National polls indicate that Americans are roughly 60% opposed to Bush's plan for SS. I took a look at local newspapers around the country to see what they were printing. They are mostly opposed to the Bush plan as it stands, but, unlike the public, are pretty unanimous in saying that SS has a serious problem. Furthermore, the majority think that the Dems need to come up with a response.
"Methods": briefly, not very scientific. The newspaper stories posted on Google change all the time. A couple were letters, not columns. I did some last night, but then decided I needed more stuff so I did it over today, and I looked at 36. The results were not that different. It still ends up being subjective, and of course the sampling is questionable. For example, there were no Knight Ridder papers in the bunch I looked at. And I picked up more Krauthammer this time. These issues make it look slightly better for Bush than I think it really is: ie if you take out Krauthammer, Texas, and Arizona, it's almost all at least slightly negative.
My findings (such as they are) are below the jump:
about 1/4 of the stuff is wire service, mostly AP. They and the chains tend to be pretty neutral, but do mention that sentiment is running against Bush, and that Dems need to respond.
Krauthammer is the main spokesman for Bush and he was in 5 papers that I looked at. That is impressive to me...could be worse, but that man has a lot of clout, by this measurement.
Every source acknowledged that SS had a problem.
15 papers I judged to be quite negative to Bush's plan.
13 were somewhat negative, but most all of these saw a problem in SS and wanted the Dems to respond,
8 were either somewhat positive or positive. Most of these of course were Krauthammer.
The most positive papers were in Texas and Arizona, the most negative were in New England, Florida and scattered.
So all in all I would say that while the majority were definitely negative to the Bush plan, the majority wanted the Dems to respond.
So this survey supports the idea that Americans are against the plan, but suggest that Bush has convinced America that there is a problem and he has seemingly put the ball in the Dems court. That is what he set out to do, and that is what he has done. Pretty impressive for a simian selling snake oil out of a suitcase.
Some anecdotal stuff:
Philadelphia Inquirer:
"You mention private accounts, they all boo," Chafee told the Daily Times in an article published Thursday, recounting the town-hall meetings he has held. "I say I'm opposed to them, they all cheer."
Connecticut Times:
BRIDGEPORT -- A traveling protest against President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security rolled into the city Friday, armed with more than a million messages urging Congress to oppose his privatization plan.
The so-called Social Security Truth Truck brought its campaign to the Middle Street office of U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4. The flatbed, covered with plastic to protect its cargo from rain, was hauling more of the messages from people opposed to private Social Security investment accounts.
The stop was part of a New England tour by the Alliance for Retired Americans, which uses the truck as a prop in its effort to defeat the Bush reforms.
ST. Petersburg Times:
Adding progressive indexing hasn't helped the president's Social Security plan to gain broad support - nor should it.
Boulder Camera:
Do not be fooled by this idiot locution. Just as sure as "extraordinary rendition" now means "shipping the guy to another country so he can be tortured," progressive indexing means cutting benefits. Got it?
Bradenton Herald
Hundreds protest Bush plan
Young residents oppose Social Security changes
from the Kennebec Journal (letter):
Social Security redesign would imperil women
As President Bush has been traveling around the country to promote his plan to privatize Social Security, he has told America that there is an imminent crisis in funding for Social Security. The American public should not be fooled. Privatization is a benefit cut in disguise and weakens the program, making its financial problems worse -- not better.
Here is a sample of the non-Krauthammer favorables: left to their own devices, local righty writers don't have much of a clue. You may have to read it twice to see what I mean.
Springfield News Leader
Social Security was not created to provide for people in their retirement.