Social Security and Medicare have become an expectation of those who have paid into it for decades. Congress knows that it is political suicide to come up short of those expectations. I think we saw how the Bush administration dealt with the issue of self investment of these funds. Those over the age of 50 were exempt. I think that has set an example for the future.

The federal government will have to find a method to supplement the funding of Social Security and Medicare. I would be surprised if it cut benefits of individuals that have paid into it for decades, and are now ready to collect. Consider the funds we have pissed away in Iraq...now Afghanistan?