Laurence Kotlikoff spells out what the costs are of ignoring the problems of Social Security and Medicare.

Let’s face it–Uncle Sam is broke. The gap between the U.S. government’s future expenses and tax receipts is $63.3 trillion. No surprise. The nation has 77 million retiring baby boomers on track to collect well above $30,000 a year–the average amount we’re paying today’s elderly–in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. If you’re planning for a cushy retirement, forget it. Get ready for much higher taxes, lower benefits and inflation.

Fun, eh? People (e.g. Nancy Pelosi) complain that the Republicans were too stingy with the Prescription Drug Program and that the “donut hole” has to be closed. But the truth is that the Republicans were too generous and the Democrats most likely will be even far more generous. On top of this, there is nobody in Washington that can take care of this problem right now, and like credit card debt where even the interest isn’t paid off, this inaction means that the problem just becomes more and more expensive.