--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real number of the US' obligations…" description: "\"The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75 trillion. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_debt_the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-un_1206628.jpg" --- # The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded… ![“The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75 trillion. The vast majority of that is health entitlements - Medicare, Obamacare, Medicaid. There's also Social Security, interest on the debt. But…” quote by Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_debt_the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-un_1206628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_debt_the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-un_1206628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_debt_the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-un_1206628.jpg) > “The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75 trillion. The vast majority of that is health entitlements - Medicare, Obamacare, Medicaid. There's also Social Security, interest on the debt. But fundamentally, health entitlements are the thing that will bankrupt our kids. We need to fix that for the long-term.” [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future generations face massive fiscal strain from unfunded health liabilities, threatening economic stability. **In simple terms:** Health costs will bankrupt future generations. Key Takeaway Address health spending now. Themes fiscal policy health economics intergenerational equity Mood concerned urgent Type policy analytical When to use this quote - budget planning - legislative advocacy - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts public finance social safety net budget reform Questions to Reflect On - What reforms can reduce health entitlement costs? - How to balance care with fiscal responsibility? A Different Perspective Political opposition may block reforms; solutions are complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entitlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitlement/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Medicaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicaid/) [Obamacare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obamacare/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-security/) ## Related quotes > [Social Security represents an $11 trillion unfunded obligation. And when I say unfunded obligation, I mean we have to come up with $11 trillion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-snow/social-security-represents-an-11-trillion-unfunded-obligation-and/) [John W. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-snow/) > [If social security depresses savings rates, it is only because it is unfunded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/if-social-security-depresses-savings-rates-it-is-only-because-it-is/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [We have seen that, in another unfunded mandate, the so-called No Child Left Behind Act, which created tougher standards, and we all support that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-filner/we-have-seen-that-in-another-unfunded-mandate-the-so-called-no-child/) [Bob Filner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-filner/) > [For too long, unfunded federal mandates have drained the budgets of states and communities. The strength and vitality of our communities must be restored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/for-too-long-unfunded-federal-mandates-have-drained-the-budgets-of/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Even on education, his one accomplishment, the Leave No Child Behind Act, and he has left it unfunded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/even-on-education-his-one-accomplishment-the-leave-no-child-behind/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [I think the governors would all agree that what we don't want from the federal government is unfunded mandates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-douglas/i-think-the-governors-would-all-agree-that-what-we-don-t-want-from/) [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) > [The country has large unfunded liabilities - social security, health care, and there will have to be some adjustments to these problems. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-country-has-large-unfunded-liabilities-social-security-health/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [When you have children, you realize that at the end it's all about passing on, about handing down. The process of letting go, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/when-you-have-children-you-realize-that-at-the-end-it-s-all-about/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [In this dark world, the Lord Jesus gave us the task of passing on His love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/in-this-dark-world-the-lord-jesus-gave-us-the-task-of-passing-on-his/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [The Treasury's plan has little for those outside of the financial industry. 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You're not only reducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-serra/if-you-reduce-sculpture-to-the-flat-plane-of-the-photograph-you-re/) [Richard Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-serra/) > [The people to become enlightened in Atlantis lit the "flame of enlightenment" on earth for the first time. The members of the various mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-people-to-become-enlightened-in-atlantis-lit-the-flame-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Christ is not a reservoir but a spring. His life is continual, active and ever passing on with an outflow as necessary as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/christ-is-not-a-reservoir-but-a-spring-his-life-is-continual-active/) [A. B. 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Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [Truth affirms freedom of speech. Putin is no friend of reli - freedom of speech. Putin is an enemy of freedom of religion. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/truth-affirms-freedom-of-speech-putin-is-no-friend-of-reli-freedom-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ The U.S. affirms freedom of speech.\[Vladimir\] Putin is no friend of freedom of speech. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-u-s-affirms-freedom-of-speech-vladimir-putin-is-no-friend-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [I don't think we do a great job in America any more of distinguishing between campaigns and governance. We live in an environment that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-think-we-do-a-great-job-in-america-any-more-of-distinguishing/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [The president is the president. And every American, regardless of who you voted for, if you voted for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Donald Duck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-president-is-the-president-and-every-american-regardless-of-who/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like \[Vladimir\] Putin's regime? Not at all. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any-mistakes-of-course-is-the-u/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of the free press. The U.S. celebrates free press. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-the-free-press-the-u-s-celebrates-free/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [What happens in Senate fight club stays in Senate fight club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/what-happens-in-senate-fight-club-stays-in-senate-fight-club/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of political dissent. The U.S. celebrates political dissent and the right for people to argue free from violence about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-political-dissent-the-u-s-celebrates/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ I don't understand what the president's \[Donald Trump\] position is on Russia. But I can tell you what my position is on Russia: Russia… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-understand-what-the-president-s-donald-trump-position-is-on/) [Benjamin E. 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