New Polling Says Overwhelming Majority Wants Social Security Left Alone

Source: TPM




New Polling Says Overwhelming Majority Wants Social Security Left Alone
Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 23, 2011, 8:44AM


Ask the voters and they'll tell you: Social Security cuts are off the table when it comes to cleaning up the budget mess in Washington.

Fresh polling from Ohio, Missouri, Montana and Minnesota published first by TPM show voters in the states overwhelmingly oppose any cuts to the Social Security entitlement program, even in the name of reducing the national debt. The coalition of progressive groups which sponsored the survey say the polls send a clear message to the Democratic Senate incumbents up for reelection in each state: cut Social Security and you'll incur the wrath of an angry electorate.

Public Policy Polling (D) conducted the polls, which were sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy For America, MoveOn.org and CREDO Action. All four groups are strongly opposed to making cuts to Social Security, which some -- including President Obama's debt commission -- have said are necessary to put the government's fiscal house in order for the future.

The PPP numbers, gathered between late April and last week, suggest the electorate is on the side of the progressives. The polls were conducted in the home states of Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown (OH), Claire McCaskill (MO), John Tester (MT), and Amy Klobuchar (MN), all of whom are up for reelection in 2012. ..................

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/new-polling-confirms-overwheming-majority-wants-social-security-left-alone.php#more

---

Listen up Senators. Folks are in the know.

outsider logic and reason from getting in. Most of them, D & R, are still afraid of Tea Baggers.

D.C. can't see out to the real America. And we see what goes on in D.C. or we are told we do, but we really only get a an smudged picture that has been filtered and photo-shopped by our right-wing press.

The lack of visibility on both sides of the screen is disastrous.

will still vote Repukes anytime they'll vote is beyond comprehension.

And many of 'em 'majority' R teabagsters too! Go figure. :banghead:

elections are fixed in crucial states? How pissed would you be? That would explain much, wouldn't it? I think Rove and his ciphers read "1984" and took it to another level. That would make a good novel, anyway.

hostage to cuts. They bought into the republican narrative focusing on spending cuts to social programs rather than raising revenue by rolling back the Bush and Reagan tax cuts and closing corporate tax loopholes. We got out of the huge deficit after WWII without cutting spending at all. We grew our way out of it and with the highest union membership the country has ever had (30%). Yet all we hear is "cut spending" which only takes money out of the economy making recovery even more difficult. Stimulate the economy by cutting nothing but by raising revenue to cover our much needed programs is alien thinking to the Lieberman/Feinstein influenced McCaskill.

The main thing McCaskill has going for her at this point is that she will be opposed by Todd Akin R-MO. house rep (remember "if Davey Crockett looked into his blackberry..."...a really ignorant bought and paid for republican who hasn't a clue about the economy and will repeat whatever he is told by his corporate lobbyist whenever his chained is jerked)who is a complete idiot. McCaskill forgets who got her elected. Fears the Rove machine too much.

Bush could not possibly have vetoed a clean elections law, nor could any Senators have filibustered it.

Ditto Democratic legislatures around the country.

little kids getting to see the doctor, Bush vetoed that.

you think he couldn't have vetoed an election bill? :rofl:

schoolboy faith in the integrity of the US long ago, especially relative to honest elections and now the strangeness with voting machines and elections in general. The whole place is rigged more and more each day.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

SS is NOT broke. It uses a different account, and is fully funded for 30 more years. Anyone who ignores this fact is either a troll or a Ryan Republican.
Medicaid would not be broke but for the crap pulled by George W.

Ignorance is bliss. you must be elated.

Just like on an electric train system - touch it and die.

This is hardly news to anyone. I just think the old guard GOP is freaking out because the new kids on the block seemingly can't wait to touch that rail.

mikey_the_rat

The Republicans now have access to unlimited, secret corporate money. They can even accept foreign money now.

