Six in 10 Workers Hold No Hope of Receiving Social Security

[dkf]

Americans aged 18 to 34 are least likely to believe they will ever see benefits
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- Six in 10 Americans who have not yet retired believe they will get no Social Security benefits when they retire, more pessimistic than at any time since Gallup began asking this question in 1989. Similarly, retired Americans are now significantly more likely than they were five years ago to believe their existing Social Security benefits will eventually be cut.


Nonretirees' confidence in the Social Security system has been relatively low over the last 21 years; 49% said they would receive benefits when Gallup first used the current question wording in 1989, ticking up to a high of 52% in March 2001. The 36% who in the current July 8-11 USA Today/Gallup poll say they expect to receive benefits marks a significant downturn in the last five years.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141449/six-workers-hold-no-hope-receiving-social-security.aspx

Yes it's from 2010 but still relevant I imagine.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Why are the mega-rich receiving SS and Medicare? That's all I want to know.

If it's going to be CUT, which is not what SS and Medicare was for, why not cut the rich out of it, as they don't need it?

[dkf]

2. Some don't want it to be called "welfare".

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. Correct! Right now, with our situation in this country it is as if it were welfare for the rich nt

[closeupready]

3. Backing up, I think we need to refuse to accept the underlying lie that SS and M need cuts.

Instead, we should be asking how we can STRENGTHEN the programs, and make them more generous to more people.

[theaocp]

4. Raise the cap and tell the rich, whining bitches that they're

helping their country and fellow citizens. Winner-winner, chicken dinner.

[dkf]

7. Raising the cap now does not improve the ability for the next generation to pay benefits later.

All it does is preserve the notion that the general funds will owe the SS trust fund money. But in truth we will spend the money and just raise our obligations to the rich later.

[theaocp]

8. You're right. Bad idea. Fuck SS.

Anything else?

[dkf]

9. Clinton understood that what will save SS is a healthy balance sheet.

What really compromises our ability to pay is our national debt.

[theaocp]

15. Good for you.

I'll expect you to trumpet how much you're personally donating to help balance the budget. Oh, and cut the Pentagon's budget by, say, HALF. That a problem, too?

[dkf]

16. Ending Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya would be good.

Ending ALL the Bush cuts would be good too.

[jtown1123]

12. This poster does this all the time. He/she doesn't like Social Security

[dkf]

18. I don't like numbers that don't work.

I also hate when people can't see the obvious because they don't want to. Willful blindness leads to nothing good.

[jtown1123]

11. That is false. Raising the cap would erase at least a third of the shortfall

[dkf]

17. You realize they would receive a benefit later right?

What's messed is the ability to pay later.

[dkf]

5. Look at the history...when the deficit was going down more people believed they would get something.

I think people are doubting our government can pay it's debts period. And if people don't believe the government will have the funds to pay for it is that not an empty promise?

[jtown1123]

6. Young people have been lied to since they were born. Of course they are misled

doesn't mean they don't support these programs and want them for themselves. That's the strategy the GOP has taken since the 80s. Convince people it won't be there for them so they won't fight when cuts are proposed.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. Exactly!! You said it all. nt

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. Because they paid into it, like the rest of us?

Because both are at least structured as insurance, and not as transfer payments?
Because Medicare is already means-tested?
Because universal programs are politically hard to shut down, and programs for the poor instantly become poor programs -- poorly funded, poorly supported, often poorly administered.

Because there aren't enough of them, if you were to means-test each, and zero out their benefits, to make any difference in the bottom line of the general budget, or the layouts by each?

[jtown1123]

13. Thank you. We need to quash the idea here that Means Testing is a good thing.

It's not. It will cut benefits for everyone else and costs the programs billions in administrative costs.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. If our country has an emergency situation, it's time for the mega-rich NOT to be receiving either

I don't care if they paid. I've paid taxes out the wazoo too.

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. Can any of them find Iraq on a map?

They're stupid. That's why.

The only reason that SS won't be there is because they'll vote for people who will steal it.

[B-Stupid]

19. I'm 36

and don't plan on seeing a dime in SS once I hit qualifying age. Given the reluctance to restructure the tax code for both corporations and individuals coupled with ongoing wars and the millions of baby bloomers entering retirement age, I expect SS will be fully depleted in 20 years or less.

[Rex]

21. Same here...count me into that group.

[kctim]

24. Good, maybe they will start saving

its an insurance plan, not a retirement plan.