Mark Parent
Opinions Editor

Last week, the U.S. national debt eclipsed $19 trillion. As Donald Trump would say, that’s huge!

But unlike Trump’s antics behind a podium, this is no laughing matter. Instead, our spiraling fiscal situation is, perhaps, the greatest threat to our country.

In fact, when one examines the debt to GDP ratio — which is, probably, the most effective measuring tool at our disposal — the result is embarrassing. As the Wall Street Journal reported last week, that figure currently stands at a staggering 75 percent.

Now, it should be noted, this isn’t near the outrageously high levels piled up by Greece, Ireland and Portugal prior to the 2008 financial crisis. Then again, those are all small countries, with comparatively weak economies.

The U.S., on the other hand, is home to the largest economy in the world. And on top of that, the U.S. Dollar (USD) is the world’s reserve currency; hence, a weak global economy — or a struggling dollar — can hamper economic development on a global scale.

So when one considers the possibility of an American government defaulting on its debts — or the U.S. Treasury losing a market for its bonds and securities — it’s truly troubling.

And more than that, it begs the simple question: how do we stop it?

Of course, the answer is so simple that a sixth-grader could answer it: the government must control spending, balance the budget and begin paying back its debts.

The only problem with this solution is that, well, it’s extremely difficult to implement. For starters, politicians are selfish and are averse to cutting federal spending — fewer government checks typically amounts to fewer votes.

Then, one must consider the ballooning costs of entitlements. According to a recent Brookings Institution study, Social Security and Medicare will be insolvent by 2032. Curiously, this is actually a drastic improvement from previous estimates, which dated its demise at 2030 — this is largely due to the Affordable Care Act’s impact on health-care inflation and the Federal Reserve’s insistence on maintaining low interest rates.

Nevertheless, within 16 years, we could see the destruction of two of the most important social programs in American society. I mean, seriously, just imagine a world in which our parent’s generation will be deprived of their Social Security and Medicare benefits — then, snap back to reality and realize that this scenario is going to be here soon!

It is with this knowledge in mind, that we, as an influential voting bloc, should be pushing our elected leaders to provide realistic solutions to our government’s most pressing problems.

But, unfortunately, feckless leaders have repeatedly swindled us, intent on prioritizing their own ambitions above the good of the country.

With that being said, it is important to note that our generation is falling prey to a socialist con-man, Sen. Bernie Sanders.

That’s right, Sen. Sanders is playing you. As the Washington Post claimed in an editorial two weeks ago, he is running a “fiction-filled campaign.”

On top of that, the Wall Street Journal analyzed Sen. Sanders’ policy platform last fall and concluded, “he backs at least $18 trillion in new spending over a decade.”

Anyone with a functioning brain — or, at least, someone willing to confront reality — can see that this is utter madness. Our government cannot refrain from reforming its current spending habits, let alone add new costly programs.

So let me pose a simple challenge to all of the “Bernie Bros” out there: how can you implement Sen. Sanders’ policy platform and simultaneously control government spending?

I’d just love to know what your answer is. Of course, you can’t say that we’ll just increase taxes on the wealthy and break up the banks; after all, according to a Forbes Magazine analysis of Sen. Sanders’ recently unveiled tax plan, all of these rate increases will only raise federal revenues by $235 billion annually.

To put that in context, that’s only half of our current budget deficit.

So what exactly do you cut? I suppose you could say the military, but it’s already suffered draconian cuts under President Obama; in fact, according to Reuters in 2014, the U.S. military is now at its smallest size since before World War II.

And how could a potential president convince the American public that — given all of the uncertainties surrounding U.S. national security — further cuts are reasonable?

It’s madness. No, it’s amateur hour. Please, I’m begging you, think with your brain. Crunch the numbers. Sen. Sanders is lying to you and you know it. I know this may sound cliché, but we live in a critical time in American history.

Without serious fiscal reforms, the social safety nets that both political parties have come to treasure are in serious jeopardy. And if Sen. Sanders wins the White House next November — I’m praying he doesn’t — then they’re sure to crumble even faster.

Now, I don’t expect any Sanders supporters to come over to my side of the political aisle — that won’t happen until they start paying taxes.

But, I’m begging you, please just vote for Hillary Clinton so our country has a sliver of a chance.

Oh, and if you disagree with me, then write a letter to the editor!