America’s national debt is mounting at a pace so rapid—nearly $70,000 every passing second—that many no longer pay attention. Lynn Ashby highlights this collective inattentiveness, reminding each of us that our personal share of the debt is already in six figures.

Seventeen Staten Island Ferry engineers each earned more than $1 million in 2024, illustrating how a service that comes at no charge to passengers can carry a heavy price for taxpayers. In total, these salaries amount to $23.1 million.