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MichMan

(17,276 posts)
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 04:31 PM Dec 2025

Gen Z would rather cut Social Security benefits for current retirees than pay higher taxes to save the program [View all]

There’s a generational divide on what that reform should entail, a new Cato Institute poll of 2,000 respondents found. Members of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, were eight times more likely than those 65 and older to say they support reducing benefits for current and future retirees to fix the program’s finances — 47% versus 6%, the poll found.

More than half of respondents under age 30 said younger workers should be protected from higher taxes even if it means reducing benefits for current retirees, compared to 89% of adults age 65 and older who said current retirees’ benefits should be protected even if it means increasing taxes for younger workers.

Cato asked participants how they would feel about various reform tactics, such as increasing taxes, in a few ways. Almost 6 in 10 people (58%) said they would favor raising “income taxes,” while 63% said they would favor increasing “payroll taxes as much as necessary” if it meant maintaining benefits. When asked if they would be willing to raise those payroll taxes from 12.4% to 16.05%, more than half (55%) said yes. But when they were asked about dollar figures, there was less support: Only 23% said they would be willing to pay $1,300 more a year in taxes to maintain benefits.

Young adults also were more likely to misunderstand how the program pays out benefits, the Cato poll found. Half of Gen Z members thought Social Security taxes were saved for them, such as in a personal account or invested in the trust fund, and just 29% knew that what they paid in taxes was used for current retirees in the pay-as-you-go system.


