25,119 ≈ 684,777,232
This indicates the national debt is equivalent to the combined student loan debt of over 684 million students!
Reasoning:
These comparisons showcase how the national debt is a massive sum, much larger than individual or even many combined household expenses. It represents a significant financial burden on the country.
Note: It's important to consider economic factors and debt management strategies when discussing the national debt. This is a simplified analysis for understanding the scale.