This is the excuse of everyone who wants government spending cut, but not my programs. Educators do not want DOE budgets cut, the people in the Department of Homeland Defense will assure you that they are underfunded, civil service will assure you that they deserve a pay increase. These arguments will go on forever. It has long been said that Social Security is the third rail of politics - touch it and you are dead.

ALL government expenditures impact people, whether it is for rebuilding in New Orleans, promoting new ideas in CDC, funding education on a community leve, or providing a COLA increase for Social Security, Congress, our troops, etc.

Any cut in government expenditures will require sacrifice on the part of at least one group. I suggest that someone needs to pick up the challenge of leadership. Someone needs to show the way to the mutual sacrifice that is needed to preserve the country we all love. Those of us on Social Security can make a difference by saying we will not wait for the undefined them that are driving our country into bankruptcy but admit we are part of the problem.

We need to take up the challenge of leadership or admit that we are willing to help drive this country into bankruptcy. I ask again, "if not us - who, if not now - when?"