Obama Care, and it's follow on systems have little to do with health care and everything to do with controlling us. Watch over the next few weeks, as Obama and his cohorts make their move to take out the Bill of Rights. ONE of the arguments they will try to use for "gun control" is what guns cost the health care system
As to your brother's retirement, he EARNED it so of COURSE they are going to "alter it". The ONLY bunch who are NOT going to have their 'benefits' cut are the bums who suck off the public teat, those who don't, and often never, earned their way through life. That goes for military and civilians, even SS, a "ponzi scheme" forced on us by Congress and mishandled from day one.
They are going to continue to EXPAND welfare, you know like 'extended unemployment', and take the money from those with either the gumption, or stupidity, to earn their own way. Those who work, or worked, are going to take it in the ear.