Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity [Hardcover]

Charles P. Blahous (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275970442 | ISBN-13: 978-0275970444 | Publication Date: August 30, 2000

Blahous contends that Social Security is ill-equipped to withstand the effects of an aging population and will impose excessive tax burdens upon future Americans unless its course is changed. Far from a doomsday tract, however, the book provides instances of proposals that would satisfactorily avert this course, if only the political will is mustered to implement them. Blahous argues for the program developed by the National Commission on Retirement Policy, but also offers positive descriptions of plausible alternatives as well as unsparing criticism of those who would cook the books in defense of either current law or high-cost alternatives. Reforming Social Security is sure to disturb ideologues from all parts of the political spectrum, because of its frank willingness to expose the costs of different approaches as well as the self-interest so often pursued by interest groups, political actors, and Social Security experts. An important analysis for the general public as well as policy makers and others concerned with social security issues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . a source for a more meaningful debate on how we preserve and protect Social Security." -- Senator John Breaux (D-LA)

". . . this is a must read." -- Senator J. Robert Kerrey (D-NE)

"Chuck Blahous is the voice of sanity and reason in the Social Security debate." -- U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)

"There isn't a person more knowledgeable about both the politics and finances of Social Security than Chuck Blahous." -- Bradley Belt, Executive Director, Nat. Commission on Retirement Policy

"This book should be required reading for every member of Congress before a vote is cast on Social Security reform." -- Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)

Book Description

Presents the policy and political contexts of the debate over Social Security reform.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (August 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275970442
• ISBN-13: 978-0275970444
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,908,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally Some Straight Talk about Social Security!, October 11, 2000

By 

Student (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity (Hardcover)

This easy-to-read book is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the future of Social Security and sick of the way politicians typically talk about the issue. This book provides hard facts about the problems facing the system and straight answers about the benefits and drawbacks of reform proposals.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget about the other SS Books.... Read this one!!, October 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity (Hardcover)

I live and work "inside the Beltway" as we like to say here in Washington, DC. We tend to use a lot of big words, talk endlessly about inane topics, and congratulate ourselves that we have the American people "figured out".

In reality, there's a lot every Washington insider could learn simply by picking a point on the compass and driving a couple of hours away from DC in that direction. We need to hear what people really feel about issues that are important to them. Conversely, we need to educate the American people in a logical way, to give them all the information they need in digestible portions -- as Thomas Jefferson noted, "to set before mankind the commonsense of the subject in terms so simple as to command their assent [paraphrase]." It is in these terms, that Dr. Blahous writes.

Social Security reform is a weighty, complicated issue. Because it is not readily and easily understood by most, it is demagogued by politicians of every persuasion. Charles Blahous cuts through the demagoguery and provides a clear explanation of the Social Security retirement program's history, the need for reform, and events of the last few years that have led to the current debate on reform.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and tone. He conveys his message as one who earnestly wants to communicate the truth. Opponents of reform should pay heed -- with logic like this, there is nowhere left for them to hide.

Read this book. Get informed. Contact your elected officials in Washington and urge them to support Social Security retirement reform.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straight talk from one of the sharpest minds I know, January 7, 2005

By 

Charles F. Pelkey (Golden, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity (Hardcover)

Given that I am a Democrat, now long gone from D.C. and that Dr. Blahous and I both happily sit at opposite ends of the political spectrum, one might think I'd have little interest in reading a book on Social Security reform by a member of the Bush administration. Frankly, the sole reason I bought this book was that I once had the pleasure of working with Chuck in Washington when we were both staffers in the office of Alan Simpson. Without a doubt, he was both one of the brightest people I'd ever met and one of the most human staffers ever to grace the Hill.

Chuck's book, "Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity" is a reflection of that. One element of Blahous's brilliance is that he can gracefully translate the most complex issue into something anyone - even I - can easily grasp.

In a modern political environment, in which the five-second screambyte passes for reasonable discourse, Chuck thoughtfully presents a case for an approach to Social Security reform that I would normally not even consider, largely because the folks on "my side" are making political hay out of opposing it. I wish that Chuck's approach to the thoughtful discussion and development of policy were the standard in Washington. We'd all be the better for it.

Ignore the rhetoric from both sides on this issue. Take the time to read the book, consider his arguments, mark the heck out of the margins (despite that hefty $68 price tag), check his sources, weigh the evidence and then reach your own conclusions. You may well be surprised that your position has drifted somewhat. Odds are good that you'll be a bit closer to the truth for the effort.

Since Chuck's talents have largely been focused on Social Security issues for most of this past decade, it's often easy to forget that his PhD. is in chemistry and that much of his early work on Simpson's staff was devoted to questions of foreign policy. I, for one, would be pleased if his talents were relied upon in other areas as well.

Chuck's presence - indeed, Chuck's presence alone - reassures me that there is still some hope for this administration.