The Forward Party released a new installment of its Controlling What You Can series this week, focusing on how supporters feel about the national debt. It found respondents were closely split on raising more revenue and decreasing expenditures as a solution.
The party shared the results on Wednesday, highlighting a near-even divide among respondents. A slider poll conducted through the Forward Party website found that supporters were torn between the two directions. According to details, 51% said they want to raise revenue while a very close 49% would rather see a decrease in spending. Individual preference for either suggestion was also relatively equal in terms of intensity. The party does not typically disclose how many individuals participated in its slider poll.
“For those who believe we should only focus on one of these two areas, raising revenue won out,” the party stated. “However, we think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of Forwardists think that all options need to be considered and a mix of strategies will be needed to start paying down the debt.”
On X, the party presented users with four specific solutions on how the country could reduce its debt. Similar to the slider poll, there was no majority strong consensus on a specific approach. Out of 2,766 user responses, it found that 33% preferred raising the income tax on high earners. That approach was closely followed by 32.1% calling for a reduction in military spending. Another 19% favored eliminating Social Security for high-income earners, while 15.4% supported tax cuts as a way to spur economic growth.
Regarding specific policy ideas submitted by supporters, the party found that many respondents wanted to simplify the tax code as a way to ensure more “equitable taxation” across income brackets. Those supporters argue that simplifying the process would close loopholes and reduce the ability to “game” the system.
Respondents also called for reducing regulatory complexity, which they viewed as a barrier to business growth and a contributor to government overhead. Other recurring suggestions included a combination of high-end tax increases and strategic spending reductions, particularly in the areas of defense, entitlements, and administrative costs.
The Forward Party noted that more respondents left comments about simplifying the tax code than any other single topic raised.
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