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White House, Congress should take lead from public
Budget negotiators working toward a deal in Washington might do well to take direction from a new IBOPE Zogby National Debt Poll.
According to the survey, taken July 8-11, nine of 10 voters want President Obama and Congress to reduce the nation's long-term debt, and a majority prefer spending cuts over increased revenues as the means of accomplishing that goal.
We have to agree with two-thirds of those polled, who favor means testing for Medicare based on a person's wealth, but would add that the same should be considered for Social Security and Medicaid -- a harder sell, involving the "third rail" of politics.
That latter point was illustrated by findings that about two-thirds oppose reducing cost-of-living increases for Social Security and reducing provider payments on Medicare and Medicaid -- a process already under way.
Sixty percent of those polled favored reduced defense spending, 85 percent favored ending some tax loopholes and preferences, and 62 percent favored reduced discretionary spending outside of entitlements and defense.
Spending cuts will be a hard sell no matter what form they take, but those who make them would do well to take their lead from their actual constituents rather than from well-paid lobbyists.