Social Insecurity: The Crisis in America's Social Security System and How to Plan Now for Your Own Financial Survival [Hardcover]

Dorcas R. Hardy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former Social Security commissioner Hardy and her father, financial adviser Colburn, here allege that unless a national retirement policy that retains Social Security as a base is adopted soon, the resources of a weakened and wounded Social Security will be exhausted by 2010. Having sounded the alarm, the authors offer suggestions on how to calculate and provide for post-retirement income needs, advising on tax strategies, IRAs, pensions, annuities and other profitable, safe investments. They also strongly urge that the private sector--and individuals at their own initiative--assume more responsibility, including promotion of a later retirement age and greater private savings, to provide for an increasingly longer lifespan and lower worker-retiree ratio. Addressed to both present and future retirees, this guide is succinct yet comprehensive. Author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Former U.S. Commissioner of Social Security Dorcas Hardy makes the case that the Social Security system is broken and outlines her own vision of a comprehensive national retirement policy. Her insight is informed and her arguments for the need for a solution are sound. Any solution, she advises, must recognize that Social Security will not provide for an individual's entire retirement needs. Colburn Hardy, her father, offers a financial plan that individuals may follow to help assure a successful retirement. This slight book reads like an expanded magazine article. Not a necessary purchase.
- Joseph Barth, U.S. Military Acad. Lib., West Point, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 178 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1st edition (December 14, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067940290X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679402909
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,796,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate Ponzi Scheme, November 24, 2000

By 

Harry Caliban (Joliet, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Social Insecurity: The Crisis in America's Social Security System and How to Plan Now for Your Own Financial Survival (Hardcover)

This is a book that all americans should read. Especially the seniors who thought they knew what social security was all about. Social Security reform was one of the main reasons that I voted for Bush/Cheney. And after reading this book you will see why social security needs reform. It is the ultimate "Ponzi Scheme."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relevent Once Again, April 21, 2002

By 

The Orange Duke "orangeduke" (Cupertino, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Social Insecurity: The Crisis in America's Social Security System and How to Plan Now for Your Own Financial Survival (Hardcover)

Although written in the early nineties, the return of the social security issues and the Republican economic collapse have rendered this book relevant again. It provides a good background and bare bones analysis of the history of the program, as well as the nature of the crises as it stood at the time. It also includes a fine assessment of the then currant reform/repair formulas. Not surprisingly, the return of the problem has lead to the return of many of the same proposals, including that old Republican fetish, privatization. The authors own solutions are interesting, and complicated enough that they are not to be dismissed out of hand, although her balance the budget suggestion has clearly not solved the issue. However, it is certain that accepting all her proposals would help considerably, since calls on both business and individuals to pitch in. The second half of the book (written by the 2cd author) is a discussion of investment strategies (some are common sense) that are interesting and still useful, though less of an interest to me personally. All in all a worthwhile work.