(CNN) -       Progressives must be willing to reform programs
such as Social Security, precisely because they are so
important. The question is how? There are better solutions that
the president could champion. For example, we could shore up
Social Security for decades by raising the cap on taxable income
-- so that it is not just poor and middle-class folks whose
entire paychecks are taxed.  But Obama's plan leaves that cap in
place -- protecting the wealthiest Americans. Instead of asking
more from the rich to shore up Social Security, his proposed
budget would take more from the middle class and poor.  Don't
let all the D.C. jargon fool you. Some in Washington would have
us believe that Obama's "Chained CPI" proposal is a mere tweak
that more accurately reflects costs. Not true.  By changing the
fine print on cost-of-living adjustments, Obama's plan would
ensure that benefits rise more slowly than inflation. That would
have devastating impacts on ordinary people immediately upon
passage, hurt more tomorrow