Americans Still Want Compromise: Tax the Rich and Cut Spending

A poll released by CNN/Opinion Research today suggests that Americans are adamant about what they want from their elected officials in Washington -- in a word: "compromise." Like several polls taken before the debt debate deal was reached and passed the first week of August, a majority of Americans are saying they are in agreement on a compromise that would increase taxes as well as involve major spending cuts in order to work toward a balanced budget and decreasing the nation's overall debt. But they are particular about where they want the cuts and who they want taxed.

According to the poll, 63 percent of respondents said they were agreeable to tax increases -- just so long as they were increased on the wealthy. A full 87 percent said they do not want taxes to increase among the middle class and the poor in the United States.

The poll also indicated that most Americans were agreeable to spending cuts to domestic programs as well (57 percent). However, when it came to Social Security and Medicare, 64 percent said there should be no major cuts. As for military spending, 53 percent were against cuts, while 47 percent favored them.

The recently passed debt ceiling deal, which allowed the debt limit to be raised (in order for the government to finance its regular operations and pay its debt and obligations), also provided for nearly a trillion dollars in spending cuts. In addition, it set up a "super" Congress of twelve Congressmen (six Democrats and six Republicans, split between House and Senate members) to propose another $1.5 trillion in cuts. If they cannot or Congress fails to accept their recommendations, it will trigger automatic cuts to both defense and entitlement program spending (incentives for the parties to compromise and work out actionable spending cuts).

The poll revealed nothing polls taken before the debt deal was passed had not already indicated. A mid-July Gallup poll showed 69 percent of respondents would be agreeable to a balance between spending cuts and tax increases. Thirty-two percent said they would like to see Congress broker a deal that showed a balance, while 30 percent said both should be employed (but weighted toward spending cuts), and 7 percent said more revenue increases should be considered as opposed to cuts.

A Pew Research Center Poll released the week before noted that the public was agreeable to changes in entitlements but not in the amount of receivable benefits. By a 58 percent to 37 percent margin, respondents said states should take away from Medicaid benefits of the poor. Those making less than $30,000 per year were more likely to find maintaining Social Security and Medicare more important (62 percent) than reducing the budget deficit. Those making more than $75,000 saw it nearly diametrically different (63 percent).

It remains to be seen whether or not the "super" Congress will pay more heed than the regular Congress when they make their recommendations for spending cuts.