No one who calls himself an American can afford not to read this book. Peterson lays it on the line: the Democrats and the Republicans are now in a co-dependent relationship over paying for Social Security and Medicare that is bankrupting America's future. Peterson's analysis of how we got into this mess is great. I especially liked his historical review of the attitudes of America's founders toward public debt. I believe that Social Security and Medicare have effectively created an aristocratic leisure class of seniors in America. Washington and Jefferson knew all about a non-working aristocratic class, and detested it. Modern senior citizens don't differ that much from the blue-blooded dolts back then who believed the world owed them a living.
The book does have some flaws, in my opinion. In many respects it is too optimistic about the future of America's economy. While there has been some economic growth in recent years, keep in mind that economic growth is generally measured by GDP. GDP is a highly inaccurate measure; it does not take into account the effects of population growth, or the costs of pollution, or depletion of natural resources, or decline in standards of living. A somewhat more accurate measure, the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW), shows that in fact there has been almost no real economic growth in the U.S. since the 1970s. Peterson also does not take into account the fact that due to Hubbert's peak in oil recovery we are likely to see substantially higher energy prices in years to come. This only reinforces the need to get our house in order.
Peterson's prescriptions are good as far as they go. Peterson proposes indexing Social Security benefits to prices instead of wages. This would work only if prices rise more slowly than wages, which may not be the case in the future. I would propose indexing Social Security benefits to either wages or prices, whichever rises the least in a given year. Peterson does a great job pointing out the flaws of Medicare and links them to flaws in the overall health care system, which I thought was well done. I would consider Peterson's suggestions the absolute minimum of what should be done. If for whatever reason we can't implement these needed reforms, in my opinion both Social Security and Medicare should be ELIMINATED, PERIOD. We've tried for years to contain costs in these programs, with absolutely nothing to show for it. Maybe we should just get rid of them. Keep in mind that before these programs were started, seniors weren't starving in the streets.
Add Prime
to get Fast, Free delivery
$9.71 with 54 percent savings
List Price: $21.00 
The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Learn more
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2005
- Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2004
- Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2021
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2016