They now also have total control of at least 27 state governments (with 270 electoral votes),
and have already started their voter suppression operations, which will kick into high gear next year.
They will be well positioned to steal more votes than ever before.

The media continues to function as an arm of the Republican party.

The Republicans think they cannot lose and they are acting on that belief.

well make them invincible. These corporate assholes can run infomercials against every progressive nationwide. Voters are susceptible to false information.

because "centrist dems" seem to want to grab holda that rail as well.

Stretching the analogy, they want to hold hands and help ground the Republic's so that no harm comes to them.

The people are ignored if our wants dont coincide with the wants of the elites.

that could have the effect of destroying special interests that thrive on systemic inefficiencies than you get when you seek to END something that is a fait accompli, and has been for generations.

Not that we should remain complacent, of course, in light of the unwavering commitment of Republicans to see the elderly line up to buy cat food and die ASAP. :mad:

Who do you vote for to oppose them? I fear that's the wedge that will be used.

to vote for. In my case I always have voted dem for eons because it's better than the alternative, because the alternative is so dreadful. I find it rather saddening that the dems have chosen to side with corporations than "we the people."

As we were discussing here today, sadly, the US is only about money, so politicians sniff out and do the bidding of where they get the most money, and that's corporations and their interests which often conflict with "we the people." IMO it's a mess. It's not a democracy.

We can run someone like Sen. Bernie Sanders on a Dem ticket --

and we can run a dem like Tom Hayden as VP -- ensuring that we have

two strong anti-war candidates --

There are tons of democrats we can run on the Dem ticket -- democrats

who aren't pre-bribed and pre-owned by the corporations!


Second idea would be to pick up what's left of the Democratic Party and do

what the Koch/Corporates did with the DLC -- name our own wing something like ...

eh, Democratic Labor/Women's Party -- and draw our own democrats to support it?











The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC -- !!

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along -- !!

:)

to see a democrat stand out from the crowd who isn't pre-bribed and pre-owned by the corporations and stand STRONGLY with "we the people" as the thrust of the campaign.

If orchestrated correctly they would win by a landslide IMO. I really find it hard to believe that all voting republican really side with all of the corporate shenanigans, greed and cornering of the wealth in this country. I really think a strong case could be made by a strong "we the people" platform.

but while the country is liberal -- given all evidence as we can see even from the

polls now --

(whereas the elites used to suppress this info -- and presume it can't entirely be

suppressed any longer?)

However, the Congress has been moved to the right -- and the GOP used Christian Coalition which

they gave start-up funding for to do it in part -- Richard Scaife fianced Dobson's group

and other rw wealthy funded Bauere's org.


And the GOPs/NRA which they radicalized and used to target not only liberals in the

Democratic Party but liberals and moderates in their own party.

The GOPs/"Pro-life" groups also moved true religious fanatics into Congress --

Most everything the rightwing has and does is based on $$ -- buying fake support.

I'm sure you've also noticed that elites moved themselves into Congress -- almost 45%

of Congress is now millionaires and multi-millionaires.

GOP did over decades what Democrat voters failed to do -- TARGET any Senator/Rep who

was voting against their interests -- in either party!!


When someone tells you that you have no where to do, you can be sure that what they're saying

is they've simply convinced you that's true!


:evilgrin:

Bernie Saunders is a Democratic Socialist, an Independent. If you went the route you suggest, that would be the biggest obstacle to overcome, convincing a majority of voters to cast a ballot for a socialist. Personally, I have no problem with that. I love Bernie Saunders. I would vote for him if he ran under the Alien-from-Outer-space label!

Sam

but there are TONS of democrats around who we can run for any office we want --

from Tom Hayden to many, many others -- who can all run on the Dem ticket.

But would just comment that I think it is elites who are frightened of "socialism"

-- and that Americans are waking up to the evils of capitalism.

Sure, rightwing nuts are aggressive and even violent -- but that's another problem

that we haven't dealt with because Democrats speak about that one by one -- but there

hasn't been any united stand against this or any real calling out of the GOP.

