NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

[Political Junky]

NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

MSNBC is reporting the results of a NBC/WSJ poll that Americans are "adamantly opposed" to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and k-12 education.

The survey of 1,000 adults (200 reached by cell phone) -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points -- also listed 26 ways to reduce the federal budget deficit.

The most popular: placing a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year (81 percent said that was acceptable), eliminating spending on earmarks (78 percent), eliminating funding for weapons systems that the Defense Department says aren't necessary (76 percent), and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent).

The least popular: cutting funding for Medicaid, the federal-government health care program for the poor (32 percent said that was acceptable); cutting funding for Medicare, the federal-government health care program for seniors (23 percent); cutting funding for k-12 education (22 percent); and cutting funding for Social Security (22 percent).

Those numbers, GOP pollster McInturff says, "serve as a huge flashing yellow sign to Republicans ... if they are going to start to talk about changes to Medicare and Social Security.”
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[gekaap]

Everybody knows the Wall Street Journal is hopelessly left wing biased.

 

[WillowTree]

They called the Takers. They didn't call the Givers.

 

[boedicca]

NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

MSNBC is reporting the results of a NBC/WSJ poll that Americans are "adamantly opposed" to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and k-12 education.

The survey of 1,000 adults (200 reached by cell phone) -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points -- also listed 26 ways to reduce the federal budget deficit.

The most popular: placing a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year (81 percent said that was acceptable), eliminating spending on earmarks (78 percent), eliminating funding for weapons systems that the Defense Department says aren't necessary (76 percent), and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent).

The least popular: cutting funding for Medicaid, the federal-government health care program for the poor (32 percent said that was acceptable); cutting funding for Medicare, the federal-government health care program for seniors (23 percent); cutting funding for k-12 education (22 percent); and cutting funding for Social Security (22 percent).

Those numbers, GOP pollster McInturff says, "serve as a huge flashing yellow sign to Republicans ... if they are going to start to talk about changes to Medicare and Social Security.”
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That's funny. They took a poll during Feb 24-28, which is weeks before the budget proposal today.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Zander]

The American people took a poll in November (the kind that counts!!) They voted to oust the Democrats from the House in one of the biggest landslides in history. The House controls the budget. As Obama so in-eloquently reminded Americans (as he rammed Obamacare through Congress using every sleazy scumbag tactic know to man) "WE WON" "Elections have consequences".

Yes, Mr. Obama, elections do have consequences. Consequences that you will now have to learn to live with. The credit card is canceled.

 

[California Girl]

Anyone spot the 'issue' with the actual poll questions?

 

[gekaap]

Anyone spot the 'issue' with the actual poll questions?

What? That the question presumes cuts to the budget and asks for a prioritization? And that the results only reflect opinions on the prioritization of cuts and not support or opposition to those specific cuts? And that in a way the results imply support for cutting Social Security, Medicare, and education, just with a lesser priority? And that in another way, the question poses an illogical complex question?

No, didn't notice any issues with the question.

 

[Trajan]

NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

MSNBC is reporting the results of a NBC/WSJ poll that Americans are "adamantly opposed" to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and k-12 education.

The survey of 1,000 adults (200 reached by cell phone) -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points -- also listed 26 ways to reduce the federal budget deficit.

The most popular: placing a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year (81 percent said that was acceptable), eliminating spending on earmarks (78 percent), eliminating funding for weapons systems that the Defense Department says aren't necessary (76 percent), and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent).

The least popular: cutting funding for Medicaid, the federal-government health care program for the poor (32 percent said that was acceptable); cutting funding for Medicare, the federal-government health care program for seniors (23 percent); cutting funding for k-12 education (22 percent); and cutting funding for Social Security (22 percent).

Those numbers, GOP pollster McInturff says, "serve as a huge flashing yellow sign to Republicans ... if they are going to start to talk about changes to Medicare and Social Security.”
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man that was quick!!!

the plan came out what yesterday? I don't even know the nuts and bolts yet do you?

I'd say at the very least its a place holder for conversation as others have alluded in other threads.

 

[Oddball]

NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

MSNBC is reporting the results of a NBC/WSJ poll that Americans are "adamantly opposed" to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and k-12 education.

The survey of 1,000 adults (200 reached by cell phone) -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28....

That's funny. They took a poll during Feb 24-28, which is weeks before the budget proposal today.

Thanks for sharing!

Nothing to see here.

 

[Finnguy]

I bet those same people who oppose spending cuts, oppose tax increases. Those idiots don't realize that you have to pay for public goods just like you have to pay for private goods. The government isn't just something that gives it also taketh away.

 

[rightwinger]

The GOP is not looking for spending cuts. They have their hate list and are using the deficit that they helped to create as an excuse for killing non-conservative friendly programs

 

[Zander]

 

[Oddball]

I bet those same people who oppose spending cuts, oppose tax increases. Those idiots don't realize that you have to pay for public goods just like you have to pay for private goods. The government isn't just something that gives it also taketh away.

