Use of a budget surplus. In 2000, when the federal budget showed a large surplus, the Pew Research Center asked two questions of random samples of adults. Both questions stated that Social Security would be "?xed." Here are the uses suggested for the remaining surplus:
Should the money be used for a tax cut, or should it be used to fund new government programs?
Should the money be used for a tax cut, or should it be spent on programs for education, the environment, health care, crime-?ghting and military defense?
One of these questions drew 60% favoring a tax cut; the other, only 22%. Which wording pulls respondents toward a tax cut? Why?