The survey found 81 percent of respondents were very or somewhat worried about Social Security, and just as many were very or somewhat worried about energy issues. The findings were released by New York University's John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress.


"I was very surprised at the amount of interest in looking for long-term answers," said NYU professor Paul Light, who wrote the study. "What we found is there is tremendous demand for answers. They may not know exactly what to do but they're very, very worried."

The general sense of worry extends beyond the usual political debates, to mundane issues like highways. The poll found 50 percent were very or somewhat worried about repairing the nation's older roads and bridges.