Ryan's proposal is chock full of ending tax credits, write-offs, subsidies and other crap that greatly flattens out the tax rates.

Turns out that you don't need to raise rates to bring in more revenue.

 

[Trajan]

Anyone spot the 'issue' with the actual poll questions?

well, the header says feb ...a lot has happened since then.

in q22a -they asked if they thought it would be necessary to cut spending on medicare.....of course they are going to say no.

same with Q 22 b on social security.....they are straight forward questions, without any alternatives, frankly I'd say no to.


theres also an 11 point oversampling of obama voters.


*shrugs*

 

[Finnguy]

I bet those same people who oppose spending cuts, oppose tax increases. Those idiots don't realize that you have to pay for public goods just like you have to pay for private goods. The government isn't just something that gives it also taketh away.

Ryan's proposal is chock full of ending tax credits, write-offs, subsidies and other crap that greatly flattens out the tax rates.

Turns out that you don't need to raise rates to bring in more revenue.

Thats why I think we should lower the corporate tax rate to 30% and force all companies to pay. No exceptions.

 

[Oddball]

ah now polls dont count

Polls that ask about a plan that hasn't yet seen the light of day don't count.

 

[Charles_Main]

NBC-WSJ Poll: Americans Oppose GOP Spending Cuts

MSNBC is reporting the results of a NBC/WSJ poll that Americans are "adamantly opposed" to cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and k-12 education.

The survey of 1,000 adults (200 reached by cell phone) -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points -- also listed 26 ways to reduce the federal budget deficit.

The most popular: placing a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year (81 percent said that was acceptable), eliminating spending on earmarks (78 percent), eliminating funding for weapons systems that the Defense Department says aren't necessary (76 percent), and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent).

The least popular: cutting funding for Medicaid, the federal-government health care program for the poor (32 percent said that was acceptable); cutting funding for Medicare, the federal-government health care program for seniors (23 percent); cutting funding for k-12 education (22 percent); and cutting funding for Social Security (22 percent).

Those numbers, GOP pollster McInturff says, "serve as a huge flashing yellow sign to Republicans ... if they are going to start to talk about changes to Medicare and Social Security.”
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Of course Americans oppose cuts. Nobody wants to give up services. Unfortunately this is one of those times we need government to lead, and not follow polls. Cuts have to be made. Either that or we need an additional 1.6 Trillion in Revenues a year. STAT!

 

[Trajan]

and some food for thought from Veronique de Rugy of Reason magazine-


Guiding Principle 1: Does the budget plan include real spending cuts and are we addressing the biggest ticket items of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?

A quick look at the data shows that the plan is cutting spending the first three years and then slowing down the rate of spending. In nominal terms, spending increases from $3.6 trillion in 2011 to $4.7 trillion in 2021. That equates to a $1.1 trillion increase over ten years.

This is an improvement over the Deficit Commission&#8217;s proposal that increased spending by $1.6 trillion over ten years and a big improvement over the president&#8217;s budget which increases spending by $1.9 trillion over the same period.

The main drivers of future spending are Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security and it appears that the plan focuses on curbing some autopilot spending.

The plan has two principal features. First, people who turn 65 in 2021 or later would not enroll in existing Medicare. Instead, they would receive premium-support from the federal government to purchase health care from an insurer of their choosing.

These payments would introduce price competition as a meaningful element into the health care system, one currently missing from our single-payer Medicare program. By introducing competition for consumers into the insurance market, premium-support will pressure insurers to compete on cost while maintaining a high standard of care.

Second, the plan would establish Medicaid block grants for states. These grants would continue providing states with federal Medicaid, but determine funding evenly by the state&#8217;s proportion of low-income residents, growing in future years at gross domestic product plus some percent (including adjustments for population growth). In exchange for slower growth in federal support for Medicaid, states would have a greater level of flexibility than under the current system.

Overall, under the plan the growth of Medicare and Medicaid would be much slower than under current projections. That slower rate in spending would reduce the deficit down to $385 billion in 2021 as opposed to the projected $774 billion. Maybe more importantly, it would reduce the debt held by the public down to 67.5 percent of GDP as opposed to the projected 90 percent.

While a good start, there are three major problems with the plan. First, it continues the Washington tradition of extending open-ended promises on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to millions of people without paying for them. Second, Medicare will continue to provide health care support to everyone including the richest Americans. Third, the plan introduces some competition between providers but consumers may still be bound to a list of guaranteed coverage options chosen by the government (even though that may not be a problem depending on how many providers are on that list).

read the rest here she has some points of critique as well;
Pajamas Media » Paul Ryan&#8217;s Budget: The Path to Prosperity?

 

[Trajan]

ah now polls dont count

polls always count, however this poll is from feb..hello. Its april 5th...

further every poll should be studied as to questions, how they are asked, who they are asking and the sampling quotients.

 

[Trajan]

Fail!!!!!

wheres the money for Harry's Cowboy Poetry festival??!