AARP Election Watch Survey
finds nearly 80 percent more likely to support candidates who will
strengthen Social Security
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /U.S.
Newswire/ -- With the mid-term elections rapidly approaching, Social
Security remains a critical issue to Americans age 42 and older
(boomer plus voters), many of whom are approaching retirement. The
third in the weekly series of "AARP Election Watch: Pulse of a
Generation" opinion tracking surveys, released new data today about
voter preferences on Social Security.
When given the choice, an
overwhelming 79 percent of all respondents want candidates who are
elected from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S.
Senate to work to strengthen the existing Social Security program,
rather than work to create new, private accounts.
AARP found that there is great
resistance among likely boomer plus voters to use Social Security
tax dollars in order to fund private accounts. Seven in 10
respondents oppose private accounts (71 percent
.
In fact, there is
a great deal of intensity of opposition to private accounts. Those
who oppose private accounts were more than four times as likely to
strongly oppose private accounts (57 percent) as to somewhat oppose
them (14 percent), while respondents who support private accounts
were almost evenly divided between strongly support (9 percent) and
somewhat support (8 percent).nt>
"Social Security is the only
guaranteed benefit that most people will have when they retire,"
said David Sloane, senior managing director of Government Relations
for AARP. "Americans recognize that private accounts carved out of
Social Security are not the answer, and are looking for other action
to improve the current system."
Candidates who support using
Social Security taxes to fund private accounts and who want to
capture the 42 plus vote could be hard pressed to do so. Nearly
two-thirds of likely voters (64 percent) said they are either not at
all likely (38 percent) or not very likely (26 percent) to vote for
a candidate who supports using the Social Security taxes to fund
private accounts. Older respondents in particular report they are
not at all likely to vote for a candidate who supports private
accounts (43 percent ages 61 plus; 34 percent ages 42-50 and 35
percent ages 51-60).
Unfortunately, not all voters feel
well enough informed. "Half of the voters we talked to believe the
candidates have not been clear enough on where they stand on the
issue of private accounts," noted Sloane. "We're urging people to
find out where their candidates stand on the important issues."
For AARP Voter Guides, additional
details about the issues, or to get involved in this debate, visit
http://www.aarp.org/issues.
The full "AARP Election
Watch: Pulse of a Generation" election survey can be found at:
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/rx_pulse_2006.pdf
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
membership organization that helps people 50 plus have independence,
choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to
them and society as a whole. AARP produces AARP The Magazine,
published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, a monthly newspaper; AARP
Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English;
NRTA Live & Learn, a quarterly newsletter for 50 plus educators; and
Web site,
http://www.AARP.org.
AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security,
protection and empowerment to older persons in need with support
from thousands of volunteers, donors and sponsors. AARP has staffed
offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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