Poll shows Americans oppose entitlement cuts to deal with debt problem

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Americans strongly oppose some of the major remedies under consideration, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey finds that Americans prefer to keep Medicare just the way it is. Most also oppose cuts in Medicaid and the defense budget. More than half say they are against small, across-the-board tax increases combined with modest reductions in Medicare and Social Security benefits. Only President Obama’s call to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans enjoys solid support.

...

78 percent oppose cutting spending on Medicare as a way to chip away at the debt. On Medicaid — the government insurance program for the poor — 69 percent disapprove of cuts.

There is also broad opposition to cuts in military spending to reduce the debt, but at somewhat lower levels (56 percent).

...

There is broad support for keeping Medicare structured the way it has been since it was instituted in 1965: as a defined-benefit health insurance program. Just 34 percent of Americans say Medicare should be changed along the lines outlined in the Ryan budget proposal, shifting it away from a defined-benefit plan. Under that proposal, recipients would select from a group of insurance plans providing guaranteed coverage, and the government would provide a payment to the insurer, subsidizing the cost.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-shows-americans-oppose-entitlement-cuts-to-deal-with-debt-problem/2011/04/19/AFoiAH9D_story.html

[Peikko 1,575]

They polled the wrong people. What do you expect if a poll is conducted by clueless libruls?

[^_^ 5,021]

They polled the wrong people. What do you expect if a poll is conducted by clueless libruls?

You're right. I took a closer look at the poll online and they polled registered voters in Kenya!

[Peikko 1,575]

You're right. I took a closer look at the poll online and they polled registered voters in Kenya!

[mawilson 2,133]

Of course they oppose it. The moment you give something to people from the public coffers, it becomes extremely difficult to take it back. Practically impossible if a significant number of people grow to be dependent on whatever entitlement they believe they "deserve".

We need fewer entitlement programs, not more. The main reason most conservatives were/are against "Obamacare" is because it's yet another entitlement program that will eventually go broke, and will be impossible to undo.

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Of course they oppose it. The moment you give something to people from the public coffers, it becomes extremely difficult to take it back. Practically impossible if a significant number of people grow to be dependent on whatever entitlement they believe they "deserve".

We need fewer entitlement programs, not more. The main reason most conservatives were/are against "Obamacare" is because it's yet another entitlement program that will eventually go broke, and will be impossible to undo.

Majority of Americans oppose cuts in defense too. So there is officially nothing that can be cut without pissing off the voters.

The only thing voters like is a tax hike on people like you

BOHICA!

[mawilson 2,133]

Majority of Americans oppose cuts in defense too.

I find that surprising - I've seen polls that found most Americans support

reducing defense spending.

Maybe they just don't want to cut defense to pay down the deficit.

The only thing voters like is a tax hike on people like you

BOHICA!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Fk all these cuts. Cut two fkng bs wars and start from there. Nobody mentions about cutting the wars. Do people think those wars are free ?

[Zero Sum 305]

The best things in life are free.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

It's like having a giant elephant ####### in the middle of the side walk. Peeps can talk about how to walk around the #######, or they can remove it. It's like these wars don't even exist in the eyes of the US government and the public. It's a "see no evil, hear no evil" type of bs thing.

[mawilson 2,133]

Do people think those wars are free ?

No, but the military-industrial complex will never allow any cuts.

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Fk all these cuts. Cut two fkng bs wars and start from there. Nobody mentions about cutting the wars. Do people think those wars are free ?

We need the military. The ChiComs are only a stones throw away and they're staring us down.

[mawilson 2,133]

We need the military. The ChiComs are only a stones throw away and they're staring us down.

Why can't we fight them like a real superpower, with tariffs?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Do people think those wars are free ?

Yes. Boehner and four or five other Congressmen were just over in Iraq to reassure them of our ongoing committment to this effort. No cuts there. Sorry.

[mawilson 2,133]

Yes. Boehner and four or five other Congressmen were just over in Iraq to reassure them of our ongoing committment to this effort. No cuts there. Sorry.

I missed that. Did he cry?