U.S.News & World Report (12 June 2006)

80 Pages·2006·7.56 MB·English

by  June 12, 2006-Annual Retirement Guide. Seven Reasons Not To Retire. U.S. News & World Report

How to Shop Smart for Organic Foods
JUNE 12, 2006
Annual Retirement Guide
SEVEN REASONS
NOT
TO RETIRE
Why continuing to work
can improve your health,
mental sharpness--even
your marriage
$3.99 U.S. / $4.99 CANADA
www.usnews.com
J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 0 6 V o l u m e 1 4 0 , N u m b e r 2 2
ANN STATES FOR USN&WR
Letters 6
Readers on The Da Vinci Code, President
Bush, a lifesaving story, and hearing aids
One Week 10
The nasty turn of events in Afghanistan and
Iraq suggests a politics of the damned
Washington Whispers 12
Hastert is the principal of Congress; Taylor
Hicks is the East and West Wing idol; Bill
Clinton is bowling in Harlem
White House Week 14
Give the prez his props re: Iran “test”; “Hire
me, I’m about to be an ex-GOP staffer”
Cross Country 18
This just in: Hoffa still missing! Also: a beach
for the Hudson River; betting on storms
The World 20
The West gives Iran a choice about nuclear
fuel; Syria’s ruler is just like daddy; Jordan’s
women are . . . pro-being beaten?
Datebook 22
In the week ahead: Happy Throne Day, Thai
king! Happy Kickoff, World Cup! Happy
Faith Fest, Episcopal Clergy!
Q&A: Gordon Wood 26
The Founding Fathers were “unabashed
elitists” and proud of it, according to the
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian COVER STORY
NATION & WORLD Retirement? Fuhgeddaboudit 43
Admit it. Golf doesn’t really hold that much allure. Soaking up the sun day after day
Blowback in Iraq 27 in Florida? Nah. What really gets you going in the morning is heading to work. And
Reports of civilian killings by U.S. soldiers there are plenty of reasons to stay gainfully employed.
are shrouded by the fog of war. If the charges
are true, the fallout could be devastating
LUCIAN READ—WPN AFP / GETTY IMAGES
A Leaker’s Lament 29
On the 35th anniversary of the Pentagon 27
Papers, Daniel Ellsberg reflects on White
House–press antagonism, then and now
Grim Zimbabwe 32
Six million local dollars barely buys a bag
of groceries. Blame the president’s misrule
for the nation’s economic death spiral
Michael Barone: How George Bush Has
Changed Foreign Policy 36
SPECIAL REPORT
China’s Fuel Menu 37
The emerging industrial giant is cutting oil
deals with rogue regimes, building nuclear
reactors, and setting some of the world’s
most aggressive renewable-energy policies
ROBBIE MCCLARAN FOR USN&WR
MONEY & BUSINESS: RETIREMENT GUIDE
55
7 Reasons Why Working Longer
Could Be Better for You 43
Money Can Almost Buy Happiness 44
Holding a job pays in more ways than one
You’ll Be Very Popular 46
Firms may face a shortage of qualified staff
Your Brain and Body Will Benefit 48
Unless the job is too stressful (or too dull)
Your Marriage May Profit 50
A little less togetherness can be a good thing
You’ll Miss Your Pesky E-mails 52
Really. They keep you connected
You Get to Try Something New 55
Buy that mustang (horse or car) you crave PETER ESSICK—AURORA
You Can Be a Do-Gooder 58
A meaningful job is a plus for you and society
HEALTH & MEDICINE
Even Wal-Mart Is Organic 62
But what does the label really mean?
The $24,506 Heart Bypass 65
Medicare reveals the cost of care
Violence Interrupted 67
To medical maverick Gary Slutkin, giving
up guns is a lot like swearing off smoking
Bernadine Healy, M.D.: Birthing by
Appointment Is In, But Is It Wise? 70
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: The Income
Gap Is Growing Wider 72 62
MARK LEONG—REDUX FOR USN&WR
32 37
C33771C © 2006 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association -College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA -CREF). 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.*Helman, R., Salisbury, D., Paladino, V., Copeland, C., “Retirement Confidence Survey – 2005 Results” EBRI Issue Brief #280 (2005): 15.
