Full Description
Social Security is arguably the most successful social program in American history. It, along with Medicare and Workers Compensation, is the foundation of economic and health security for the elderly, people with disabilities, women, minorities and, indeed, all American wage earners and families. By spreading financial risk over a large pool of people, these programs collectively known as social insurance - offer all of us protection against life's difficulties.Despite widespread reliance on these programs, many business and political interests have engaged in a concerted, decades-long campaign to undermine confidence in them. Today, a large proportion of Americas young people are convinced that Social Security will not be there for them when they retire. As a result, younger Americans are more likely to see radical changes as necessary reforms. In addition, institutionalized ageism makes teaching about issues such as Social Security and Medicare problematic since young people feel distanced from older adults and their concerns.""Social Insurance, Social Justice, and Social Change"" offers such a resource. Featuring the voices of esteemed scholars from a wide cross-section of disciplines including gerontology, public health, social work, sociology, political science, and more, this comprehensive volume reviews the history of social programs and provides a framework for understanding current policy debates. Throughout, it explores social insurance programs and their relation to social inequality and social justice.
