Boomsday

Boomsday
by Christopher Buckley

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Book Summary Information

Author: Christopher Buckley
Edition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-04-02
ISBN: 0446579815
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Twelve

Book Reviews of Boomsday

Book Review: Savage satire on Social Security
Summary: 5 Stars

Baby Boomers are defined as people (particularly Americans) born between 1946 and 1964, an era when post-WWII and Depression optimism would result in an unusually high amount of births. As of this writing, the oldest Baby Boomers are turning 62 and beginning to qualify for Social Security. As the years go by, the Social Security system will be burdened like never before. Economically, if not dealt with, it could be doomsday, or as Christopher Buckley calls it in his sharp satire, Boomsday.

The near-future United States of Buckley's novel is a country with problems: the economy is seriously floundering and the military is stretched to the point that small countries are declaring war with the U.S. just because they can get away with it. Adding to all this, Baby Boomers are demanding their Social Security payments, leading to a heavy tax burden on younger adults. Cassandra Devine, a public relations wizard by day, runs a blog in her off-hours dedicated to this problem.

At first, her followers indulge in minor rebellions such as destroying golf courses, but soon they are endorsing her modest proposal. With the proper tax breaks, if a portion of the Boomers can be convinced to commit suicide at age 70, the financial crisis will be averted. At first this is considered a nutty idea, but then Cass's friend, the Kennedyesque Senator Randy Jepperson embraces the idea as his opportunity to make it to the Oval Office. Of course, there are plenty of opponents, from the current President to a right-to-life minister to Cass's own estranged father.

As with the best satire, Boomstown is as thought-provoking as it is funny. While few would embrace Cass's solution (even she doesn't; she is really just trying to create debate), it does promote an awareness of a problem in a way that dry economic reports and empty political slogans come short. But most importantly, Boomstown is fun to read. And by succeeding at that level, any provoking-of-thought is a pure bonus.

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Summary of Boomsday

Outraged over the mounting Social Security debt, Cassandra Devine, a charismatic 29-year-old blogger and member of Generation Whatever, incites massive cultural warfare when she politely suggests that Baby Boomers be given government incentives to kill themselves by age 75. Her modest proposal catches fire with millions of citizens, chief among them "an ambitious senator seeking the presidency." With the help of Washington's greatest spin doctor, the blogger and the politician try to ride the issue of euthanasia for Boomers (called "transitioning") all the way to the White House,
over the objections of the Religious Right, and of course, the Baby Boomers, who are deeply offended by demonstrations on the golf courses of their retirement
resorts.

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