|
|
||
The AARP campaign to stop social security smacks of desperation--and hypocrisy Date published: 5/4/2005
FALLS CHUCRH--In the ongoing debate over Social Security, AARP may claim that its mission is to defend the elderly--but its use of manipulative polls and inaccurate ads to needlessly frighten the public about the merits of reform raises serious questions about its tactics. Moreover, while AARP says private stocks are too risky for individuals to invest their retirement savings, the multibillion dollar organization has no problem making millions off those same "risky" investments. As evidence for the alleged unpopularity of private accounts backed by President Bush, AARP cites a poll it conducted in March that showed that 59 percent of the organization's 35 million members oppose the proposal. However, the poll is suspect, because it was framed in such a way as to maximize a negative response. For example, 29 percent of AARP members initially said they liked the idea of diverting up to $1,300 into private accounts. These respondents were then asked a series of loaded questions such as: "What if you heard that creating private accounts out of Social Security funds will put more of your retirement savings at risk?" This was followed up with language such as: Private accounts "will create winners and losers" and "could mean cuts in everyone's Social Security benefits." Not surprisingly, most of the respondents who supported private accounts changed their mind. AARP plays other games with polls to get the answers it wants. One poll reported that the general public is opposed to private accounts by a margin of 48 percent to 43 percent. However, the poll was skewed to maximize the representation of demographic groups that tend to oppose the plan. To begin with, the survey did not even sample people under 30--who comprise the most pro-reform group. On the other hand, people over 60, the most skeptical of private accounts, constituted 34 percent of the survey even though they made up just 24 percent of voters in the 2004 election. Likewise, the poll sampled 37 percent Democrats and 31 percent Republicans. In 2004, Republicans and Democrats each constituted 37 percent of the electorate.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
||||||||||||
