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Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care Reform

Putting Our House in Order: A Guide to Social Security and Health Care ReformAuthors: John B. Shoven, George P. Shultz
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Category: Book

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Seller: betterworldbooks_
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 5 reviews
Sales Rank: 713034

Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.1

ISBN: 0393066029
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.104250973
EAN: 9780393066029
ASIN: 0393066029

Publication Date: April 17, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
A former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and an eminent economist tackle the biggest social issue of our time. Of all the issues swirling around the 2008 election, the staggering projected costs for the upkeep of America's largest entitlement programs—Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—loom with gathering intensity. Government revenues alone cannot solve the problem, but a solution must be found. In this book George P. Shultz and John B. Shoven take a practical—and optimistic—look at the issues at hand, offering an agenda for reform that will make these essential programs solvent. Drawing on a trove of original research, they take stock of the current situation, consider plans on offer from major thinkers in the field, and chart a course toward a system that provides income for the elderly and universal access to health care in ways that are fiscally sound. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to make an informed decision about the country's future.


Customer Reviews:
5 out of 5 stars Very practical solutions to a growing problem!   June 9, 2008
Larry R Frank Sr, MBA, CFP (Rocklin CA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Social Security is an important element for people to maintain their Standard of Individual Living (SOIL). The majority of people rely on Social Security according to the Soc. Sec. Administration (over 50% of income for 54% of married and for 74% of single people comes from Social Security). This book is an important reminder to people why they need to talk to their Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen and ask them to read this book and fix this problem. Even more urgent, is the need to fix the national medical system - yes we already have one! It's called Medicare and Medicaid. If the government can not efficiently run this program (in existence since 1967) how do you think they will run an even larger program? By fixing the existing health care program first through the many proposals in this book, our Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen can demonstrate the country is ready to have an even larger health care system put into place. We the people need to ask our Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen to read this book and consider the proposals it contains - it is in your best interest.

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5 out of 5 stars Non-partisan approach to solving entitlement problem   October 5, 2009
T. J. Lindberg (Ft. Leavenworth, KS)
A must read (which is fairly short) for the lay-person interested in the reform of these massive national entitlement programs, that, if left unchecked, will ruin this nation's economy and standard of living in the not-too-distant future. While I am no expert on entitlement reform, I felt this book (written by a former Reagan cabinet member) was about as non-partisan as you can get (indeed, blatant partisanship in the academic community, to which both of these authors currently belong, detracts from scholarly legitimacy). I believe that their critique of the various reform proposals are sound (albeit perhaps not as detailed as entitlement reform experts would like). Admittedly, they favor market-based solutions, but acknowledge the fundamental objectives that must be achieved by any reform policies.


5 out of 5 stars Everything went great!   August 25, 2008
Ann L. Mackenzie (San Diego, CA USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

My book came very quickly and was in perfect condition. It couldn't have been better!


4 out of 5 stars Thoughtfully Written   August 3, 2008
Great Dane
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

The authors present a realistic and practical plan for improving upon a failing system. Importantly, they also identify ways in which current proposals could be integrated. Essential reading for anyone who cares about this impending problem.


3 out of 5 stars Missing a Link   June 6, 2008
Carlos D. Luria (Salem, SC)
7 out of 11 found this review helpful

A persuasive analysis of the obstacles facing our entitlement programs, with thought-provoking recommendations for sustaining Social Security. However, I found its analysis of our health care system less compelling, as it totally ignored the successful measures implemented by several leading industrialized nations to contain costs, create a uniform health records system and deliver top-notch care to its citizens with little or no co-payments.

The authors virtually ignore the burgeoning costs of pharmaceuticals, do not challenge the canard that these high costs are needed to'fund R&D' nor criticize the hundreds of millions of research dollars diverted instead to TV and print advertising. Switzerland, hardly a second-rate power in the pharmaceuticals development, produces and delivers prescription drugs to its people at a fraction of the US cost. Wee have much that we can learn from our foreign friends, but Sec. Shultz and Dr. Shoven choose to ignore such lessons

The presumption running through this book is that individuals will make the best choices, and that (ugh!)Government should keep its paws off. But personal choices tend to be optimistic and short-term driven, as our appallingly low savings rate proves. In our younger and middle years, millions of us abuse our bodies and skimp on inexpensive preventive care, then expect Medicare to fund the far more costly repairs in our old age. Any solution to our health care crisis must reverse that mindset and require full, public participation, however politically unpopular that may be,


economics  health  health care reform  medicare  social security  
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