"Republicans resist raising taxes on the wealthy, while Democrats fear slowing the growth of Social Security or health care." Max Richtman, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said Social Security is "win-win for the older and younger generations." "Without Social Security, 40 percent of American seniors would fall into poverty," Richtman added. Most of the payroll taxes collected for Social Security and Medicare don’t get set aside for the future—they go straight to today’s retirees. The numbers say cut deficits, but the politics say don’t cut stuff voters like.