"The house of representatives ... can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as the great mass of society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interest, and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny." --Federalist No. 57, February 19, 1788 [Emphasis added. --R] Keep this in mind during the ongoing "health care reform" debate. Congress already has its own health care and retirement programs, not at all tied to Social Security, et al.