Vested Interest - Trends - May 1998 Issue

Tepid Support for Social Security Privatization

An ICR survey of 1,013 adults nationwide for Associated Press found support for partial privatization of social security, and also reluctance to actively take advantage of privatization. Given a choice between higher taxes and lower benefits on the one hand and undefined "major changes" on the other, 74% chose major changes. The poll found 80% support for letting workers shift some of their social security payments into personal retirement accounts. However, the majority of respondents, 51%, said it would be too risky to put that money into stocks and mutual funds. (AP, April 3, 1998)

More Reasons to Move North

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of 431,996 people nationwide between 1993 and 1996 found that college graduates report feeling healthy most often, and residents of South Dakota report being the healthiest. High school dropouts reported just 22.8 healthy days per month; well below the 26 healthy days reported by college graduates. Kentucky, with the nation’s highest rate of smoking, reported the 23.7 healthy days, lowest of the 50 states, while South Dakota reported 26 health days overall. An earlier survey found that residents of the Dakotas had the longest life expectancy. (AP, April 3, 1998)

Poll: Old Age Isn’t So Bad

The Americans Discuss Social Security Project conducted a survey of Americans under age 50 to determine what changes they expect to experience in their daily lives as they age. The group then surveyed Americans between 50 and 80 to determine what changes actually occur. The group concluded that old age isn’t as bad as people expect. Nearly half of those under 50 (48%) predict they will suffer a serious illness, but fewer than a third of those over 80 said they have had one. Two in five (39%) of those under 50 fear loss of bladder control, while only 7% of those over 80 report such a loss. About a third (29%) of those under 50 fear senility, even though just 1% of the over-80 crowd reported that as a problem. People were pretty accurate with fears about trouble walking (41% under 50, 45% over 80 reported it) and loss of sex life (33% under 50 fear it, 34% over 80 report it). (AP, April 4, 1998)

Ex Jones

A Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll of 666 adults nationwide gauged responses to the dismissal of Paula Jones’ lawsuit against President Clinton. A strong majority, 63%, said they believed the dismissal was the right decision, to 25% who disagreed. Men and women were equally supportive of the decision. The same percentage believed the dismissal was good for the country. A plurality of 47% thought the dismissal was fair to Paula Jones, while 37% thought it was unfair. A stronger majority of 67% thought that the dismissal should end the investigations of sexual allegations involving President Clinton. (The Polling Report)

Condom Program Reduces Pregnancy Without Spurring Sex

A report in Family Planning Perspectives evaluated a sexual education program at a Los Angeles high school that distributed condoms to students. The report found a marked increase in condom use reported by male students, from 37% to 50%, with no increase in reported sexual activity or the number of partners. Women reported no increase in condom use, a fact researchers attributed to the programs failure to target female students. The findings mirror the conclusions of reports from Philadelphia and New York City. (AP, April 14, 1998).