J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 0 6 V o l u m e 1 4 0 , N u m b e r 2 2
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Please, Cut
America’s Best
Leaders. A robot
My Bloated queen, the
founders of
CEO Pay! Google, and two
visionary educa-
OK, it hasn’t quite come to tors are among the leaders
that. Company heads aren’t profiled.
pleading for punier compensa- www.usnews.com/leaders
tion packages. But in fact, the
business world is taking steps E-Learning. Learn from your
to reform multimillion-dollar laptop using our directory of
executive packages. online courses, certificates,
www.usnews.com/ceopay and degrees.
www.usnews.com/elearning
College Loan Alert
You have till June 30 to poten- Hospital Directory. Review facts
tially save thousands on feder- and figures on more than
al education loans through 6,000 hospitals in our U.S.
consolidation. Consoli-what- News/American Hospital Asso-
shun, you say? Do not be con- ciation National Directory,
fused. Our Paying for College which lets you search by any
section tells you all you need combination of location, hospi-
to know to save some dough. tal type, and services offered.
www.usnews.com/ www.usnews.com/hospitals
payingforcollege
Barone Blog.
A Renter’s Best Friend Columnist Michael
Give a big neighborly “hey” to Best Health They’re Unboring Barone has a job in
renter’s insurance, a relatively Our expanded section has the Commencement talks are not mind for first
inexpensive way to protect your latest information on over 30 designed to put you to sleep. brother Jeb Bush
laptop, your coffee maker, and diseases and conditions, from Career coach Marty Nemko of- plus free advice about Iraq,
other belongings in case of fire, cancer to diabetes to heart fers gems from Apple’s Steve Iran, immigration, and other
flood, or theft. problems, plus in-depth cov- Jobs and the New York Times’s top topics. How can you afford
www.usnews.com/renters erage of avian flu, health in- Thomas Friedman. not to check him out?
surance, emergency prepared- www.usnews.com/career www.usnews.com/baroneblog
Accent vs. Cobalt
ness, and other pressing
The Chevy Cobalt is plucky and
medical matters. Washington Whis-
perky. The new Hyundai Ac-
www.usnews.com/health pers Poll. How do
cent: not so much. But when you think ex-
Rick Newman’s brain reasserts Late…or Early? Today show host
itself over his fun instinct, the Yes, you are officially too late Katie Couric will
Accent seems like a pretty to apply to grad school for fare as new anchor for the
smart economy car. fall. But you could be in the CBS Evening News? She’ll be
www.usnews.com/auto vanguard of those aiming for there longer than Dan Rather
September of ’07. Spend the (only she’ll never go gray);
summer absorbing our info on Intern, Fetch Coffee her ratings will be No. 1 from
programs that will turn you Advice for high schoolers the start; Couric will flame
into a doctor, lawyer, or busi- about wise ways to spend the out in a year and join former
ness chief, not to mention summer (while impressing the cohost Bryant Gumbel in
teacher or physical therapist. college of their choice). obscurity.
www.usnews.com/gradarticles www.usnews.com/kingsbury www.usnews.com/wwpoll
Copyright © 2006, by U.S.News & World Report Inc. All rights reserved. U.S.News & World Report (ISSN 0041-5537) is published weekly with combined issues on January 30, July 3, August 14, and December 25 by U.S.News & World Report Inc., 450 W. 33rd Street,
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C33771C © 2006 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Letters
Krakatoa:
not be ignored. Jewish followers of
Volcano of Destruction Da Vinci Coda
Jesus did not consider him divine.
