Young Americans and Social Security: 66% Think Money is Safer under Their Pillow than with the Federal Government

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Sep 15, 2011, 04:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity today highlighted a figure from its national survey of young adults ages 18-29 from across the political spectrum. When asked the specific question, "in your opinion, is your Social Security money safer with the federal government or under your pillow?" 66% of young voters indicated the money is safer under their pillow.

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"Young people are looking at a situation where the economic challenges and limited opportunities they face today potentially extends to the end of their careers, where there is zero assurance Social Security will be there for them," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and a former Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Labor. "Despite all of this, young adults remain optimistic about their skills and their ability to contribute to the country – they are simply looking for competent leadership that respects their interests and places a higher value on unleashing America's economic engine to create more jobs and economic opportunity."

In the same poll, 69% said that Washington does not reflect their interests and an additional 69% indicated that the federal government should make tough decisions by making sacrifices right now rather than asking more of Americans struggling in an anemic economy.

Generation Opportunity is one of the fastest growing and largest grassroots organizations in the nation dedicated to organizing and mobilizing young adults through a strategy based on social media and ground operations. The organization, publicly launched in June of 2011, has amassed over one million fans through its "Being American" page on Facebook.

YOUNG AMERICANS ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY, WASHINGTON, AND THE ECONOMY
Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, inc. /WomanTrend (April 16 – 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlights of results for all young Americans ages 18-29 appears below.

Millennials: Social Security

66% believe that their Social Security money is safer under their pillow than in the U.S. Treasury.

Millennials: Federal Spending

18-29 year-olds are deeply concerned about U.S. financial debt (66%) and deficit (71%).
Three quarters (76%) of respondents would like to see federal spending reduced.
69% said the federal government should make sacrifices right now.

Millennials: Washington Isn't Getting It Done

Only 31% of those 18-29 approve of Obama's handling of the youth unemployment.
56% believe the wrong leadership is in Washington and 61% will vote on a candidate's record, not charisma.
57% said they will learn more about the policy positions of Presidential candidates in the 2012 election than they did in 2008.
69% say political leaders do NOT reflect the interests of young Americans.

Millennials: America and Opportunity

54% believe America is on the wrong track, only 24% believe the U.S. is headed in the right direction.
54% agree they have "more opportunity" than their parents, and 27% actually think their children will have less.
77% of respondents (18-29) are delaying major life changes due to economic restraints.
- 44% delay buying a home;
- 28% delay saving for retirement;
- 27% delay paying off student loans or other debt;
- 27% delay going back to school/getting more education or training;
- 26% delay changing jobs/cities;
- 23% delay starting a family;
- 18% delay getting married.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization announced its first communications platform – "Being American," a Facebook page that has already amassed a fan base of more than one million. The page posts links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal General Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here and visit "Being American" on Facebook by clicking here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generación Oportunidad – click here.

CONTACT:
Matthew Faraci
202-997-1636
EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity