ThinkProgress » Even 67 Percent Of Tea Partiers Would Rather Raise Taxes Than Raise The Social Security Retirement Age

More evidence of just how out of touch DC is…

And how the Dem’s can’t seem to get their messaging right.

Standing up for Social Security- which really is not in any crisis- is another win-win that could put the Dem’s clearly on the side of the vast majority of the American Public.  Even the Tea Party would support it.

Standing up against the Republicans and protecting Social Security would be one of the fastest roads back to power in the House.

But, no one in the DC Echo Chamber seems to be listening…

There appears to be some growing consensus among some of the political elite that there should be major regressive changes to Social Security, like cutting back on benefits and/or raising the retirement age. Building on this consensus, Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) are expected to release legislation soon that would involve raising the retirement age to 69. Yet a new poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP) finds that one group that does not support these regressive cuts is the American people themselves. The PPP poll found that 77 percent of Americans would rather “pay Social Security taxes on salaries above $106,800,” essentially lifting the income tax cap, instead of seeing their “benefits cut and the retirement age increased to age 69.” Surprisingly, however, even 67 percent of self-identified Tea Partiers said they would rather raise the tax cap than cuts benefits and hike the retirement age:

Currently, workers pay social security payroll taxes on up to $106,800 of their salary. To ensure the long-term viability of Social Security, would you rather have people pay social security taxes on salaries above $106,800, or would you rather see benefits cut and the retirement age increased to age 69?

Raise payroll cap   Cut benefits

All           77                  10

Dem        84                  4

GOP         69               17

Ind            77               11

Tea Party  67            20

Those who advocate for raising the Social Security retirement age often claim that they are pursuing “moderate” paths for reform. As this poll and others demonstrate, the course they are choosing is far from centrist.

via ThinkProgress » 67 Percent Of Tea Partiers Would Rather Raise Taxes Than Raise The Social Security Retirement Age.