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PIECE.
HERE ARE TWO STORIES ABOUT
REFORMING SOCIAL SAFETY NET OR
ENTITLEMENT SPENDING IN
WASHINGTON, D.C..
ONE FROM REAL LIFE AND ONE FROM
NETFLIX'S "HOUSE OF CARDS."
AND AMAZINGLY, THE MORE CYNICAL
VERSION IS NOT THE BLOODY,
*** INMORAL ONE.
IF YOU CAN GET PAST THE SHOW'S
CRIMINAL CERRORS, THE PLOTS ARE
KIND OF SIMILAR.
START WITH THE PROPOSITION THAT
BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS IN BOTH REAL-LIFE AND
THE TV SHOW BELIEVE THESE SHOWS
NEED TO BE REFORMED THAT NOT
ENOUGH MONEY IS GOING IN AND NOT
ENOUGH OUT.
LET ME GIVE YOU A MINOR SPOILER
ALERT.
IN THE FIRST FEW EPISODES OF THE
NETFLIX SHOW, LAWMAKERS ACTUALLY
PASSED A CONTROVERSIAL REFORM.
THEY RAISED THE RETIREMENT AGE
TO 68.
IN THE SHOW, DEMOCRATS HAVE TO
DO IT ON THEIR OWN AFTER
REPUBLICANS WALK AWAY RIGHT
BEFORE A KEY VOTE.
AND HERE'S THE POINT HERE, THE
DEMOCRATS DO IT ON THEIR OWN.
>> NOW, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD
TIME FOR A FRANK UNDERWOOD-LIKE
ASIDE.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, REGARDLESS OF
THE MERITS, IT WOULD BE
SIGNIFICANT AND VERY POLITICALLY
RISKY THING TO DO.
>> ORDER IN THE SENATE.
>> YOU DON'T SEE PRESIDENT OBAMA
OR VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKING
SUCH A BIG POLICY MOVE, DESPITE
THE CLAIM THAT THEY MAKE A
POLITICAL DANCING PARTNER.
IN FACT, THIS WEEK, IN REAL-LIFE
WASHINGTON, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION CPI AND CONSUMER
PRICE INDEX TO THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL.
IT'S A CHANGE IN THE INFLATION
FORMULA.
IT'S A COST OF LIVING INCREASE
AND ONCE ON THE TABLE NOW, OFF
THE TABLE WOULD NOT SLOW THE
GROWTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY
SPENDING AS MUCH AS THE HOUSE OF
CARDS IDEA.
IT WOULD SLOW GROWTH.
PRESIDENT OBAMA RECENTLY
EXPRESSED ENVY AT FRANK
UNDERWOOD'S ABILITY TO GET
THINGS DONE IN WASHINGTON.
THE WAYS OF ACHIEVING THINGS ARE
DOWNRIGHT ILLEGAL.
NOT JUST IMMORAL.
IT ALSO TURNS OUT NEWS FLASH THE