Read Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality Audible Audio Edition Katherine S Newman Karen White a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books
Download As PDF : Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality Audible Audio Edition Katherine S Newman Karen White a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books
Retirement insecurity is an increasingly serious manifestation of the vast inequality that risks destroying the social fabric in America. The nearly inevitable consequence of lifetime wage discrepancies, security in retirement is linked to the kinds of jobs we hold during our work lives. That, in turn, is a product of all the forces leading to historic levels of inequality, forces that have protected the very wealthy, destroyed any hold on stability for the poor, and gradually eroded the security of the vast middle class.Â
The problem of inequality has moved from an academic preoccupation to a growing theme in national and local politics. The election of Bill Di Blasio in New York was the first real political victory that owes itself to citizens demanding a reversal of inequality. It has been an underlying them in the Democratic presidential debates, a motif for the Hillary Clinton campaign and a pronounced feature of Bernie Sanders' bid. This attention is not an accident. When members of Congress returned to their districts to test out messages for upcoming elections, the one issue that resonated among their publics was "do something about retirement."
Read Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality Audible Audio Edition Katherine S Newman Karen White a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books
"The book was interesting to see the demographics problems of the United States aging population. Examples and life stories brought the book to life ... the read would have been more interesting if Ms. Newman could have shown some potential solutions by adapting how other nations are dealing with the same problem (which she does in her last chapter) into the narrative."
Product details
|
Tags : Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality (Audible Audio Edition) Katherine S. Newman, Karen White, a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books, ,Katherine S. Newman, Karen White, a division of Recorded Books HighBridge,Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality,HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books,B07MSB3S85
Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality Audible Audio Edition Katherine S Newman Karen White a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books Reviews :
Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality Audible Audio Edition Katherine S Newman Karen White a division of Recorded Books HighBridge Books Reviews
- The book was interesting to see the demographics problems of the United States aging population. Examples and life stories brought the book to life ... the read would have been more interesting if Ms. Newman could have shown some potential solutions by adapting how other nations are dealing with the same problem (which she does in her last chapter) into the narrative.
- The book put me to sleep .
- "Here be dragons."
Well, apparently the maps didn't actually say that; nor does this book. But Newman may as well, as she painstakingly researches and presents multiple forces conspiring to create precarity for those seeking to retire in the US.
As a person approaching retirement age but working on a new career, I feel vindicated in doing so. If a bit depressed about the dim prospects for current and prospective retirees.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. - The prospect of a comfortable retirement has, unfortunately, become an increasingly elusive dream and it is Downhill from Here.
In 2017, less than half of US employers provided a company-sponsored retirement plan. Even employees who thought they were covered have lost their retirement to bankruptcy and recent changes in the law allowing companies to renege on their agreements. Employees must increasing rely on their own 401(k) investments and the uncertain future of social security.
While Downhill from Here does look at how other countries deal with retirement, there are no non-socialist solutions presented in the book. Also, the book only skims over how much worse the retirement prospects are for generation Y, millenials and older Generation X employees. Between no pensions and ballooning student debt, the author could write an entire book focusing on them.
Working for county government, many of the takeaways described in the book have already been done to us. We have a two-tier retirement system. We were forced to pay more of the employer’s share for the same benefit about ten years ago. However, I’m just grateful we have a pension at all.
Downhill from Here explores an important subject. It is recommended reading for those within 5-15 years from retirement. 4 stars.
Thanks to Metropolitan Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. - There’s no shortage of big issues to worry about from global climate change to terrorism. For a sober reality check on the inability of most Americans to ever stop working before death, read Katherine S. Newman’s book titled, Downhill from Here Retirement Insecurity in the Age of Inequality. Most Americans over age 55 have no retirement savings. The financial crisis wiped out home equity for many. Social Security will cover a little over a third of pre-retirement income. Pensions have either been diminished or eliminated. What’s at the bottom of the hill of aging? Poverty. Newman tells a lot of personal stories that pack a wallop in this book, especially of those people who thought they were doing the right things and now face the reality that promises made to them have been broken. Readers interested in public policy, especially those who would like to retire one day should consider reading this book and gaining a sober reality check about the future.
Rating Four-star (I like it) - Once upon a time, in the United States, pensions guaranteed people could retire secure in the fact their income would cover their living expenses. As a result of policies over the last 40 years, that shifted wealth away from the working classes and toward the most affluent, reliable retirement income is now merely a fairy tale. The poor fare even worse. This book traces the decline in pensions and retirement programs for union, blue-collar, and local/state government workers, and looks at the living conditions of our poorest citizens in older age. Ensuring a safe and secure retirement is as much, if not more, a moral dilemma as a financial one. Mindsets about the inherent worth of a people who are poor, only exacerbate the problem. Chapter 6 reports on the abhorrent living conditions of poor citizens in Opelousas, Louisiana, where the income inequality gap is among the widest in the country, where 28% older citizens live in poverty. As the author reflects, “’Coddling the poor,†is not the Louisiana way.†An important read! #NetGalley
- A few of the cases presented in this book are worthy of close examination, and perhaps represent situations where Americans can justifiably be called 'victims'. However, in general the author fails to carefully distinguish between Americans who are victims and Americans who are authors of their own fate.
- Poor attempt at sounding unbiased. Yes, the demographics were correct in large numbers but the authors fail to mention the consistent exceptions as to why so many succeed at retirement in spite of lower lifetime incomes or why higher income earns are ill prepared for retirement. Whether one spends less than they earn, has children after marriage and stays married to one spouse accurately predicts if a household lives in poverty or not. Poverty is the basis for retirement failure.
