Anyone who says we need to cut Social Security and Medicare to save money is a liar.

[Stinky The Clown]

Neither is funded from the general fund. They are funded by special levies that are **supposed** to be kept sacred, in what Al Gore called a lock box. What has happened, however, is that the people we elected to act in our best interests have repeatedly and, some would say, criminally, taken the money and replaced it with I.O.U.s. What is killing us is paying off those IOUs; if they weren't there, there is plenty of money to meet obligations.

This is a lie that started with some right wing messaging think tank. It has become common wisdom through the concerted efforts of teevee talking heads who refuse to tell the real truth. The talking heads started propelling this lie in the frontal lobe of the people. Once started, politicians got on board. And now we are where we are - a Democratic president playing right into the lie.

This will be the biggest heist of the public wealth ever. And what is worse is that it is being stolen from those of us least able to withstand the assault.

"We need to cut entitlements."

That has been a hateful repubican mantra for as long as I can recall.

And now it is mainstream and a Democratic principle.

Wow.