NEWSWEEK POLL: Social Security

PR Newswire ^ | Feb. 5, 2005 | Newsweek Poll

[FairOpinion]

Americans Split Over Bush Social Security Plan: 36 Percent Oppose; 26 Percent Support; 30 Percent Unaware

Sixty-Five Percent Agree Social Security Faces Crisis, But Fifty-Six Percent Say Investing In Stock Market Too Risky

When broken down by age groups, the numbers for those who do not expect to get benefits are higher among younger Americans: 62 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds, 56 percent of 35 to 44-year-olds and 49 percent of 45 to 54-year-olds say they do not expect to get the benefits under current law. Forty-four percent of 55-year-olds and older believe they will get their full benefits.

To keep Social Security financially solvent in the future, 43 percent say they would support raising Social Security payroll taxes; 50 percent would not. (51% of Democrats favor raising Social Security payroll taxes, vs. 57% of Republicans opposing raising those taxes.)

If people's investments in Social Security individual retirement accounts perform poorly and lose money, 60 percent of those polled think the government should be responsible for protecting them in some way from that loss; 34 percent say it shouldn't be responsible.

[FairOpinion]

It looks interesting -- more data at the link. It seems to be mixed: most people seem to realize that SS is not going to be there, many of the younger people do favor private accounts, but then there is that 60%, who are favoring a "nanny government", to "take care of them" (see last para. of my excerpt)

There is a lot of education that needs to be done. We have already too far down the socialistic route, which needs to be stopped and reversed.

I think Bush has an excellent chance of doing that -- even only half the Democrats favor increasing taxes, which is a good sign for a reform.

[longtermmemmory]

http://www.heritage.org/research/features/socialsecurity/

SS calculator using priate accounts.

[MisterRepublican]

Newsweek shilling for the Democrats with a "poll". Ho-hum.

[FairOpinion]

Thanks for the link.

And additional very important consideration, is that Social Security WILL go bankrupt in the not too distant future. So it's not even just how much you would get under the current system vs. privat account, but that the current system will not be there, so people are basically throwing their money into a black hole and they will get nothing, by the time they retire.

We are already down to 2-3 working people supporting a retiree, how much taxes will people have to pay, when it gets down to 1 person having to support a retiree, not to mention, 1 person supporting 2 retirees.

[FairOpinion]

"Newsweek shilling for the Democrats with a "poll"."



===

Released at the same time, when Terry McAuliffe is making a lying speech, trying to scare the retirees about Bush's Social Security reform:

Text of Democratic response of Terry McAuliffe (LIES ALERT)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336795/posts

[traderrob6]

Nothing like an informed public. Almost a third "unaware", yea they're unaware alright

[fluffy]

"43 percent say they would support raising Social Security payroll taxes"

There's got to be something screwy about this poll. There is simply no way 43% of Americans could truly be this stupid. Voting for Kerry is one thing, but specifically supporting higher taxes for no benefit is quite another. I don't believe it.

[k2blader]

I think most (R)'s either favor a nanny gubmint or are "unaware" of the problem.

[FairOpinion]

Here is another interesting article: younger people are getting interested.

Remember all the talk about how younger people don't vote, but when it comes to their future, they start to pay attention.

Here are some excerpts from this article about some students:

Bush Social Security retool interests all ages
http://www.hernandotoday.com/MGB2T5MQR4E.html

BROOKSVILLE - Check their voter registration cards.
The documentation identifies Oscar Lindo and Dustie Spencer as Democrats, but the two said they would support President George W. Bush's proposed Social Security reforms.
Lindo and Spencer are students of James Hansen's American Federal Government class held at Pasco-Hernando Community College's (PHCC) North Campus in Brooksville.

Lindo said Democrats in Congress "who hate Bush" are the biggest obstacles for revamping the current Social Security system.

"I'm a Democrat, but I agree with Bush on this," he said.
Spencer said Social Security is the only thing she and Bush agree on.

Even with the risk, Josue DeLeon, 20, his sister Mariam, 21, and friend Cristina Gonzalez, 17, said they would start investing their money now if privatized accounts were the norm.

The majority of Hansen's class agreed.
"By the time we retire, Social Security as we know it today won't exist," said McNeilly.

"Young people will be taking a stand on this (Social Security), because you're the ones who are going to be the most affected," Hansen, an adjunct professor, told his class.

[PGalt]

You socialists can have ALL of the money I have ever "contributed" since the 1960's. Just give me and my children the FREEDOM to opt out. You won't have to pay 4 individuals anything. ZIP. ZERO.

Now why wouldn't a socialist want to make that deal?

[longtermmemmory]

Minority Leader Reid was just on fox news. THE MAN IS DELUSIONAL.

For YEARS we have been subjected to the mantra that SS is in trouble. NOW that GWBush wants to DO something, Reid is saying the Democrats have been wrong?

What is he aftraid of? That democrats will not be able to do automated "republicans will steal your SS" calls during election years?

Democrats can not deny that EVERYONE is better off with CHOICES AND OPTIONS.

If a person wants to keep the 1% government payoff, THEY ARE FREE TO DO SO!

[skaterboy]

Real #'s most likely 60-25-15..60 support,25 no and 15 too stupid to care

[skaterboy]

Yep,Got a choice to kill your baby but where to send your kids to school and what to do with your money? HELL NO

[tessalu]

I would be very, very rich today, if it were not for the stock Market crash in 1929. I lack faith in the stock market, even though I know some who have made money. It really is just a gamble.

[fluffy]

I see no real gamble here:

[speekinout]

Almost a third "unaware", yea they're unaware alright

The argument I get from my hard-core Liberal friends is that they can't decide until they see the details of W's plan. They'd answer the poll as "unaware".
The truth is that they're hoping that the Dems will come up with some alternative they can grasp on. I think they're hoping in vain, but they're just not ready to sign on to a GOP (especially Bush) proposal.

They should have added a category for "I'm for it, but not if Bush gets the credit".

[BIGZ]

As usual the educated in this country who expound on Social Security trust fund have no grasp of basic math.

Never do you hear compound intrest mentioned.

At two percent the aprox amt. Treasury notes ( Trust Fund ) are paying, a staggering figure after forty years.

[CaptainAwesome2]

People need to take some finance classes. For someone to think that the current system has any advantage over private accounts shows complete ignorance. It should be completely private and the current obligations must be honored through tax revenues hopefully by cutting spending somewhere else.