Social security and the middle-class squeeze : fact and fiction about America's entitlement programs / Leonard J. Santow and Mark E. Santow ; foreword byHenry Kaufman
A practitioner and a historian combine ideas -- Government and the promise of American life -- The middle class and the American dream -- Explaining and analyzing are not enough -- New ways to look at social security, Medicare and Medicaid -- Misconceptions and myths about social security -- Government cannot legislate investment success -- Big budget deficits--not good for stocks and privatization -- Let's talk politics -- Forecasting by the trustees--flaws and recommendations -- Social security around the world -- Some parting thoughts
Summary
At the outset of his second term, President Bush's proposal to partially privatize Social Security has touched off a debate of enormous proportion. Disentangling the rhetoric and hyperbole from fact is essential for anyone trying to evaluate the potential merits or pitfalls of the plan. Leonard and Mark Santow--a father-and-son team who integrate two different political viewpoints (fiscally conservative and socially liberal, respectively)--offer specific recommendations for improving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in socially responsible ways that relieve some of the stress on the middl
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-205) and index
