>http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/07/debt.crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
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>President Barack Obama is seeking $3 trillion to $4 trillion in deficit cuts over the next decade, a move that would require putting Social Security, Medicare, defense spending and tax reform on the table as part of a balanced approach to cuts, Democratic officials familiar with the negotiations told CNN.
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>There are two constituencies you don't mess with in American politics. One is the military-industrial complex. The other, and more important electorally, is the elderly. They vote in huge numbers. They love their SS and Medicare checks even if they don't need the money at all. Talk about scaling those payments back and you are stepping on the third rail.
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>You may not know what a role the elderly played in the year long health care reform debate. You probably heard or read people say it was disliked by the majority of Americans. That was said here more than once. It was a canard. In fact every age category but one was in favor of reform. Guess which one wasn't? The elderly, who are receiving way more in benefits than they ever paid in. It's my generation and those younger who are paying their bill.

If you can get enough of them to die off before the election that could be a game changer :-)