Running On Empty : How The Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It by Pete Peterson
Peterson is one of my heroes — an American who believes in country before self and someone who has built a reputation working with both sides of the aisle. this book was truly written for people in my generation — it goes over the major problems in America today (entitlements like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are not sustainable) and details possible scenarios that might happen to the U.S. in the future.
Running On Empty is scary and depressing. it is bleak and stark. it discusses a potential meltdown. but it is also necessary — as its frankness gives readers a true understanding of the perplexing situation that we are in.
Peterson closes the book with some of his recommendations for reform. and here Peterson is most powerful.
unfortunately, i do not believe that our leaders in Washington will own up to their responsibility until a real crisis has emerged — and at that point it might be too late to build a system that takes care to really benefit Americans. but if this book makes people think twice about the future, than it is worth getting it in the hands of every current and future decision maker.
Actually Social Security is in the black until 2057, there’s not really a SS crisis.
Like you, I think Pete Peterson deserves “hero”
status. I’m writing my representatives in Congress and demanding that they read “Running on Empty,” if they haven’t, and tell me what, if anything, they intend to do to influence Congress and the new administration to take action on Peterson’s recommendations or on alternatives seriously designed to prevent meltdown. I hope to push them until I get concrete answers. As Vermont has only two senators and one representative to the House, I’m somewhat optimistic about getting somewhere.