It is about time that the old geezers fell the pain. Every politician caters to the "MOST VULNERABLE" meaning the 50% of the population that do not pay any incomes taxes and/or lazy over paid public employees. The next step is to stick it to the lazy and over compensated public employees.

Congressmen can't seem to find other ways to save a buck other than to strike the already poor and indigent. Let's think of the other ways by which they could cut costs. Let's take a look at the fact that Empire America has about 144 military (and costly) installations all over the world. Why are we still in Germany, South Korea and wherever? Oh, what about the Black Budget and all the unaccountabl billions flushing down that endlessly streaming hopper? Oh, take another look at our bloated military budget for weapons, fighters, warships,carriers that we don't need. Who is our enemy that we have to be so armed to the teeth? Take another look at the fact we have thousands of nukes stored in silos at great cost to monitor and repair them. And who is paying for the spraying of the upper atmostphere with these long, white plumes from unmarked planes? Am I nuts in pointing this out? They are called chemical trails. Look for your selves and see them today. Just look up into our marred, bright blue sky. Who is paying for this? It must the USA in whole or in part. How much more waste also from the famous and infamous perks like the bridge in Alaska that went to nowhere. And the answer to all this waste? Hey, let's cut back on Medicare and Social Security for the elderly. Nice work, you jerks.

How are people who earn 15,000 dollars a year at minimum wage supposed to set aside enough money to retire on when they don't have enough to 'live' on. Everybody answers that these people should get an education so they can earn more. but there are jobs we expect people to do which do not require further education and we do not care to pay them a living wage. We supplement their salaries through Food Stamps, heating assistance, etc. so perhaps we should also fund savings accounts for those too poor to fund their own. Social Security IS their savings account and instead of paying out less to low wage workers, they should be given MORE than those who were top earners during their working lives. Those of us lucky enough to be able to save should have empathy, at least, for those who rely on Social Security, and even better we should work to make sure that every working person earns a living wage. A welfare state is only necessary when the larger society is willing to exploit those at the bottom of the wage scale. We don't like to think of ourselves that way but will we pay more for the the goods and services we purchase so that every worker can be self-reliant and live in dignity. Are companies willing to restructure their wage scales and take less profit?

A tiny update on your facts: A typical 65-year-old doesn't receive Social Security or Medicare benefits - the age is 66. As to the super committee, we all know this was never a serious solution to the problems facing not only the US but the world. It's all about who controls congress and we know it isn't the Democrats or the Republicans. We could raise the limit on payroll taxes on both Social Security and Medicare and they would be solvent forever. Those who have signed a pledge saying they will never raise taxes should be voted out of office so we can start making progress in our nation. We've sunk so low and have fallen so far behind the rest of the world that the United States is thought of as little more than a bully with a huge military force. Our citizens are out of work, our elderly are afraid they won't have enough for a roof over their heads and those of us taking care of both our children and our parents are exhausted. Our future is being taken from us as is the future of our children and their children, all so those with the most can get more. The solution is simple but no one has the guts in Congress to say it - make the rich pay their fair share; cut funding to the Pentagon; stop the wars and incursions into other countries and maybe then we'll feel there's a chance for us, those who work hard, have been lucky and want to see America a shining beacon once more.

Social security was designed to be a supplement, not to live on. You need to prepare for retirement, save money all your working life. Baby boomers spent huge amounts of money on their children, financed their homes for college, gave their children material items. I have friends who are in their early 60's and had to refinance their home and take a 30 year mortgage,lived the high life for years, travel,private college for the kids,used credit cards for everything then used their home to pay them off. This is the result when you don't live within your means. Good luck living off SS.

I'd like to know the true story of arcenia hall. Why does she not get SSI? At that income level, all her meds and medical expenses should be paid for by government assistance. I assume that's "her" social security payment (must not have worked very much in the system?) and her husband get more putting them outside of the government assistance threshholds. Anyways, dig deeper

This is why people are out on the streets. We know that something is wrong when so many, young and old, live in financial fear. We are beginning to understand that inequality in incomes is part of the problem, but it is hard to wrap our minds around the complexities of the economy and what would we be willing to do differently or ask others to do differently to eliminate these financial fears and put us on an even and sustainable keel. It seems that this gang of twelve is on the path to policies which will just worsen the situation. Are they just thinking politically or are they really using this as an opportunity to steer us in a new direction? The Occupy movement won't just go away because the problems will not go away until they are addressed in a constructive manner.

opps, I meant baucus

ah the usual suspects -- like baucas -- with Dems like him, who needs Republicans. He was also one of the impediments to a better health care reform bill. And Kerry better wise up as well. It is simply outrageous that they would consider cutting benefits for the poorest among us when we should be cutting the military in half, ending corporate subsidies and tax breaks, making the wealthy pay their fair share, since they've made all the income gains in the last 30 years.