Rather, there has been HUGE cooperation with the GOP --

"Bipartisanship is just another way of saying one party rule"

Howard Zinn


Overall, there seems to be very little interest -- except by a handful in Congress --

in opposing what's going on!! That's strange, indeed, given the agenda that's being

followed of attacking teachers and their unions -- overall concept of public education.

Social Security questions -- and more than failure on MEDICARE FOR ALL -- in fact, back

room deals with Big Pharma and the private health care industry.

The public knows something is very wrong --

They dread the primaries more than the general election. And if you want experienced politicians to run, then you need to get involved in the party process, i.e. join your local Democratic Party committee, and either start your search there or consider running yourself. Ned Lamont didn't expect to challenge Lieberman. He was on the search committee looking for an experienced politician to primary Lieberman, but none of them would do it, so he stepped up to the plate to do it and he won the Democratic primary.

That is the proper term?

Don't need a Bloody Pole to tell ya that.

Wait what? I meant Poll

They've been cutting it for years with their bogus numbers without a whimper. I think the real reason to attack it was to make people grateful it wasn't "cut". I can here the pols campaigning on "I saved social security" now.

While we outspend the entire combined world on the military. Damn, was Eisenhower ever right on the money! The U.S. has 12 aircraft carriers while the rest of the world has 9.

We need all that overkill to protect our freedumbs. :sarcasm:

see where that revenue streams gets us and then we'll know we don't have to touch SS or Medicare.

Haven't you heard?

I didn't stutter.

Repukes won't acknowledge that it is Big Insurance that is causing the collapse of our economy.. (among other things).

Saw four 53 foot semi-trucks on the freeway today.. hauling sea-rail containers that said.. "CHINA IMPORTING SERVICE".

That says it all... truck after truck of cheap Chinese junk ....coming into our country TAX FREE!!!

And now China stands poised to kick USA-ASS in Pakistan. China has warned us. Yet our elected 'servants' in Washington just don't get it.

They will "get it" when China lobs a nuke onto an american aircraft carrier.

When it happens.. the PTB will be all amazed and incredulous....

They won't have to.

I want the income cap for contributions eliminated, or at least raised significantly. This will ensure the system's financial solvency indefinitely.

The SS fund was raided for years to cover revenue shortfalls that were in no small part caused by tax cuts for the rich. It's time they put that money back where it belongs.

Everyone in Washington knows that would work, but no one wants to do it.

well said. Let's keep reminding everyone about this part.

22% cut for the average recipient, $56,000 in lifetime cuts.

Incredible.

If the Republican's hadn't blown themselves up on Medicare, it'd be in the bag. Maybe now it can be stopped.

I am sick of this crap.

Every time they call it that, I wonder if everyone has forgotten how they pay in a part of every check, and what you draw out eventually is based on what you paid in over your lifetime. That's not entitlement.

Whenever anybody uses that term with me I ask them if they found a way to collect without paying for it. They just kind of stand there with a stupid look on their face.

generally, with just a few exceptions.

they have made it a dirty word just like they did with 'liberal'. Of course recipients are entitled.

Social Security is in INSURANCE program (it is even in its name). This is the very reason we opposed Bush's gutting of the system in 2005. This needs to be treated as it was intended and be means tested.

I'm not 100% against some means testing, but I am leery of it.

Do I think the Koch Brothers or Warren Buffet should collect Social Security? No. Do I believe that, if we go to means testing, Congress will set the bar at millionaires and leave it there? No. We already have SSI, which is not based upon what you paid into the system and is means tested. Means testing may lead to extinction of Social Security and only SSI will survive.

Do I want Washington D.C. to have any more access to the Social Security "trust fund" to waste and spend on wars? Hell, no. Besides, there would be a potential stigma to collecting Social Security that does not exist now.



Mixed feelings, to say the least.

Not for a while now.

level. At least in terms of taking old peoples' money.

