Such shifts have extended the period before the trust fund runs out of assets, and further shifts are perfectly possible.

ECONOMIST: The retired are always supported by their children

And you've seen the CBO talk about the extended life to the Medicare trust fund that legislation that the Senate is currently debating would have in terms of the specific policy.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

He said the levy on the BBC licence fee used to fund digital switchover could be extended if necessary.

BBC: Broadband Britain rollout delayed by three years

The brokerage arm of Fidelity Investments, the fund giant, three years ago extended its pre-open trading from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Just as leadership changed from growth in the late 1990s to value in the first part of the 21st century, followed by an extended period of leadership from foreign funds, our greatest conviction is that fund leadership will continue to change over time.

FORBES: Get A Bushel Full Of Home-Grown Small Stock Funds And ETFs

Over in Europe, Slovakia finally ratified the extended EFSF, becoming the 17 and final EU nation to approve the rescue fund, but failing to rally markets.

FORBES: Stocks Fall On Weak JPM Earnings As Rajaratnam Gets 11 Years

President after President after President discussed the importance of passing something comprehensive and historic that cut how much we were paying for health care, that extended the life, as we saw last week, of the Medicare trust fund.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing