Samuelson's mantra is to cut social programs with nary a peep about the other elephant in the room, the oft mislabled "Defense" budget which should really be called the Offense/Empire budget. Yes tweaks could be made to SS and Medicare to pare costs, but it seems there's never an end to can be plowed into more "improved" weapons systems and bases that do NOT make the citizenry safer or improve our quality of life. Where's the value for dollar spent there, herr Samuelson?