The national debt now exceeds $40 trillion. That equals roughly $117,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States. The number is shocking, but the direction should worry us even more. Washington no longer borrows only during wars, recessions or national emergencies. The federal government now runs huge structural deficits every year. Congress spends far more than the government collects, then adds the difference to the debt with no credible plan to stop. At this pace, the debt could reach $50 trillion as soon as 2032. That burden is already shaping the lives of Americans who enter the workforce, buy homes, start businesses and raise families. Heavy federal borrowing competes with families and businesses for capital, pushing up the cost of mortgages, car loans and financing. Persistent deficits also add pressure to inflation, raising the price of rent, groceries, utilities and other necessities. Interest costs create another squeeze. As Washington devotes more of the budget to servicing debt, Congress leaves less money for education, infrastructure, medical research, national d