either become the entire budget or explode the overall size of the budget way beyond even today's bloated levels. Mind you, part of that could mean a means test of some sort so that those who don't need it get less, or none. In other words, they really cease to be entitlements.

But something is going to have to give with demographic trends as they are. Of course another possibility is to greatly expand immigration, to improve the ratio or payors to payees. I have seen pretty compelling predictions that given demographics of virtually all developed countries (aging populations), it is only a matter of time before these countries are competing with each other to attract immigrants.

Which would be quite a change from our current circumstances!