{"product_id":"the-peoples-pension-the-struggle-to-defend-social-security-since-reagan-9781849351010","title":"The People's Pension: The Struggle to Defend Social Security Since Reagan","description":"\u003cp\u003eReaders mystified by the yawning gulf between public opinion and current political discussion might benefit from the background provided in Eric Laursen's magisterial history, 'The People's Pension: The Struggle to Defend Social Security Since Reagan' The book offers more than 800 pages of fascinating if gory details about the lobbying efforts and misinformation campaigns aimed at bringing the program down.--Nancy Folbre, NYTimes Economix Blog\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Laursen has given us a comprehensive account of the three decade long war against Social Security. . . . This is a fascinating history that progressives must learn, not only to protect Social Security but also to understand the dynamics behind an effective long-term strategy.\"--Dean Baker, author of \u003ci\u003eFalse Profits: Recovering From the Bubble Economy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This magnificent history documents the hydra-headed campaign to cut and kill Social Security, conducted over decades by rightwing bankers, foundations, economists, and politicians.  \u003ci\u003eThe People's Pension\u003c\/i\u003e] is utterly urgent.\"--James K. Galbraith, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Predator State\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe People's Pension\u003c\/i\u003e is both groundbreaking history and an indispensable guide for anyone concerned about one of the biggest issues in the upcoming election. With 95 percent of Americans participating in the program either as beneficiaries or through their payroll tax contributions, Social Security is quite literally the \"glue\" that binds Americans together as a community. Yet in the aftermath of the debt reduction deal between Barack Obama and congressional Republicans, the 2012 election promises to be a kind of referendum on the size and role of government--including economic support programs like Social Security. Arguing to democratize, not disable, the program, Eric Laursen suggests that the only solution for Social Security is taking it out of the government's hands altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEric Laursen\u003c\/b\u003e is an independent financial and political journalist, activist, and commentator. The co-founder and former managing editor of \u003ci\u003ePlan Sponso\u003c\/i\u003er, a magazine for pension fund executives, Laursen is also the co-author of \u003ci\u003eUnderstanding the Crash\u003c\/i\u003e (2010). His work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including The Huffington Post, \u003ci\u003eThe Nation\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eInstitutional Investor\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Village Voice\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eInvestment Dealer's Digest\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-4881607\"\u003eEric Laursen\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e AK Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/29\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 750\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.70lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 2.40d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781849351010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1849351015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-POL\"\u003ePolitical Science\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-POL027000\"\u003ePublic Policy | Social Security\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-HIS\"\u003eHistory\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-HIS036060\"\u003eUnited States | 20th Century\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-HIS\"\u003eHistory\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-HIS036070\"\u003eUnited States | 21st Century\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEric Laursen\u003c\/b\u003e, born 1960, is an independent financial and political journalist, activist, and commentator. A native of San Francisco and graduate of Columbia University in New York (B.A. in History, Master's in International Affairs), he began his journalistic career as a reporter for \u003ci\u003eWall Street Letter\u003c\/i\u003e, a weekly newsletter for the financial services industry. He later worked for a succession of publications: as a staff writer for \u003ci\u003eCorporate Finance Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e; editor of \u003ci\u003eAsset International\u003c\/i\u003e, a weekly newsletter for international investment firms; and as co-founder and managing editor of \u003ci\u003ePlan Sponsor\u003c\/i\u003e, the leading monthly magazine for North American pension executives. It was there he became interested in the debate over Social Security. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn independent journalist since 2000, Eric has written for publications ranging from \u003ci\u003eZ Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Nation\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eInstitutional Investor\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCFO\u003c\/i\u003e. His specializations are national politics, retirement and aging, global trade, U.S. fiscal policy, social services, business and financial services, civil liberties, and alternative economics. He has also written on anarchist theory, practice, and history for a variety of publications.","brand":"AK Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44575084249325,"sku":"9781849351010","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_e64a68a3-2094-4c7e-bd58-9da292da7810.jpg?v=1701992991","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/the-peoples-pension-the-struggle-to-defend-social-security-since-reagan-9781849351010","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}