Duringthepastgeneration,theAmericanmiddle-classfamilythatoncecouldcountonhardworkandfairplaytokeepitselffinanciallysecurehasbeentransformedbyeconomicriskandnewrealities.Nowapinkslip,abaddiagnosis,oradisappearingspousecanreduceafamilyfromsolidlymiddleclasstonewlypoorinafewmonths. Injustonegeneration,millionsofmothershavegonetowork,transformingbasicfamilyeconomics.Scholars,policymakers,andcriticsofallstripeshavedebatedthesocialimplicationsofthesechanges,butfewhavelookedatthesideeffect:familyriskhasrisenaswell.Today'sfamilieshavebudgetedtothelimitsoftheirnewtwo-paycheckstatus.Asaresult,theyhavelosttheparachutetheyoncehadintimesoffinancialsetback-aback-upearner(usuallyMom)whocouldgointotheworkforceiftheprimaryearnergotlaidofforfellsick.This"added-workereffect"couldsupportthesafetynetofferedbyunemploymentinsuranceordisabilityinsurancetohelpfamiliesweatherbadtimes.Buttoday,adisruptiontofamilyfortunescannolongerbemadeupwithextraincomefromanotherwise-stay-at-homepartner. Duringthesameperiod,familieshavebeenaskedtoabsorbmuchmoreriskintheirretirementincome.Steelworkers,airlineemployees,andnowthoseintheautoindustryarejoiningmillionsoffamilieswhomustworryaboutinterestrates,stockmarketfluctuation,andtheharshrealitythattheymayoutlivetheirretirementmoney.Formuchofthepastyear,PresidentBushcampaignedtomoveSocialSecuritytoasaving-accountmodel,withretireestradingmuchoralloftheirguaranteedpaymentsforpaymentsdependingoninvestmentreturns.Foryoungerfamilies,thepictureisnotanybetter.Boththeabsolutecostofhealthcareandtheshareofitbornebyfamilieshaverisen--andnewlyfashionablehealth-savingsplansarespreadingfromlegislativehallstoWalMartworkers,withmuchhigherdeductiblesandalargenewdoseofinvestmentriskforfamilies'futurehealthcare.Evendemographicsareworkingagainstthemiddleclassfamily,astheoddsofhavingaweakelderlyparent--andalltheattendantneedforphysicalandfinancialassistancehavejumpedeightfoldinjustonegeneration. Fromthemiddle-classfamilyperspective,muchofthis,understandably,looksfarlesslikeanopportunitytoexercisemorefinancialresponsibility,andagooddealmorelikeafrighteningaccelerationofthewholesaleshiftoffinancialriskontotheiralreadyoverburdenedshoulders.Thefinancialfallouthasbegun,andthepoliticalfalloutmaynotbefarbehind． AsaresultofPresidentBush'sreform,retiredpeoplemayhave__
A.a higher sense of security B.less secured payments C.less chance to invest D.a guaranteed future正确答案B
