Imagine a world where an angry blogger has proposed a bill suggesting that the government give Baby Boomers incentives to kill themselves by age 70 to improve our ever-failing Social Security system.
Christopher Buckley enters the world of Cassandra Devine. Starting out in the book as a high school senior, Devine aspires to attend Yale. Once accepted, she finds out her father has spent her tuition money to start up his own dotcom business. After finding out this absurd information, her father suggests that she joins the army due to the fact that she can't attend another college now. She accepts. It doesn't work out.
Ten years later, Devine becomes a part of the "PR" world and hosts a blog on the side dedicated to Social Security reform. After reeling from life and dealing with her 'Boomer' father, she proposes this crazy bill suggesting Baby Boomers off themselves, pardon me, I meant "Voluntary Transitioning" as Devine has coined it. Devine is finally turning into the leader of the younger generation to go against those slacker, worthless, pot-smoking Boomers who happen to be eating up the taxpayers (our generation's) money in Social Security and other expenditures. Through this "Modest Proposal," Devine hopes to raise awareness of the growing epidemic by getting a Senator to back it up in Congress.
Throughout the book we are introduced to very unique characters who represent the U.S. government, a self-centered Senator from Massachusetts, a devious, swearing President, a pro-life preacher, and a few more crazies added to the bunch. All who share hilarious, witty banter with one another from the amazing, satirical mind of Christopher Buckley.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone, it was a real pleasure to read. And if you ever saw the movie "Thank You for Smoking," it just so happens that movie is based on another one of Buckley's books, so if you liked the movie, I recommend looking up Buckley and his other works.
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1 comment:
yeah sydney it's a cool book. but satire points fun at the truth.
buckley's piece, and he's no slouch-hand picked by the malcolm forbes to run Forbes FYI, the style/living/whattodowithallthis money rag of FORBES magazine, as well as all around acclaimed journalist-hits a sore spot with many gen x, gen y, and millenials.
if we are honest with ourselves and the boomers with themselves, we all scratch our heads and say hey he's right.
we founded the American Association of Young People two years ago. Not to recommend boomers off themselves but at least invite us to the table.
how many 25 year olds are in congress? your right! dozens. getting the statesmen his coffee.
taxation without representation.
find out how much the aarp spent on lobbying congress to benefit their 38m member constituency. i'll save u the search. roughly 86m in 2 years. that 86m helped steer almost 7 trillion in tax revenue over 2 years to profit the 50 and over set.
the aayp's function is financial literacy/advocacy. the more members the bigger our power to purchase the more corporations listen the more washington listens. 1,2,3.
please join us. it's free.
www.theaayp.org/join
matt murray
exec director
www.theaayp.org
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