Number One paradigm shift is to admit that the current paradigm of "defined benefits" is unsustainable. That is, a pension or payment that is paid regardless of reserves. This is compared to the kind of benefits where you put money away in your own accounts and draw on it later.

States and cities are being crushed under public employee benefit promises. In Europe, this is happening to whole nations. These levels of benefits are often far beyond the private sector and far beyond the ability to pay them.

Much of private industry abandoned this form of retirement program a long time ago. See if you can find any private job that offers a "pension." My wife has a 403(b) program. I have SEP IRAs.

So, yes. We have to move toward long-term privatizing of Social Security and Medicare. This needs to be done over a number of years, preserving existing benefits for those nearing retirement age as the turnover begins for those just starting out in their work careers. At least one younger generation is going to get it in the teeth since they'll still have to pay taxes for benefits for the old, but at least the delusion that we can go deeper in the hole forever will finally be squelched. At some point, a few decades from now, the system will begin to pull out of the dive it's in now.

The Left will scream bloody murder. Entitlements are one of their primary keys to power, and they will go down fighting before they let people have control of their own lives back.