I am pleasantly shocked to see that a healthy majority of respondents favor partial privatization of Social Security. I knew support was reasonably strong several years ago, but I feared that the financial crisis would have made Americans more leery of financial markets. I also wondered whether the idea was discredited by its association with the Bush Administration. But a new Pew survey shows very good results, so maybe Republicans will feel more comfortable about developing a “secret plan” for Social Security reform.
…a majority favors a proposal to allow some private investments in Social Security… The latest Pew Research/National Journal Congressional Connection poll, sponsored by SHRM, conducted Sept. 9-12 among 1,001 adults, finds that 58% favor a proposal that would allow workers younger than age 55 to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts that would rise and fall with the markets; 28% oppose this proposal. Majorities across all age groups — except for those ages 65 and older — favor this proposal. …Support for the general concept is comparable to support for a similar plan advocated by former President George W. Bush in 2004. As he sought reelection in the fall of 2004, 58% of registered voters that September favored allowing younger workers to invest a portion of their Social Security; 26% said they opposed this change. However, after Bush won reelection and debate about the proposal began, support weakened. By March 2005, the public was largely split (44% favor, 40% oppose) and the proposal was not enacted.
P.S. The same poll shows that people are not sympathetic, however, to reforming Medicare, however, so the Social Security silver cloud does have a dark lining.
[…] in his second term in large part because the White House never proposed a plan.Moreover, the public continued to be supportive of the idea of personal accounts, even after Bush left […]
[…] his second term in large part because the White House never proposed a plan. Moreover, the public continued to be supportive of the idea of personal accounts, even after Bush left […]
[…] it didn’t stop leftists from using “privatization.” Moreover, polling data showed considerable support for the idea, notwithstanding demagoguery from advocates of the status […]
[…] Wow, 86 percent of young people support personal retirement accounts. That’s very encouraging, particularly since the general population supports this pro-growth reform by a more-than 2-1 margin. […]
[…] There was no Social Security reform in Ryan’s budget, but we also know that George W. Bush (for all his other faults) supported personal accounts in 2000 and 2004 and didn’t suffer any political backlash. Indeed, personal accounts still seem to be reasonably popular. […]
[…] One encouraging footnote is that personal retirement accounts continue to garner good support in public opinion polls. And with the very good results we’re seeing from nations such as Australia and Chile, […]
[…] include polling data on personal retirement accounts, the dangers of big government, support for spending caps, and viability of class warfare tax […]
[…] include polling data on personal retirement accounts, the dangers of big government, support for spending caps, and viability of class warfare tax […]
[…] include polling data on personal retirement accounts, the dangers of big government, support for spending caps, and viability of class warfare tax […]
[…] More than two-to-one support for personal retirement accounts. […]
[…] There was no Social Security reform in Ryan’s budget, but we also know that George W. Bush (for all his other faults) supported personal accounts in 2000 and 2004 and didn’t suffer any political backlash. Indeed, personal accounts still seem to be reasonably popular. […]
[…] More than two-to-one support for personal retirement accounts. […]
[…] But as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And election-day polls confirmed that voters supported personal accounts. […]
I am an old fart who has known Social Security was a train wreck since the mid 80s. I complained, wrote, etc. but to no avail. I’m sure glad people are now aware that big government is not the answer. The more we accept government programs the less liberty we have. Since September 11, 2001 we have lost our liberties quicker than any time that I have lived.
I’m praying for an about face. Reducing spending is the answer; the only answer to get our lives and economy in order.
[…] Daniel J. Mitchell has the specifics: o More than two-to-one support for personal retirement accounts. […]
[…] o More than two-to-one support for personal retirement accounts. […]
[…] o More than two-to-one support for personal retirement accounts. […]
[…] be about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] But as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And election-day polls confirmed that voters supported personal accounts. […]
[…] as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And […]
[…] But as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And election-day polls confirmed that voters supported personal accounts. […]
[…] be about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And […]
[…] as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And […]
[…] as I noted last year, the American public supports personal accounts by a hefty margin. And former President Bush won two elections while supporting Social Security reform. And […]
[…] Numbers like these warm my heart – just as happened with recent polls on spending cuts, the VAT, and Social Security reform. […]
[…] Heck, we already have good polling data showing that people support Social Security reform. […]
[…] Heck, we already have good polling data showing that people support Social Security reform. […]
I once read that a big part of democrats that actually went to vote were old people that were maintained by taxes on the youth… Very revealing.
[…] be about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] be about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] be about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
[…] about to change. Personal accounts are part of Congressman Paul Ryan’s Roadmap proposal, and recent polls show continued strong support for letting younger workers shift some of their payroll taxes to individual […]
Still, when Social Security will reach the point just before bankruptcy (just as it did in Greece), the pipers might just try a new tune.
The problem with reforming Social Security is that every time someone even mentions the idea in passing, millions of old farts — WHO WOULDN’T BE AFFECTED ANYWAY — start screaming and shouting, bringing a quick end to the discussion.