tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334408760351487944.post7033531572419177462..comments2023-11-12T06:43:00.060-05:00Comments on Notes on Social Security Reform: Poll: Americans favor Social Security opt-out, oppose tax increasesAndrew G. Biggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617460431856611873noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334408760351487944.post-48442083480528490832009-08-23T11:25:31.904-04:002009-08-23T11:25:31.904-04:00"and younger people are more likely to lack c..."and younger people are more likely to lack confidence in the program and to want to opt out."<br /><br />Gosh why would that be?<br /><br />Butler and Germanis (1983) <a href="http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj3n2/cj3n2-11.pdf" rel="nofollow">Achieving Social Security Reform: A "Leninist" Strategy</a><br /><br />"Lenin also believed that capitalism was doomed by its inherent contradictions, and would inevitably collapse. <b>But just to be on the safe side</b>, he sought to mobilize the working class, in alliance with other key elements in political society, both to hasten the collapse and to ensure that the result conformed with his interpretation of the proletarian state. Unlike many other socialists at the time, Lenin recognized that <b>fundamental change is contingent both upon a movement’s ability to create a focused political coalition and upon its <br />success in isolating and weakening its opponents.</b>"<br /><br />The Leninist Strategy suggested three steps: 1) reassure those in or approaching retirement, 2) convince the young that Social Security just would not be there for them, and 3) blame the Boomers.<br /><br />The only thing that has changed between 1983 and now that the new people to be blamed are the early retirees. I see this poll as nothing more than testing the results of a particular marketing program set in place over 25 years ago. Next time you run across Stuart and or Peter you can congratulate them on a job well done.Bruce Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13222670342780912788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334408760351487944.post-27178202369771530332009-08-21T17:35:48.215-04:002009-08-21T17:35:48.215-04:00Your headline needs a little work again. Given th...Your headline needs a little work again. Given that most people think SS is a good deal, they are really affirming that other people should be allowed to make the mistake of opting out, not that they personally favor opting out for themselves.Arnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00796151499106650732noreply@blogger.com