New Poll Shows Americans Aren't Willing to Cut Social Security to Reduce Deficit

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/07/prweb4257404.htm

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation will release a new poll on American’s views on Social Security, proposals for raising the retirement age, and cutting benefits. The national telephone poll, conducted June 24-June 30th by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows a growing disconnect between the average American’s economic priorities and those being debated in Washington. Poll highlights include:

* Most Americans do not believe Social Security is a major cause of the deficit and they oppose changes in Social Security as part of a deficit reduction plan.
* A majority of those polled nationwide do not believe Social Security is a drain on the economy. To the contrary, they believe this recession underscores the critical role Social Security fills for families.
* Virtually all Americans polled believe that Social Security funds belong to the people who contributed them and their beneficiaries and that Social Security is a promise made to all generations that should not be broken.

Detailed results will be provided at a News Conference on Capitol Hill this week.

When: Thursday, July 15th 1:00pm

Where: H-137 U.S. Capitol

Who: Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) - Invited Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Andrew Smith, Ph.D., Director, University of New Hampshire Survey Center

The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.

Media Inquiries to: Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123 Kim Wright 202-216-8414 www.ncpssm.org

[FiveGoodMen]

1. And let's fucking keep it that way!

[emilyg]

17. Amen.

[napi21]

2. The Pubs have been fighting SS since it passed, and they'll

continue to do so. TS the public will NEVER let them get away with abolishing it!

[closeupready]

3. K&R - this is why it's always been referred to as The Third Rail.

You don't touch social security. It's sacred.

[DJ13]

4. You know...... it wont matter what people think

Like the HCR debate where 70% favored a PO or single payer, the government wont give us a voice in this, they'll just do as they damned well please in the end.

I wish it wasnt so, but the track record doesnt look good.

[whathehell]

8. I would disagree somewhat

with the analogy. Why?..because it's one thing to refuse to ADD something, in this case, public option or SP...It's another entirely to take something away that's already there, and extremely popular.

[DJ13]

11. I look at it as the mindset in DC

They really dont give two shits what the people want or need when it conflicts with the wants and needs of their corporate sponsors.

We saw that in HCR, and with the makeup of the cat food commission leaning so hard to the right its pretty obvious the same mindset is in play with Social Security and Medicare.

[whathehell]

13. I understand where you're coming from...but

I think history, even recent history shows that not EVERY money-grubbing corporate "want" is fulfilled.

Awhile ago, Obama proposed that we tax veteran's benefits...The idea was so unpopular he gave it up.....And I think social security really IS in a class by itself...George Bush, even in his "popular" days couldn't do it..and I don't think Obama and his cat food commission will be able to do it either...I think you'd see HUGE resistance from the people, dems and repukes.

[griffi94]

10. probly

and they'll give it a spiffy name like the take care of the helpless act, and the cuts will be minimal at first because the bill will be written by the same mortgage bankers who drew up the balloon payment mortgages.

so at first the age just moves to 67 and everybody gets $5 a month less...then in two years the age jumps to 88 and everybody gets to keep $5 a month. the rest of the money will be invested with wall street where they can lose it all in about a year...well not lose so much as transfer to themselves.

should you accept the $5 a month entitlement, at the time of your death the bankers send a crew to your house to go thru your pockets for any money and to root thru the sofa cushions for change.

i don't see how this can fail.

[Mojambo]

5. LOL at the idea that it matters one whit what the people think. n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Duh. Who needs a study? Oh right, the right!

As we watch billions (trillions, gazillions) of dollars go to fight two unwinnable wars, tax cuts on the rich, $$$ going to war profiteer corporations who move overseas, I don't know how any politician can expect us to swallow this shit that we must cut social security. (Or many other social programs.)

[Blue Owl]

7. Oh, those "The People" and their common sense

How's the GOP supposed to succeed in ruining the country with all this?

[aquart]

9. What a surprise.

Must be because so many of us lack trust funds.

[Cant trust em]

12. The arguments go something like this...

"The deficit is out of control!"

"Don't cut anything"

[damntexdem]

14. Good, but the article is worthless: no numbers.

"Most" and "a majority" don't give us a real picture.

[obxhead]

15. Cutting SS is like cutting off your toe

to save a gangrene infested arm. It's going to do NOTHING to reduce the deficit.

[Kablooie]

18. And your toe would be fed to the military machine to keep it healthy.

[SoCalDem]

16. If the govt had not allowed pensions to be killed, it would be an easier "sell" now

without SS, our retirement income would be $366.05 (my mini-pension) and whatever measly interest we could earn on the 401-k that's only now gone back up over $60K..

My husband was never military and has never worked for a company large enough to offer a pension plan.

SS became the de facto retirement plan when government allowed business to stop taking care of employees in lieu of keeping the profits all for themselves..