According to a recent poll conducted by research firm GfK Roper and funded by AARP, Americans largely disapprove of cutting Social Security in order to reduce the national deficit. As outlined by the Huffington Post, 85 percent of adults don’t want to cut Social Security. A large sample (72 percent) “strongly opposes” such action.
‘Me first,’ say Social Security recipients
It is surprising to see these numbers come from a Social Security system that is 75 years old and hotly debated. Since the AARP funded this survey happening, and also the AARP members tend to be either on, or nearly on Social Security, seems like about right. 57 percent of anybody under the age of 50 answering the survey said they would rather pay higher payroll taxes with a Social Security guarantee than be paying what they’re now and not being certain of what could be received. The “Baby Boomer” generation gets to relax and live off other people’s incomes, which is why they don’t care about the deficit that the younger generation is going to have to fix one day.
A trust fund for the using
The Obama administration is figuring out what could be done to fix the Social Security program that isn’t really sustainable at the moment. Some really rely on Social Security and would be devastated if it were gone. Right now, taxes can’t cover the program and while privatization is a solution being looked into for the younger generation, Baby Boomers would end up losing all their money they live off of.
Social Security income used heavily by two-thirds Americans
80 percent of Americans are concerned for the families of fixed-income retirees which only one out of each three are concerned about how not having Social Security could affect their lives after retirement. Clichéd old fears of a “poor house” or “debtors’ prison” rear their ugly heads, giving way to hysteria. However, nearly 80 percent of “the sky is falling” types do not even know – as outlined by the poll – that if the Social Security trust fund is in fact drained, they’ll still receive benefits, just at a slightly lower level.
Bestyears.com
bestyears.com/parentstold.html
AARP survey
aarp.org/work/social-security/info-08-2010/social_security_75th.html
Cato Institute
cato.org/social-security
Huffington Post
huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/public-opposes-cutting-so_n_678374.html
Social Security Online
ssa.gov/
Milton Friedman on the Social Security myth
youtube.com/watch?v=rCdgv7n9xCY
