Give me one example of an entitlement program that has been “virtually amended out of existence”. Just one example.
Take your time.
In 1986, I think, Congress passed a catastrophic health care bill. It was such a disaster with the public, it was abolished the following year.
Actually I got the year wrong. It was 1988 and it was the Medicare Catastrophic Health Care Plan. Here’s a link to a article about it written at the time of the Hillary Clinton plan: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n3_v25/ai_13563875/
Once passed, there’s only way to undo it. And it’s not the least bit pleasant.