held the same job in the clinton administration. >> it's just, we can't afford it. >> reporter: economists say, look at the pie chart at our spending. social security and then medicare, a bite as big and growing. today, that bold call to limit the annual increases in medicare, and we wondered, is there any way to avoid it? can medicare be left untouched? and still rein in this deficit? >> oh, no. medicare is part of the problem and indeed a bigger problem than social security. >> reporter: an even bigger problem because of the aging baby boomers. and, again, we heard agreement from president clinton's adviser. >> there is no way to rein in the deficit without slowing the rate of growth of medicare spending. >> reporter: and back at the chart, look at defend spending next. considered untouchable by many, so, again, we asked both sides, do you have to cut defense spending to bring down the deficit? both said yes. >> first thing you should look at, don't buy anything that the defense department doesn't want. >> we spend money on weapons systems that the pentagon doesn't want. >> reporter: saying virtually the same thing there. two economic advisers to two