More Americans are coming to the realization that painful steps will be needed regarding the long term survival for Social Security according to a recent poll by AARP.
"I think the public is ahead of Congress and the Washington debate when it comes to Social Security," said John Rother, policy director for AARP, the nation's largest organization for Americans 50 and older, which conducted the survey of 1,500 people, 21 or older, nationwide.
Without any changes, the Social Security program is expected to be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2040. Over the next 75 years, the program is expected to fall more than $4 trillion in the red.
William Novelli, AARP's chief executive officer, said the poll shows that Social Security changes need to include both more revenue and changes in benefits. Bush had rejected any tax increase to solve the problem.
