Only in Washington, D.C. would this be considered controversial

Social Security taxes would rise and benefits would fall under proposals from the co-chairmen of the special deficit-reduction panel that's due to report to Congress this week.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/28/1870542/debt-panels-social-security-fix.html

In the rest of the country, people understand that you need to earn more or spend less when your bills go up.