The New Politics of Old Age Policy

by Robert B. Hudson (Editor)

As the aging population of the United States continues to increase, age-related policies have come under intense scrutiny and have sparked heated debates. This revised and updated edition of The New Politics of Old Age Policy explains the politics behind the country’s age-based programs, describes how those programs work, and assesses how well—or poorly—they meet the growing and changing needs of older Americans. The chapters address theoretical approaches to age-based policy; population dynamics and the impact of growing diversity within the older population; and national, state, and local political issues associated with major age-based programs. The contributors are leading experts whose essays range across disciplines, including political science, sociology, law, social work, social welfare, and gerontology. More than any other source, this book presents the most current information on growing older in the United States, including detailed analyses of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, housing initiatives, the Older Americans Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and tax policy. Christina M. Andrews, M.S.W., University of Chicago; Jeffrey A. Burr, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts–Boston; Andrea Louise Campbell, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Caroline Cicero, M.P.L., University of Southern California; Kerstin Gerst, Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch; Judith G. Gonyea, Ph.D., Boston University School of Social Work; Colleen M. Grogan, Ph.D., University of Chicago; Madonna Harrington Meyer, Ph.D., Syracuse University; Christopher Howard, Ph.D., The College of William and Mary; Ryan King, S.B., Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Denver, Colorado; Sandra R. Levitsky, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Frederick R. Lynch, Ph.D., Claremont McKenna College; Laurie A. McCann, J.D., AARP Foundation Litigation, Washington, D.C.; Kimberly J. Morgan, Ph.D., The George Washington University; Jan E. Mutchler, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts–Boston; John Myles, Ph.D., University of Toronto; Christy M. Nishita, Ph.D., University of Hawaii; Jon Pynoos, Ph.D., University of Southern California; Richard A. Settersten, Jr., Ph.D., Oregon State University; Molly E. Trauten, M.G.S., Oregon State University; Cathy Ventrell-Monsees, J.D., Attorney, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Janet M. Wilmoth, Ph.D., Syracuse University

Genres: Textbooks

392 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2005

Reviews

[Cary Giese]

Kicking the can down the road is the political mantra when politicians are faced with population aging issues!

This book provides a great history of the aging population debate! But it also points out that the debate is changing as demographics are changing! People are living longer, woman have entered the workforce, birth rates are down, unions are weaker, ethnic diversity is growing, pensions are less prevalent, there are more divorces, the small town farm based communities are no longer the norm. long term care, Alzheimer’s increases, and assumptions about how this care will be provided and paid for! All these changes create a dynamics different from when current policies were first formed. Besides the dynamic changing situation, current policy is a citadel of precedent. Hence can-kicking!

Some observations:
-The social security trust fund is fully funded until 2033.
-Elderly say, “don’t touch my benefits. I paid for them!”
-Young say, “yeah but, will they be there for me? Who’ll be paying for me! And,... I’ll be living longer too!”
-People-are-living-longer! In the US by 2040, 20% will be over 65 (80M people) and 3.5% will be over 85 (14.2M people)
-Payments are raised 2.8% as a cost-of-living adjustment per year.

Ideas to solve problems:
-Raise social security taxes
-Raise retirement age
-Means test benefit payments or tax payments
-Privatization of Social Security, Medicare, etc.

But elderly vote!,... and these solutions are not popular with them!

Further, the ballooning federal deficit and negative economic growth impacts are constraints on doing anything, or even on doing nothing!

Clearly, early action will be less painful than addressing the pending crisis later, but will we act?

Read the book to understand the changes pending. It provides insights into possibilities! It may help to develop ideas/solutions in time! But it’s complicated! Don’t wait too long!

Leadership will be needed!