Rasmussen Survey on Social Security
How confident are you that the Social Security system will pay you all promised retirement benefits during your lifetime?
- Very confident 13%
- Somewhat confident 25%
- Not very confident 36%
- Not at all confident 24%
One of President Obama’s top economic advisors says the president will attempt to reform Social Security before the end of his first term. Should reforming Social Security be one of President Obama’s top priorities?
- Yes 36%
- No 41%
Should working Americans be allowed to opt out of Social Security and provide for their own retirement planning?
- Yes 49%
- No 37%
Should Social Security taxes be increased to insure that all promised benefits are paid?
- Yes 27%
- No 54%
Is Social Security a good deal for working Americans today?
- Yes 47%
- No 38%
Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted August 19-20. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.
Inside the numbers:
A majority of voters under 50 say workers should be allowed to opt out. A plurality of those over 50 disagree.
A majority of voters over 50 say Social Security is a good deal for workers. A plurality of younger voters take the opposite view.
Sixty-two percent (62%) of Republicans like the idea of letting workers opt out, as do 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party. But just 33% of Democrats agree. Nearly half (48%) of Democratic voters are opposed to letting workers opt out of Social Security.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Should working Americans be allowed to opt out of Social Security and provide for their own retirement planning?
I’ve always wondered -
What happens if they can’t provide for their own retirement, from some unforeseen setback, once they’re in the retirement years?
Is someone advocating such people should be kicked to the curb? Cause if not, then why advocate to destroy the only safety net some people have, and then have to find a way to pay for them in the future? It strikes me as a very short-sighted, or a very selfish point of view.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
American,
Regarding Social Security, do you favor increasing taxes or cutting benefits to try to keep it solvant?
August 21st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
American,
“What happens if they can’t provide for their own retirement, from some unforeseen setback, once they’re in the retirement years? ”
Back before your beloved Big Brother started crowding out authentic human relationships, families and communities took care of each other.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
“Back before your beloved Big Brother started crowding out authentic human relationships, families and communities took care of each other.” BINGO!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
American,
Where does all this faith in the government come from? Can you name the last major program that came in under budget, or delivered more than it promised? Can you think of a government program that is renowned for its friendly, humane, compassionate, and customer focused service?
August 21st, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Most Americans Expect Income-Tax Hike Under Obama
A new Gallup Poll finds that 68% of Americans believe their federal income taxes will be higher by the time Barack Obama’s first term as president ends. This includes 35% who say their taxes will be “a lot higher.”
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122411/Americans-Expect-Income-Tax-Hike-Obama.aspx?version=print
August 21st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Aron,
“Most Americans Expect Income-Tax Hike Under Obama”
Most Americans may not be able to find England on a map, but they’ve learned a little bit about Obama at least.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Back before your beloved Big Brother started crowding out authentic human relationships, families and communities took care of each other.
Yes, and they tilled the land hand in hand, neighbor protecting neighbor….
That’s a great history lesson, but we’re talking today? You’re saying you expect neighbors to buy food, pay for medications, pay their rent, pay their bills…..
So seriously, what are you advocating? Cause it sounds like someone is still paying, only more inefficiently. And then there are most of the big cities, where there is NO communal aspects. So those people again, are you kicking them to the curb?
August 21st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
#8, exactly.
Many Republicans seem to want a country where if you’re old, and something happens to you that ruins your financial situation, or perhaps you never made enough money and didn’t get to save anything, tough luck. Enjoy your homelessness. (and don’t bring up charities and family, because while they would help many, many, many people in such a scenario, there would still be a very considerable amount left out in the cold)
But hey, at least the rich can buy another yacht!
August 21st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Can you think of a government program that is renowned for its friendly, humane, compassionate, and customer focused service?
You mean Medicare? S-CHIP? Social Security? How about the VA program? 44 years, 70+ years … ask a senior if they want to get rid of Medicare? Or social security?
No program comes in under budget and on-time. How many military projects in the private sector come in on-time and under budget?
How about the Iraq war? Wasn’t that supposed to be paid for by the Iraqi’s? It’s a false arguing point for any large scale project or program, public or private.
I trust the government to do something perfect exactly none of the time. But this is what the government was set up to do, as listed in the Constitution, under “promote the general welfare”.
I’d argue that if I have a choice between a government agency being paid to help me, and a for-profit insurance company agent, being paid to deny me (and get awarded for doing so), it’s an obvious choice. And we’re talking about choice. I want more choices, don’t you?
August 21st, 2009 at 4:49 pm
#10 The 2002 Olympics came under budget
August 21st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
You actually think that “promote the general welfare” means that the government should supply free healthcare. How are comprehensive tests and medicines and surgeries considered general welfare? I love this liberal spin argument.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
You actually think that “promote the general welfare” means that the government should supply free healthcare.
No, I don’t. Who said anything about free? Everything costs something, you just have to decide what’s it worth to you.
general welfare?
‘Deathers’ and ‘birthers’ love to scream about what’s constitutional, so I wanted to throw that out there. People forget there is a reason we have government, besides defense.
The 2002 Olympics came under budget
Damn! You found it!
August 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I know something else that came in on time and under budget, also tied with a certain CEO of the Olympics.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/07/23/health_law_costs_arent_the_problem/
Contrary to what many are chanting, MA health care is within predicted budget AND it was done on time.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Uninsured: Highest Percentage in Texas, Lowest in Mass.
Percentage of adults without health insurance is up in several states
The 14 states with the lowest percentage of uninsured residents all voted for Obama in 2008. With the lone exception of North Dakota, that list extends to 19 states.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122387/Uninsured-Highest-Percentage-Texas-Lowest-Mass.aspx?version=print
Obesity and Diabetes: Across States, a Clear Relationship
More states trending up than down on both health outcomes compared to 2008
http://www.gallup.com/poll/122405/Obesity-Diabetes-Across-States-Clear-Relationship.aspx?version=print
August 27th, 2009 at 3:44 am
best option before any investment is to take a survey.