GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ – Social Security emerged as a key issue in the 2000 presidential campaign and remains a significant concern for the majority of the American public. According to a Gallup poll conducted Jan. 5-7, 2001, nearly nine in 10 Americans (89%) believe that the long-term solvency of the Social Security system should be a top or high priority issue for the Bush administration to address, placing it third on a list of priorities, behind improving education with 94% and keeping America prosperous with 91%.
A majority of Americans (60%) support President Bush's proposal for securing the strength of the Social Security system, which would allow Americans to put a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts that would be invested in private stocks or bonds. Thirty-six percent oppose it, while 4% have no opinion.
Public support for Bush's proposal is split based on several demographic characteristics. Younger Americans embrace Bush's proposal much more enthusiastically than do older Americans, with 78% of those 18 to 29 years old supporting the plan compared to 34% of those 65 years and older. Males tend to be more supportive of the plan than females – 66% versus 55%.
Support for Bush's Social Security Plan, by Age
|
Favor |
Oppose |
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
18-29 years |
78 |
19 |
|
30-49 years |
65 |
32 |
|
50-64 years |
59 |
40 |
|
65+ years |
34 |
56 |
The gap of support for Bush's Social Security plan widens further when age and gender are considered simultaneously. Nearly three-quarters of younger males, 18 to 49 years old, support the personal investment proposal compared to just over one-half of males over age 50 – 72% versus 55%. More than two-thirds of females aged 18 to 49 (67%) support the proposal compared to only 39% of females 50 years and older.
Nearly four in five Republicans (78%) support Bush's Social Security plan compared to 62% of independents and 42% of Democrats. More than three-quarters of Bush supporters (77%) favor the plan compared to 44% of those who do not support Bush.
Americans with higher income levels are more likely to support Bush's Social Security proposal.
|
Favor |
Oppose |
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
$75k and over |
72 |
26 |
|
$50k and over |
68 |
31 |
|
$30k <$50k |
62 |
34 |
|
$20k<$30k |
52 |
44 |
Most Americans Don't Believe the Proposed Changes Will Be
Implemented
While a majority of Americans favor Bush's proposed changes to the
Social Security system, less than one-half (40%) believe that the
administration will be able to put the proposal into practice. This
may reflect the fact that politicians have always been very nervous
about making significant changes to the Social Security system.
Additionally, President Bush is facing a sharply divided Congress
that may not agree that his plan will work.
Younger Americans express more confidence than older Americans in Bush's ability to make his proposed changes to Social Security. Nearly three in five of those between the ages of 18 and 29 think he will be able to make the changes (57%) compared to only 24% of those over 65 years old.
More than one-half of Republicans (54%) believe that Bush will make the changes compared to 34% of independents and 32% of Democrats. More than twice as many Bush supporters believe that he can make the changes compared to those who do not support Bush – 54% versus 25%.
Survey Methods
The results below are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,018 adults, 18 years and older, conducted Jan. 5-7, 2001. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
George W. Bush has made a proposal that would allow people to put a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts that would be invested in private stocks or bonds. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2001 Jan 5-7 |
60 |
36 |
4 |
|
2000 Jun 6-7 |
59 |
31 |
10 |
Do you think Bush will or will not be able to make the changes to Social Security that he has proposed?
|
Will |
Will not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2001 Jan 5-7 |
40 |
51 |
9 |
