If you have any doubts left about USA Next's real agenda (ha!), have a look at their
"scientific" survey. It's a blatant push poll, and it is not factually correct. Take a look:
Are you aware or unaware that in just 13 years the Social Security Trust Fund will start paying out more in benefits than it receives in taxes?
"Just"
means "at a little distance;" saying that 13 years is "just a little distance" from today is a subjective judgment. A legitimate poll would not use this phrasing. And let's not forget that in
14 of the past 47 years, payouts have exceeded revenue. This ain't new, folks. Moving on...
[more]
Some people say we need to modernize Social Security for future generations. Others say we should leave it alone and allow Congress to raise taxes to raise more money to put into Social Security. Which of these views is closer to your own?
"Modernize Social Security for future generations" sounds like a quote from an RNC press release, and suggesting that a tax increase could be used to cover any revenue shortfalls is not the same as suggesting that we "leave it alone." Even Bush has
considered raising the payroll tax cap "as part of a Social Security fix." And now, a factual error...
If you knew each of the following statements were true about President Bush's plan to reform Social Security, would each statement make you more likely or less likely to support President Bush's plan to reform Social Security?
"President Bush's plan to reform Social Security would not affect any current or future benefits guaranteed to people over 50 years of age."
That's not true.
Let's go to the tape:
"I have a message for every American who is 55 or older: Do not let anyone mislead you. For you, the Social Security system will not change in any way."
--President George W. Bush, 2/2/05
Slipping factual errors in poll itself isn't enough for these guys. Their analysis of the poll results is also extremely dishonest. In
this press release, they say:
Large numbers (44.5%) of voters are not confident about receiving all their benefits under the present system.
What they don't say is that their poll shows even larger numbers -- a majority, in fact --
are confident about receiving all their benefits under the current system.
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates. Who are they? Here's CEO John McLaughlin's official biography:
John McLaughlin has worked professionally as a strategic consultant and pollster for over twenty years. During this time he has earned a reputation for helping to guide underdog Republicans and conservative challengers to victory. ... He has advised the Republican National Committee, the Republican Senatorial Committee, and the Republican Governors Association. ... In 1996 and again in 2000, John McLaughlin worked as the campaign pollster and a consultant for Republican Presidential candidate Steve Forbes.
Partner Jim McLaughlin is
described as:
[O]ne of only two Republican pollsters named as a part of Roll Call newspapers' Fabulous Fifty for his work as the NRCC's lead pollster in their successful campaign to retain the GOP majority in Congress.
To
paraphrase USA Next chief executive Charlie Jarvis, it looks like USA Next has a truth-in-polling problem.