The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare has released a new poll  on Americans’ views on Social Security, proposals for raising the retirement age, and cutting benefits. The national telephone poll, conducted June 24-June 30^th by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows a growing disconnect between the average American’s economic priorities and those being debated in Washington.

Poll highlights include:

• Only 2% of Americans believe Social Security is a major cause of the deficit with 77% opposing any changes in Social Security as part of a deficit reduction plan.
• Two out of three Americans (64%) think Social Security provides security and stability to our economy while only 20% see the program as a drain on the economy. 70% believe this recession underscores the critical role Social Security fills for families.
• Virtually all Americans polled (98%) believe Social Security funds belong to the people who contributed them and their beneficiaries and a majority (71%) say Social Security is a promise made to all generations that should not be broken.

Andrew Smith, Director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said he was surprised at the lack of major differences among people of different political persuasions. He said the survey’s responses showed that “Republicans and Democrats alike understand there is a deficit out there and they don’t think Social Security is the cause of it, “

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