We can get government by the people if we stop being divided over social and cultural issues. The special interests use these divisive issues to keep us too weak to counter their over-influence on our government.

.I have paid into S/S since I was 17 ,I am now 72 this is not an entitlement(which make sis sound like a giveaway).S/S was a self sustaining govt program that was used as a cash cow by the government to build 6.5 billion dollar aircraft carriers,2.5 billion dollar airplanes that were to expansive to fly to fight an imaginary enemy. Stop building defense equipment whose time has passed and wake up to the new reality of war in the 21st century. In the last 10 years I have lost my IRA because of fraud committed by wall street ,watched the value of my house plummet 50%,the cost of educating my children skyrocket and my salary stagnate. Enough with the cronyism and double dealing get the money from the guys you bailed out and leave us little guys with a few crumbs.

I'm over 65 and just getting by.

Given how many innocent people are massacred each year by assault weapons, the only legitimate use of which is to easily kill numerous people easily and efficiently, congress should not only ban the sale of these military weapons but they should also buy up as many as possible tat are already in circulation.

Yes, I am a Social Security recipient and I worked very hard to earn my Social Security Benefits. Social Security does not to our Budget deficits. The only thing that SS does is get raided by the Government when they need to borrow from it to finance wars and other transgressions.

No cuts in Social Security

Do not cut Social Security. For many retirees this would mean critical cuts to benefits that cover medicine, food, and other daily necessities.

SS AND MEDICARE and yes I have been affected

I am 67 and make less than 9K at my hospital job. My SS check of $849. pays my rent and gas and electric bill. With it I would be destitute.

People have payed into their social security and should not have to give it up to balance a federal budget.

Cutting social security benefits by 5% or more will only make the current problem worse; giving the rich another 2% will not make the problem any better. Seniors lives depend on that 5%; the rich won't really miss the 2%, and none of them will die if they don't get it. Seniors will if they don't keep theirs.

Recipients of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid need the protection of the government, to enable us to spend the twilight of our lives in peace.