Convention Delegates Liberal, Yet Quarter Still Favor Privatization

August 22, 2000

The New York Times released a poll Monday on the political views of delegates to the Democratic Convention, showing them to be well to the left of ordinary Democrats and voters in general. For instance, three quarters of delegates said that "government should do more to solve national problems," versus just one-third of voters in general.

This tendency was true on the issue of Social Security privatization as well. While over half of general voters agreed that, "allowing individuals to invest portions of their Social Security taxes on their own is a good idea," just one-quarter of Democratic convention delegates agreed.

But given that the Democratic platform opposes any investment of payroll taxes in personal retirement, one-quarter support for privatization even among convention delegates is testament to their popularity.

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