They know the people don't want this.
They don't want to hear it.
They have made their local "town halls" into teabagger rallies that only teabaggers may attend
so they can have photo-ops of friendly constituents supporting them.
The teabaggers get to count the votes in a majority of the states now,
so their plan may actually work.

I say we stick their words and their votes to their foreheads with superglue.

the fix is in. Money talks. What the 5 SCJ did was not for "We the People"

BUT FOR "WE THE COPORATIONS"

Kochs, Roves, US Chambers and the rest of the not pro people want complete control of America any means necessary. Cheat, steal, LIE and LIE which I thought was totally against God's teachings.

If Jesus had or has arrived on this world again, Would the GOPER aka tea brats know - HELL NO.

that this is a nation moving to the right?

Not even mildly conservative -- it's a liberal socialist nation!

As the elites always know from the polls they do!!


And, it is because this is a liberal nation that the elites have to buy

everything and try to control all info flow!!

an insurance company!!

That's the difference between the elites and the masses --

They buy support, they're organized up down and every other way --

and the masses -- NOT!!

ES&S will correct for any voter disenchantment.

....absolutely....nobody I know is buying the cooked numbers and scare-bullshit coming out of Washington....

....even my most conservative friends aren't buying the hype....when it comes to destroying Social Security and Medicare, the American people are united against it....

....the talk around here is, "How do we improve Medicare and Social Security?"....in this Republican era of stagnant income growth, wall street debauchery and destructive job outsourcing, the American people have come to rely upon Social Security and Medicare more than ever....

"even in the name of reducing the national debt."

It was never responsible for creating any national debt, so why would anyone think of using it to pay it off?

So, what do those non-patriots know?

It's fair. Why do the middle class have to pay for the rich and war?????

Why do the children have to suffer concerning education? I know why, the 2% want the rest to be, ummmmmmmmm dumb so they can control the mass more.

nm

Have Universal Health and LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS ALONE

Is that because the pollsters were afraid of the answer they'd get, or because Democrats in Congress and the WH are not opposed to cutting Medicare?

Also, Social Security is not the retirement program for the elderly, as the poll question described it. It is an insurance program for elderly and disabled workers and their survivors. Its name is OASDI--Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance. It was originally spoken of as a program for "widows and orphans" who survived a wage earner.

Finally, do not be lulled. Over 70% of people polled wanted a public option--until the propaganda machine got hold of the health care bill. And both Democrats and Republicans threw the public option under the bus. Over 70% of people polled wanted an end to tax cuts for the rich and both Democrats and Republicans voted for Obama's "compromise."

At some point, voters in both Parties need to open their eyes and hold their elected officials accountable, instead of continuing to rah rah them and excuse them and rationalize when they sell us out, like they're our hometown baseball team heroes or something. Never forget: that's our money they're spending to benefit their campaign donors and our votes for them they are betraying.

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. Heads up.

So?



The PTB have spoken. What the people want no longer matters.

Listening to him this morning was a mistake.....he just pissed me off with his pro-Ryan proposal rant.

It has been a huge success and is the only self sufficient govt program taking in as much as it pays out with a huge surplus cushion to last many more years. But no surprise we were recently informed that the trust fund will run out a year sooner than previously predicted. No wonder when the politicians decided to reduce the SS payroll tax deduction this year. Tax cuts do create budget shortfalls. While deliberately 'starving the beast' our politicians have convinced many Americans that tax cuts only hurt the economy and don't help the budget deficits anyway. All we can hope for is that the right wing Repubs have gone too far in pushing their anti-government efforts and get pushed back in the next election.

Something like 70% was for letting the Bush Tax cuts expire too, weren't they?


So what's the point?

I thought the overwhelming majority wanted to be pushed off the cliff by Paul Ryan and his sack of vouchers.

:sarcasm:

And not only locked up tight, but bolstered. I don't want to have to support my parents anymore than I already do.

That SS trust fund was spent by politicians to buy your vote.