Same as "choice." Reduces the power of the government.

Logically, a government program to aid the poor should be targeted toward poor people, which is what means testing is all about. This helps the people who need it, and costs much less. If your goal is not aiding the poor, but political power, you make the programs both universal and mandatory. This doesn't help the poor as much, and costs much more, but who cares, right?

While most elderly in America are not exactly boating on the Riviera every winter, only about ten percent of America's elderly live below the poverty line. Surprised? I was, given the image drilled into us by the Left of a huge sea of poverty-stricken elderly waiting to be ground into Soylent Green by the Republicans. If you expand the definition to "near-poor" (125 percent of poverty line) it goes up to 17 percent. Means testing could pull up to 8 out of 10 elderly out of the dependency corral, and the Democrats can't have that. Why do you think they are so adamant about not means testing prescription drug coverage?

Socialized medicine, or socialized retirement, only works when people are forced into it almost universally.