The battle for social security : from FDR's vision to Bush's gamble / Nancy J. Altman

Includes bibliographical references (pages 355-356) and index

Social security's grandfather -- Essential insurance, poor welfare -- Bold woman, cautious men -- A teeny-weeny bit of socialism -- Dirty tricks -- Ready, set, start again -- Third time's the charm -- All American program (minus a tiny splinter group) -- Visible gains, subterranean tremors -- The sky is falling and social security is bust -- Aging gracefully -- A Leninist strategy -- The drumbeat finds a drummer -- The ideal, pain-free (for almost everyone) way to strengthen social security

This book illuminates the politics and policy of the current struggle over Social Security in light of the program's compelling history and ingenious structure. After a brief introduction describing the dramatic response of the Social Security Administration to the 9/11 terrorist attack, the book recounts Social Securityâ??s lively history. Although President Bush has tried to convince Americans that Social Security is designed for the last century and unworkable for an aging population, readers will see that the President's assault is just another battle in a longstanding ideological war. Prescott Bush, the current Presidentâ??s grandfather, remarked of FDR, "The only man I truly hated lies buried in Hyde Park." The book traces the continuous thread leading from Prescott Bush and his contemporaries to George W. Bush and others who want to undo Social Security. The book concludes with policy recommendations which eliminate Social Security's deficit in a manner consistent with the program's philosophy and structure.