51% support defense cuts to reduce deficit. Only 18% support cuts to Social Sec.

[^_^ 5,021]

WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans prefer cutting defense spending to reduce the federal deficit rather than taking money from public retirement and health programs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed.

The poll found 51 percent of Americans support reducing defense spending, and only 28 percent want to cut Medicare and Medicaid health programs for the elderly and poor. A mere 18 percent back cuts in the Social Security retirement program.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41993528/ns/politics-more_politics/

Boehner: Raise the retirement age to 70 since "we're all living longer"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They must only be polling old people likely voters.

[^_^ 5,021]

They must only be polling old people likely voters.

No, adults (which means no screen at all for voter registration or voting record).

The telephone poll of 1,040 adults was conducted March 3-6, and is considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

MSNBC ####### you and 2 other ppl watchin it?

Go Rachel! The biotch be talkin to herself.

Edited March 12, 2011 by Unions suck

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I'm trying to think who would support cutting Soc Sec. over cutting the bloated defense budget...

The question remains...why does the GOP hate America ?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

...why does the GOP hate America ?

Only the parts that will get flooded by global warming. Why do so many Democrats live in low lying areas, yet constantly lie through their teeth?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Boehner: Raise the retirement age to 70 since "we're all living longer"

I actually agree with Boehner on that one.

[Dan J 277]

I'm trying to think who would support cutting Soc Sec. over cutting the bloated defense budget...

The question remains...why does the GOP hate America ?

The only types of people that support cutting social security are those that wont really a see a benifit from it and those crazy libertarian types that believe only the market should provide a retirement (Tell that to the people who retire near market recessions who loose most of the value of their 401k)

I actually agree with Boehner on that one.

That an readjusting the taxable income cap to take into account the growing wealth gap and that will keep social security solvent for a long time.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That an readjusting the taxable income cap to take into account the growing wealth gap and that will keep social security solvent for a long time.

I think that's one of the components as well. But you can't take the retirement age off the table either. A program that pays until you kick the bucket has to take into account the fact that people kick that bucket later. Hence, the benefit eligibility ought to start later as well. We can't have people on Social Security for 10+ years on average - it's way above what the original entitlement was. And it's part of the problem.

[mawilson 2,133]

Tell that to the people who retire near market recessions who loose (sic) most of the value of their 401k

Why do they lose most of its value? Surely, as they get closer to

retirement, they move a greater portion of their assets into more

stable investments, such as safe bonds or money-market funds?

[mawilson 2,133]

I actually agree with Boehner on that one.

I don't. 60+ is a good age to retire - you still have a good decade

to go before you have to carry a colostomy bag around and wear depends.

[Dan J 277]

I don't. 60+ is a good age to retire - you still have a good decade

to go before you have to carry a colostomy bag around and wear depends.

There is nothing stopping you from funding your own retirement if you want to retire earlier.

[mawilson 2,133]

There is nothing stopping you from funding your own retirement if you want to retire earlier.

I am going to retire at 40.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I am going to retire at 40.

On your own. That's fine. Retire before you ever worked for all I care. Retire on your grandma's assets. No problem. But for the public retirement system, the eligibility age will need to be raised as people stick around longer.

[^_^ 5,021]

I think that's one of the components as well. But you can't take the retirement age off the table either. A program that pays until you kick the bucket has to take into account the fact that people kick that bucket later. Hence, the benefit eligibility ought to start later as well. We can't have people on Social Security for 10+ years on average - it's way above what the original entitlement was. And it's part of the problem.

http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/raising_retirement_age/

Proponents of increasing the retirement age argue that people are living longer, and, therefore, can continue working for more years. Although it is true that people, on average, are living longer, these longer life expectancies are by no means across-the-board. Studies have shown a strong correlation between longevity and income. That is, most of the increase in life expectancy for those who reach age 65 is enjoyed by workers with higher incomes. This is not surprising considering they are less likely to have physically demanding jobs.

...

Finally, while many older workers may be healthy enough to work, jobs for them may simply not exist. Although high-income professionals are often encouraged to continue working indefinitely, few employers are eager to employ 70-year-old blue-collar or service workers. In fact, older workers are typically among the first targeted for buy-outs or reductions in force when the economy contracts, and are rarely recruited by employers absent a severe worker shortage.