(Edited to add 4th paragraph instead of lead in sentence)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/gen-z-would-rather-cut-social-security-benefits-for-current-retirees-than-pay-higher-taxes-to-save-the-program/ar-AA1StpJW?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LCTS&cvid=6947067333a84cb8a34c49bf8f4fc508&ei=24
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Well, there go their inheritances . . . . . . no_hypocrisy Dec 2025 #1
What inheritances? Seeking Serenity Dec 2025 #96
Lift the salary cap pfitz59 Dec 2025 #2
THIS. And snot Dec 2025 #35
"The Cato Institute"... Chemical Bill Dec 2025 #71
reagan doubled fica taxes "in order to fund the retirement of the bab y boomers." rampartd Dec 2025 #79
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Dec 2025 #97
A Small Modification Would Be Required For... ProfessorGAC Dec 2025 #42
ABSOLUTELY the correct answer!!!!!! Jack Valentino Dec 2025 #45
Most of the truly rich don't receive income subject RubyRose Dec 2025 #66
Probably not forever...... beaglelover Dec 2025 #63
Get ready dweller Dec 2025 #3
They may already be co-housed. If not now then soon. littlemissmartypants Dec 2025 #33
I guess they want Granny and Gramps living with them. The Madcap Dec 2025 #4
I'm not sure I trust anything produced by the Cato Institute, thucythucy Dec 2025 #5
I would be interested in seeing one from another source if you have one MichMan Dec 2025 #6
I don't have one, thucythucy Dec 2025 #13
In the absence of any other poll stating otherwise, I took it at face value and thought others might find it interesting MichMan Dec 2025 #16
So you wouldn't dismiss a poll from Fox that showed Trump at 99 percent approval? BannonsLiver Dec 2025 #23
The source of any poll is of existential relevance, MM. It's a valid point. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Dec 2025 #36
The source of the poll was noted in the very first sentence MichMan Dec 2025 #37
Even the grumps among us sometimes long for human interaction. 😉❤️ littlemissmartypants Dec 2025 #46
Show me another poll with similar results thucythucy Dec 2025 #81
Show me another poll with different results then. MichMan Dec 2025 #85
Not my responsibility. thucythucy Dec 2025 #93
It also isn't my responsibility to look for other polls until I find one that you agree with. MichMan Dec 2025 #95
The Cato Institute definitely has a libertarian agenda DFW Dec 2025 #55
All that is necessary is to look at the framing of the question. markodochartaigh Dec 2025 #21
I doubt."Make millionaires pay a small percentage more" was a choice. Probably only, YOU pay more or They get less. dem4decades Dec 2025 #51
Cato is right-wing, and how you ask questions can definitely influence answers, leading to the result you want. Lonestarblue Dec 2025 #52
That should not surprise anyone. Silent Type Dec 2025 #7
That should be a talk at the Christmas dinner table, Historic NY Dec 2025 #8
Or, bring up how many states have markodochartaigh Dec 2025 #22
What a bunch of whiney little entitled pricks, MarineCombatEngineer Dec 2025 #9
And created the life that they are now waving in our faces and trying to say that we are the issue. OldBaldy1701E Dec 2025 #48
100% oasis Dec 2025 #92
The Cato Institute? the hell you say WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2025 #10
Very shortsighted SheltieLover Dec 2025 #11
Nailed it! Norrrm Dec 2025 #53
And likely brainwaahed by repuke lies SheltieLover Dec 2025 #57
We need to push constitutional admendants IbogaProject Dec 2025 #12
Welp..when I first started working, I know I used to gripe about SS, Medicare taxes I'd see on my pay stub Deuxcents Dec 2025 #14
Good suggestion, and we need that good communication pretty soon too GoodRaisin Dec 2025 #75
So this Libertarian BS is now coming out yet again...........guess who founded this fucking "think tank"....... turbinetree Dec 2025 #15
one suspects the younger crowd, fresh from sponging off parents, typically opposes helping seniors financially msongs Dec 2025 #17
Cato Institute? LOL. markodochartaigh Dec 2025 #18
I got an idea.Why don't we make the billionaire's pay more in taxes Tribetime Dec 2025 #19
Shooting old people is still illegal. Turbineguy Dec 2025 #20
They'll be sorry. They won't be young forever. Vinca Dec 2025 #24
Cato? Seriously? sakabatou Dec 2025 #25
Hey, who snowybirdie Dec 2025 #26
This message was self-deleted by its author wcmagumba Dec 2025 #27
Intergenerational conflict was built in. Die Broke, that will teach them. /nt bucolic_frolic Dec 2025 #28
When young adults do not know important facts about their lives, more people than RockRaven Dec 2025 #29
Okay. We'll just move in. viva la Dec 2025 #30
They may not be known as the particularly smart generation C_U_L8R Dec 2025 #31
The solution? OAITW r.2.0 Dec 2025 #32
CUT THE CRAP... RAISE THE CAP FalloutShelter Dec 2025 #54
I'd take that report with a huge grain of salt jmbar2 Dec 2025 #34
In what way is this story Boomer bashing? Mariana Dec 2025 #39
The first clue would be that it's from CATO jmbar2 Dec 2025 #44
The poll was targeted towards Gen Z, not Gen X and Millennial MichMan Dec 2025 #62
GenZs are truly suffering in this economy jmbar2 Dec 2025 #65
;-{) Z Goonch Dec 2025 #38
Me Too 60 years ago. Fichefinder Dec 2025 #40
Why wouldnt they vote in their best interest? Boomers have done it for decades as well Slider19 Dec 2025 #41
Gen Z pays taxes? Nictuku Dec 2025 #43
I think people might be missing the point here. Jedi Guy Dec 2025 #47
With the exception of the school shootings... OldBaldy1701E Dec 2025 #49
Really? That's odd because I didn't. Jedi Guy Dec 2025 #56
Everyone's circumstances are different MichMan Dec 2025 #64
That kind of proves my point, to an extent. Jedi Guy Dec 2025 #67
" There just isn't, and trying to say otherwise is, at best, wildly disingenuous." OldBaldy1701E Dec 2025 #69
Same time period here fujiyamasan Dec 2025 #86
This article seems to have one purpose Samael13 Dec 2025 #50
Judging by the this thread up to this point MustLoveBeagles Dec 2025 #94
CATO biases this in the ways they define raising more revenue karynnj Dec 2025 #58
If that be the case, my adult children will NOT be getting any money. ProudMNDemocrat Dec 2025 #59
Many Rebl2 Dec 2025 #60
I've found that tax increases tend to be much more popular with people as long as it is someone else paying them. MichMan Dec 2025 #61
And wars tend to be more popular among prople who don't have to fight them. thucythucy Dec 2025 #83
The OP was specifically about tax increases and not wars, but OK. MichMan Dec 2025 #87
Tax automation, including AI gulliver Dec 2025 #68
Yes, eventually something like this may be needed fujiyamasan Dec 2025 #88
Increasing taxes on the ultra wealthy maybe one route. gulliver Dec 2025 #89
Sorry, yes I view that as extremely naive with that set of billionaires fujiyamasan Dec 2025 #90
People are missing the point pinkstarburst Dec 2025 #70
Many, maybe most older people don't care about any of that. Mariana Dec 2025 #91
Gen Z is not wrong really. EllieBC Dec 2025 #72
They wouldn't have to pay more if we just eliminated the cap. BlueTsunami2018 Dec 2025 #73
So how many middle schoolers did they interview for this poll? RazorbackExpat Dec 2025 #74
This message was self-deleted by its author RandySF Dec 2025 #76
Don't talk to me about Gen Z RandySF Dec 2025 #77
I wouldn't have a problem if I could just get back all the money I paid into the system in SS taxes. Intractable Dec 2025 #78
Was the question fairly asked? quaker bill Dec 2025 #80
Naturally. QueerDuck Dec 2025 #82
Cato. Enough said. Iris Dec 2025 #84
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