The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security

Rating:
Summary: Should be titled Social Insecurity!
Review: I'd suggest that before anyone concludes that this is the final word on Social Security, they ought to consider another book.. "Social Security: The Phony Crisis". Clearly the authors of "The Real Deal" don't get the math or the purpose of this vital program. This is simply another ploy by the political right to justify their long pursued goal of privatization, a raw deal for working families. They should be ashamed. I'm sure they'd sing another tune if they or someone they loved relied on Social Security for disability or retirement benefits. The real deal is the millions of near retirees who have lived paycheck to paycheck, have no employer sponsored retirement plan, or savings; and are counting on so-called "compassionate conservatives" to give a dam about them. The philosophy of the well fed right wing will leave our children to face the nightmare of raising their own families, planning for their retirement, and supporting the baby boom. This book? A total waste of money.

Rating:
Summary: Should be titled Social Insecurity!
Review: I'd suggest that before anyone concludes that this is the final word on Social Security, they ought to consider another book.. "Social Security: The Phony Crisis". Clearly the authors of "The Real Deal" don't get the math or the purpose of this vital program. This is simply another ploy by the political right to justify their long pursued goal of privatization, a raw deal for working families. They should be ashamed. I'm sure they'd sing another tune if they or someone they loved relied on Social Security for disability or retirement benefits. The real deal is the millions of near retirees who have lived paycheck to paycheck, have no employer sponsored retirement plan, or savings; and are counting on so-called "compassionate conservatives" to give a dam about them. The philosophy of the well fed right wing will leave our children to face the nightmare of raising their own families, planning for their retirement, and supporting the baby boom. This book? A total waste of money.

Rating:
Summary: If You Really Want to Understand the Issues ...
Review: Read "The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security" if you really want to understand the issues surrounding Social Security and what is at stake for our country. The media and political establishment nowhere present the "Real Deal" about what is wrong with Social Security. Only by learning its history (did you know that Social Security initially was intended by FDR to be a funded system?) can one really understand how we got to where we are now.

Be informed - read "The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security" by Schieber and Shoven.

Rating:
Summary: If You Really Want to Understand the Issues ...
Review: Read "The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security" if you really want to understand the issues surrounding Social Security and what is at stake for our country. The media and political establishment nowhere present the "Real Deal" about what is wrong with Social Security. Only by learning its history (did you know that Social Security initially was intended by FDR to be a funded system?) can one really understand how we got to where we are now.

Be informed - read "The Real Deal: The History and Future of Social Security" by Schieber and Shoven.

Rating:
Summary: More of the Same
Review: This book presents a history of Social Security, some of which is useful but readily available elsewhere. As for its conclusions and predictions, they are available elsewhere also. They are nothing more the conventional wisdom.

That is to say, this work is a litany of dire assertions that are pervasive in the media, disturbing--and entirely mistaken. Such assertions are conditioned more by political ideology than by economic fact. The economy of the United States is entirely able to maintain a system of comprehensive social insurance; all that is required is the political will to do so.

In calling for privatization, the authors ignore that the US at one time DID have a completely private system. The failure of that system is why we have Social Security. Before accepting the rosy scenario of private accounts, one should ask about inflation protection, spousal benefits, Medicare, Disability benefits, and Survivors' benefits--most, if not all, of which would disappear without a public system.

The former employees of Enron are far better equipped than these authors to comment regarding the comparative guarantees of safety offered by private accounts vs. Social Security.