Americans in Poll Say Cut Deficit With Entitlements Secured as Rich Pay Up (Bloomberg)

[chill_wind]

Americans in Poll Say Cut Deficit With Entitlements Secured as Rich Pay Up
By Heidi Przybyla and Mike Dorning -

Americans want Congress to bring down a federal budget deficit that many believe is “dangerously out of control,” only under two conditions: minimize the pain and make the rich pay.

(see the rest of the intro at the link)


Sacrificing the Rich

The one place Americans are willing to see sacrifice is in the wallets of the wealthy and Wall Street.

While they say they strongly support balancing the budget over the next 20 years, when offered a list of more than a dozen possible spending cuts or tax increases, majorities opposed every one of them except imposing a bigger burden on the rich.

A majority backs raising the cap on earnings covered by the tax on the Social Security retirement program above the current limit of $107,000. Two-thirds would means test Social Security and Medicare benefits. Six of 10 would end tax cuts for the highest-earning Americans. And 7 of 10 favor a tax on Wall Street profits.

“We give billions of dollars to these corporations, and in my eyes they pretty much just put it in their pocket,” said Donald Froemming, a 57-year-old independent voter and unemployed diesel gas mechanic from Moose Lake, Minnesota.

Divided on Taxes

While Republican congressional leaders have opposed increases in taxes paid by high-income families, sentiment among the party’s rank and file is mixed. Republicans are divided on eliminating the tax cuts for the wealthy, with 50 percent opposing and 47 percent supporting. An increase in the cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes splits Republicans almost evenly.

The poll shows there’s little appetite across all parties and demographic groups for changes to entitlements.

Eighty-two percent of respondents opposed benefit cuts to the Medicare health-insurance system for the elderly, with about half of Republicans wanting to see both the current Medicare and Social Security systems preserved. Just 35 percent of all respondents back a system in which government vouchers would help people pay for their own health insurance.

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-10/americans-in-poll-say-cut-deficit-with-entitlements-secured-as-rich-pay-up.html

[aquart]

1. And yet the cowards sit.

[Autumn]

2. Our leaders do not seem to be willing

to sacrifice the rich. Nor do they listen to us.

[sasha031]

3. K&R

:kick:

[Hawkowl]

4. Smarter than I thought

It appears your average, ordinary American is smarter than I thought. Hmmm. What caused the deficits? Tax cuts for the rich. Solution? Tax the rich.

There may be hope for us yet.

[Newest Reality]

5. That's true.

While taxing the deadbeat rich is certainly in order, all things considered, there is a question that pops out.

Where will that tax money go? We have already seen definite misuses and divergences from the greater, public good in extravagant proportions. Balancing budgets and paying the piper of deficits is not an assurance that the throngs of entrants, (or those on the waiting list) into the overflowing underclass will benefit any, if at all -- at least in ways so direly needed in a massive, collective crises.

[Enthusiast]

6. K&R

[chill_wind]

7. kicking

[cate94]

8. K & R

[MindandSoul]

9. It seems to me that there is one area where there should be bi-partisanship

it seems over half the "main street" Republicans agree with over 90% of the "main street" Democrats. . .so why can't our government "LISTEN" to main street for once?

[chill_wind]

10. I was hoping someone would note that and comment. My thoughts exactly.

Thanks.