$250 Senior Stimulus

I'm not sure that I follow this one. Social Security receipients won't receive a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase in 2010. Mr. Obama commented that their buying power would be diminished without a COLA increase in 2010 when announcing the plan to issue $250 stimulus checks to SS receipients. The ONLY reason there won't be a COLA in 2010 is because prices WENT DOWN last year. If SS income is constant and prices of goods purchase decrease, then buying power actually INCREASED! How many SS couples will head to their local Best Buy and purchase a new 32" HDTV, courtesy of the SSA?