From the Heritage Foundation: 17 reasons why $17 trillion is a big deal

Sad reality: Will Rogers died in 1935 when the national debt was $29 billion (with a B), or 39% of national GDP.

Today, the national debt has climbed to more than $16 trillion (with a T), or 102% of national GDP.

It really makes you wonder where we'd be today if more people had thought like Will Rogers...