Posted on 03/08/2005 8:39:25 PM PST by FairOpinion
WASHINGTON - The heart of President Bush (news - web sites)'s plan for Social Security (news - web sites), allowing younger workers to create personal accounts in exchange for a lower guaranteed government benefit, is among the least popular elements with the public, Republican pollsters told House GOP leaders Tuesday.
The pollsters also stressed the political stakes involved in pursuing Bush's plan to overhaul the Depression-era program, according to a memo circulated at a session in the Capitol.
Older voters consider a candidate's views on Social Security to be "as important, or in some cases, more important than issues like the war, health care and education," they wrote.
Reporting on the results of 14 focus groups held last month in scattered locations, the memo said Bush has been successful in raising awareness of Social Security's financial situation. It also credited the administration with having done a "very good job" of emphasizing that current and near retirees would not be affected by his plan.
At the same time, the public "knows little or nothing about the details and specifics" of Bush's proposal for individual accounts, "and a good bit of what they think they know is incorrect," it said.
The focus groups, as well as earlier nationwide polling, were paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of the House GOP. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo.
Unlike a poll that may survey hundreds of people, a focus group involves a moderator leading a discussion. The participants are chosen for different characteristics such as age, gender and voting behavior.
According to the memo, Americans of all age groups "were most resistant to proposals that involved cutting or reducing benefits or raising Social Security payroll taxes.
"When forced to choose a course of action, a majority ... chose raising the age of early retirement, and there was also support for further reducing starting benefits for early retirement."
Despite the general resistance to higher taxes, there is very strong support for exposing higher levels of income to the existing levy, the pollsters wrote.
Asked what they liked least, 31 percent of the participants in the sessions mentioned that the government would be responsible for keeping track of the accounts. Another 24 percent "least liked the fact that workers would be required to accept a lower traditional benefit in return for participation," a key element of Bush's plan.
The findings surfaced on the eve of a House Ways and Means Committee hearing into Social Security's finances and as the administration pushes ahead with an aggressive campaign to raise public support for changes.
At the same time, some Republicans have begun to step forward with variations on Bush's theme, in hopes of beginning a process that can coax Democrats into negotiations.
Congressional Democrats have so far maintained nearly unanimous opposition to the president's plan, accusing Bush of seeking to privatize the program and pay for it by cutting benefits.
The president asked Congress in his State of the Union address to overhaul the program, saying he wanted a bill that both made it permanently solvent and included personal accounts.
Under the president's approach, Social Security would remain unchanged for retirees and workers age 55 and over.
Younger workers would have the option of investing a portion of their payroll taxes on their own and would receive a lower guaranteed government benefit when they retire. Supporters of the plan argue that earnings on the investments would make up the difference.
Republican officials briefed by White House aides have said even younger Americans who decide not to establish a private account would receive a lower government guaranteed benefit.
Bush and the Republicans need to go to the people directly and explain things. People succumb to the Dems scare tactics and don't understand that the choice is NOT for a continuing fully funded Social Security, but whether we fix it now, or wait until it falls off the cliff.
Focus groups can be lead and manipulated but this report suggests these results came from Republican organized focus groups. Moderate wing Republicans maybe?
basic question to ask those polled...
"why do Congress and Federal and State employees accept such a "bad" system for themselves?"
If I had left the lousy $6,000 I pulled out from a state job in 1974, I would have .....well, a lot more money than that....
The proposal fails on the merits. Thus Bush cannot really make the case, and will not make the case.
"Stupid" Republicans, maybe?
Obviously they weren't explaining to the focus groups, that if we do nothing, people will see a min 25% drop in their SS payments in a few years.
Of course people would like to have it continue as is, but that's NOT an option.
No, Reps in Congress need to do something even more radical.
Stop the polls and fix it.
Just a few months ago Polls had Bush losing the election. A few months ago Americans were against the war. Pols that follow Polls are asking to be voted out as far as I'm concerned.
Do what is right and the public will more often than not reward you. Time for the Reps in Congress to try Leading.
The present system collapses; then what?
So I can understand, what do you mean by "the merits" (in basic terms)? You think people don't like the concept of being able to invest a bit of their own money for retirement?
You are right. There is leading and there is cowering behind the polls. Which will it be, Republicans?
It won't. Benefits will just be cut 30% if politicians stay asleep at the switch doing nothing until the money runs out. But that won't happen. There will be a slow cut in benefits through slight of hand, and infusion of general tax revenues. The problem with Bush's plan is that it really does not do much about the numbers, except infuse some more risk into the system, with a host of ancillary problems. Bush's proposal is dead. If something passes, it won't look much like Bush's plan.
Were they exit polling dead people?
Not when it just offsets your benefits from the balance of the system, at a rate of 3% above inflation per year. It is a scheme akin to investing in stocks at 100% margin. It just won't happen.
As soon as I saw the phrase "focus group," I stopped reading. What junk reporting.
I heard what the Dims had to say and it made perfect sense. Personal accounts are a bad idea!
I just fired off a letter to Fidelity Investments requesting that the blend my money in with everyone else's money. I told them that I want them to take 12% of every dollar I make for the rest of my life, then they can decide to give me back any amount they please whenever they feel like it!
</sarcasm*>
Private accounts are a case of good policy, but bad politics. If Bush wasn't open to private accounts in the 2000 and 2004 elections, he may have won PA, thereby shutting out any thoughts of the RATS taking control of the White House.
I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not. Conservatives have completely dropped the ball on this and allowed the Left to literally run over us on this issue. The Left has been making numerous phone calls to literally every district in this country attacking Bush and Congressmen for supporting SS reform without any response from conservative organizations. I have gotten about 4 phone calls alone attacking Congressmen Ron Lewis (R-KY), one of the safest members of the GOP caucus (normally winning with about 70% of the vote) over this and no response from any conservative organizations. Imagine the effect in marginal districts.
The conservative organizations better start educating the public about this issue or efforts at reform will be toast.
How convenient.
Here's part of the problem:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1358857/posts
Bush needs to tell the Greedy Geezers (that's me) that if nothing is done their benefits will be cut or they can support him in his plan and keep their benefits coming...
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