Boom.

The first promising sign that Americans are waking up to the entitlement nightmare that involves more than $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities. They’re not yet ready to do without the program, but they are recognizing there’s a problem.

22% say the program is in “crisis” while another 49% say it has “major problems”. What’s more, 52% say they would favor a proposal, “that would allow workers to invest part of their Social Security taxes in the stock market or in bonds, while the rest of those taxes would remain in the Social Security system.” You know, what Republicans proposed years back but Democrats demonized as privatization of the program. We call it individual choice.

This is a huge paradigm shift. In October 2008, just 36% supported reform while 62% had their heads in the sand pretending all is well. Three years later and we find a majority of Americans on the same page favoring reform towards the free market. My what years of unfettered liberalism laid bare can bring about, huh? The downgrade probably didn’t hurt, either.

Interestingly, just 54% of Democrats oppose reform. An overwhelming majority of Republicans (obviously) favor reform. Looking towards younger Americans aged 18 to 34, a full 65% want the ability to privately invest money from their Social Security taxes.

Again, very promising signs that Americans are awaking to the crisis of the entitlement state. We need serious reform if we’re to save the future for our children. This has to be done soon. Unfortunately none of it will happen so long as tax-and-spend liberals occupy the White House. Consider this your latest motivation to vote for real change in 2012.