this letter is regarding your Luke 24 and Acts 2–4 show this clear-
Discover more at
story “Debating ‘Da Vinci’ ” [May 22]. I ly. Moreover, no Jew would have at-
love reading articles about Dan Brown’s tributed divinity to another Jew. But
usnews.com/discovery:
book The Da Vinci Code because I always the Jewish followers of Jesus were dis-
get a good laugh. As a 17-year-old, I can persed with the rest of the Jewish
Q Learn Krakatoa’s clearly distinguish fact from fiction, while population after the destruction of
adults twice my age are having a bit of Jerusalem and the Temple and were
background
trouble doing so. I understand the drama superseded by the Hellenistic Greeks
behind The Da Vinci Code and its message, and Romans who joined the new move-
Q Access U.S. News’ and I understand that in no substantial ment. For them, having a son of God
volcano archives way are most of Brown’s theories true. was commonplace; men from Achilles
What I am in the dark to Augustus were hailed
about, however, is why so as divine.
Q Explore interactive many people are outraged Ignacio L. Gotz, Ph.D.
and intent on suffocating Stessin Distinguished
features
the imagination. Brown’s Professor Emeritus
novel deserves credit as a New College of Hofstra
Q See the trailer fictitious account of inter- University
esting events that keeps Hempstead, N.Y.
the reader involved and
Q Sign up for
wondering what will hap- would having a wife
show reminders pen next. and children make Jesus
Kori Bielaniec less divine? I think it of-
Livonia, Mich. fers the greatest hope to
Q Talk about it
people: that the divine can
in the forum “debating ‘da vinci’ ” exist alongside or within
reminded me of British the human. It’s not about
writer Salman Rushdie pulling Jesus down to a
Immerse yourself in who, because of his fictional The Satan- human level but about finding the miracu-
the eruption felt ic Verses, was put on a death list by Iran- lous within.
ian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomei- Ali Ruegamer
around the World in ni. And now some Christians feel insulted Rainier, Wash.
Krakatoa: and threatened by The Da Vinci Code.
There’s no doubt that religious institu-
Volcano of Destruction tions can serve their followers by better Standing With Bush
educating them. Nonetheless, they “w’s risks and rewards” [may 22]
Premiering Sunday, should not fear imaginary tales. Wouldn’t mischaracterizes my reasons for not at-
true believers of any religion be able to tending events with President Bush in
June 11th at 9pm ET/PT
distinguish between truth and fiction? Florida recently. When the president
on Discovery Channel Murray Shabestari landed in Orlando, I was there to greet
Rochester, Minn. him and had every intention of attend-
ing the Medicare event scheduled the
i was impressed by the balanced following day. It was not until the Ju-
cover article “Debating ‘Da Vinci.’ ” The diciary Committee informed me that
beliefs espoused by Dan Brown’s char- my vote was needed to secure passage
acters are offensive to some Christians. of the Voting Rights Act that I changed
But if Jesus is “the truth,” as he claimed my travel plans. In addition, the House
(John 14:6), we need not fear honest in- was considering such important legis-
quiry or even skeptical views. To engage lation as the tax reconciliation bill to
seekers and cynics is welcome and may maintain our economic growth and the
have positive, eternal ramifications defense authorization bill to fund our
never anticipated by Brown or his fans. brave troops. I suspect my constituents
Robert Dibbs would want their representative pres-
Marblehead, Mass. ent to vote on such critical legislation.
While you correctly characterized my
it would be very unusual for negative feelings on Congress, it is im-
Jesus to have been unmarried. Paul portant to make clear that I am always
would have mentioned Jesus as a willing to stand shoulder to shoulder
prime example of celibacy in 1 with the president.
Corinthians 7:25–26. On the other Tom Feeney
hand, the references to Jesus’s close re- Member of Congress
lationship with Mary Magdalene are 24th District
numerous and consistent and should Orlando
–
Kra•ka•toa (kra-k -’to- )
1. Volcanic eruption in 1883 that spawned the loudest
sound ever heard and rained ash on cities 700 miles away.
2. Volcanic eruption that will happen again.
Krakatoa: Volcano of Destruction Sunday, June 11, 9pm e/p
®
LET’S ALL DISCOVER HOW HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
discovery.com/krakatoa
e e
©2006 DCI