'Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.' -- Eugene V. Debs

Friday, June 24, 2005

Tepid Support 

In this AP article about Cheney hinting that the Bush administraion is ready to back off on privatizing social security I found the following sentence kind of curious
"Public opinion polls have shown tepid support at best for the [private] accounts."
given that it's, you know, false.

Here are some results from a CBS News/New York Times Poll earlier this month:

"Do you have confidence in George W. Bush's ability to make the right decisions about Social Security, or are you uneasy about his approach?"
ConfidentUneasyUnsure
27%66%7%


"Some people have suggested allowing individuals to invest portions of their Social Security taxes on their own, which might allow them to make more money for their retirement, but would involve greater risk. Do you think allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes on their own is a good idea or a bad idea?"

Good IdeaBad IdeaUnsure
45%50%5%


"Some people have suggested allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes on their own into a small number of authorized investment funds, which might allow them to make more money for their retirement, but would involve greater risk. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?"

Good IdeaBad IdeaUnsure
39%56%5%



"What effect do you think allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes on their own would have on the financial situation of the Social Security program itself? Would it make the program's financial situation better, make it worse, or would it not have much impact on the Social Security program's financial situation?"

BetterWorseNo ImpactUnsure
25%36%27%12%


If the above constitutes tepid support I'd like to see what rousing support looks like.

Also I found the response to this question somewhat surprising and illustrative of the direction our elected leaders actually have support to move in if they really are interested in solvency without cutting benefits:

"Currently, people pay Social Security taxes only on the first $90,000 of their annual income. If it were necessary to keep the Social Security program paying benefits as it does now, would you favor or oppose increasing the amount of income that is subject to Social Security taxes?"

FavorOpposeUnsure
63%30%7%



I wonder what the numbers on eliminating the wage cap all together look like?

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