Everyone agrees that Social Security's future is in jeopardy--or is
it? Long viewed as the "third rail" of American politics, Social
Security is a major political issue, and many experts and
politicians would like to restructure this program. But too few of
us, young and elderly alike, really understand the origins and
workings of this popular program. Daniel Beland answers the call
for objective information with a short history that provides
context and clarity for the current debates.
Covering six decades through the beginning of the current
century, Beland chronicles how Social Security and the controversy
surrounding its solvency have evolved, offering along the way new
insights into its past, present, and future. His balanced
perspective will help readers understand and evaluate partisan
arguments on both sides of the issue.
Beland reconstructs the political history of Social Security,
describes the impact of subsequent amendments to the original act,
and offers comparative insights from other countries that can
improve our understanding of the debate. He focuses particularly on
the relationship between ideas and institutions in policymaking to
examine the impact of gender and race on Social Security politics;
and he shows that gender has had a more direct impact on Social
Security development--especially regarding spousal benefits--and is
more important in understanding the politics of reform than has
often been understood.
In assessing how Social Security has been sold to the public,
Beland reveals how the 1935 act resulted in part from its link with
the traditional American belief in the values associated with hard
work and self-reliance, while surreptitiously providing some
economic security for the impoverished. Today's privatizers argue
for changing from a guaranteed benefit to a defined contribution
program, seeking to reclaim from liberals the rhetoric about
American values in order to alter the very nature of Social
Security--effectually turning discourse centered on personal and
collective gain against the institutional legacy of the New
Deal.
Succinct and illuminating, Beland's work provides concerned
citizens with a thoughtful exploration of how the politics of
Social Security evolved, while offering scholars new theoretical
insights about the welfare state and the role of ideas and
institutions in policymaking."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
