READ THIS: Important Poll Information

Andrew Roth

From Rasmussen Reports:

Surveys conducted by Rasmussen Reports in 2005 show that between 36% and 48% of senior citizens believe their own retirement benefits will be cut by President Bush's approach to Social Security. This concern exists despite the fact that the President and other advocates of reform have stated that they will guarantee all promised benefits to those 55 and older. This misconception is widely recognized by activists and journalists, although not many have focused on its impact. This past weekend, a Rasmussen Reports survey found a second major misconception that is dragging down support for reform -- less than half (47%) of all Americans recognize that the President's plan would give workers a choice between the current program and personal retirement accounts. Twenty-five percent (25%) of Americans mistakenly believe that the President's plan would require young workers to leave the current Social Security program and set up personal retirement accounts. Another 28% are not sure on this point. In fact, no reform plan requires younger workers to leave the current Social Security program. The President's approach and others would offer workers a choice. The impact of these misconceptions is enormous. When we initially ask survey respondents about the President's plan for personal retirement accounts, just 38% favor the plan and 46% are opposed. Those results have been mirrored by many other pubic opinion polls. When we ask about a plan for personal accounts that would give workers a choice and fully protect those over 55, the numbers shift dramatically--51% in favor and just 27% opposed. That represents a net change of 32 percentage points (from minus 8 to plus 24).

Big Mo is starting to swing in our favor. New polls like the one above and the poll reported in the Washington Times last week are confirming that once the facts are revealed, people respond more favorably to personal accounts. Not only does this harm the Left's agenda to obstruct reform, but once people know the facts, they will recognize the Left's deception and punish them for it.
Posted by Andrew Roth on March 23, 2005 11:16 AM to Social Security Choice