Bush's Approval Ratings Stay Low

Poll: 60 Percent Of Americans Think War In Iraq Is Going Badly

(CBS) 
Reactions to a more detailed description of the President's plan in the poll were mixed.

When the plan is described as varying the rate of increases in benefits according to income along with the option of investing Social Security taxes in a personal investment account, 43 percent said it was a good idea and 48 percent a bad one.

PRESIDENT'S PLAN FOR SOCIAL SECURITY IS:

Good idea
43%
Bad idea
48%

More knowledge appears linked to even more negative views: 57 percent of those who have heard or read a lot about the President's plan think it's a bad idea.

Three in four Americans say they've heard at least some details of the President's ideas, up slightly from last month. 25 percent say they've heard a lot.

Although he may not have convinced people about the specifics of his plan, the President has indeed managed to put himself out in front of Congress on the issue: 77 percent of Americans are aware that George W. Bush has proposed changes to the Social Security system -- while just 44 percent say they know of any such proposals emanating from Bush's fellow Republicans in the House and Senate.

DOES ... HAVE A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE SOCIAL SECURITY?

Bush does
77%
Republicans in Congress do
44%
Democrats in Congress do
24%

Democrats, meanwhile, who have thus far resisted the President's plans, are viewed by just 24 percent as having any proposals of their own.

That's not necessarily a welcome stance for the minority party. Americans would like to see some counter-proposal from the Democrats -- 67 percent say the party should make it a priority to develop an alternative to Bush's ideas, instead of simply working to keep Social Security just as it is now. Even Democratic partisans -- who strongly dislike Bush's proposals -- want to see their party put something forward.

WHAT SHOULD DEMOCRATS DO NOW?

Work to keep Social Security as it is
All
24%
Reps
19%
Dems
29%
Ind
23%

Offer an alternative plan for change
All
67%
Reps
73%
Dems
66%
Ind
63%

Americans might want to see a plan from the Democrats because that party has been consistently seen as better able to deal with Social Security. In this poll, the Democrats have a 17-point advantage. However, Democrats have been unable to extend their lead on this measure in recent months.

WHICH PARTY WILL MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY?

Democrats
Now
48%
2/2005
48%
7/2002
49%

Republicans
Now
31%
2/2005
31%
7/2002
30%

But Americans do see the troubles with Social Security as real, not just the product of political rhetoric. Just 36 percent say political leaders are only saying the system is in crisis to get what they want; 56 percent say it really is in such trouble.

REACTIONS: AGE AND CLASS
In the past, most Americans have said that Bush's tax cuts, and policies in general, have favored the rich over the middle class. In this poll, Americans took a similar view about Bush's Social Security proposals. 52 percent say his proposals in general would, if enacted, favor high income people.

BUSH'S SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSALS WOULD BENEFIT…

High income people
52%
Middle income people
19%
Low income
12%
Haven't heard proposals
7%

The President has stressed that older people would be unaffected under his plan, and the public does indeed believe that younger people, not older ones, would be most impacted by it.

WHO WOULD BE MOST AFFECTED BY BUSH'S PLAN?

Younger people
65%
Older people
21%
Haven't heard proposals
7%