More from David Plouffe's warning "left" of tough times. How I feel about such warnings.

[BlueStreak]

8. We're willing to make changes. But just cutting benefits doesn't solve any problems

Negotiate for drug prices.

Make the payments to health providers based on health outcomes rather than how many unnecessary tests they can bill for.

etc

etc

etc.

In other words, the problem is not Medicare. The problem is the cost of how we provide health care. Address the right problem and people will be willing to listen to what sacrifices might be necessary.

But don't just shove "austerity" bullshit in our faces at a time when the richest have never been richer and the biggest corporations have never been more profitable. Give them some austerity and then we can talk.