Posted on 01/01/2015 12:46:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
In 1977, William McPherson earned the top honor in the writing world when he was honored with a Pulitzer Prize.
But nearly four decades later, the former Washington Post critic now hovers on the brink of poverty thanks to a failing pension and a bit of bad luck on the stock market.
In a heartbreaking essay for The Hedgehog Review, McPherson describes what it's like to become poor in old age-as part of a overlooked group who are neither middle or lower class.
Former teachers and even lawyers who can't pay their bills but aren't on the streets begging for change.
Surprisingly, he says the experience has been educational and that he still considers himself privileged due to his race.........
...in 1986,when McPherson was in the middle of a leave of absence,the Post asked him to either come back to work or take an early retirement.
'I was fifty-three at the time. I chose retirement because I was under the illusion—perhaps delusion is the more accurate word—that I could make a living as a writer and the Post offered to keep me on their medical insurance program,which at the time was very good and very cheap,'McPherson wrote.
However, that choice proved costly since by the time his pension kicked in at age 65, the money he had saved on the Post's 401(k) plan was half it's worth since it is not adjusted for inflation.
While McPherson's $11,670 income puts him above the poverty line (which last year was a close $11,490), he still considers himself poor'by any rational standard'.
He is forced to live in subsidized housing, with neighbors including a great-grandson of Leo Tolstoy, former lawyers, academics and fellow writers.
The District of Columbia is also subsidizing his medical insurance payments,after a major heart attack left him with astronomical bills.
However, he doesn't blame his misfortune on the economy...
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
He quit work at 53 years old and doesn’t have much retirement.
I’m not judging his life choices, but his situation isn’t surprising, its about what you would expect. You make your decisions and live with them. Its undignified to complain about it afterward.
I guess it never occurred to him to go out and get a job. Whining leftist scum.
Super! Then you'll have lots to talk about, huh?
Not all really “chose” to be in this predicament.
He finds himself caught up in the Big Government vortex (along with “a great-grandson of Leo Tolstoy, former lawyers, academics and fellow writers”). It seems somewhat fitting.
Wikipedia: “William Alexander McPherson was born in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, the third son of Harold Agnew McPherson, an executive of Union Carbide Corporation, and of his wife Ruth Brubaker. He has lived in Washington, DC, or New York City most of his life, and spent several years in Romania. Although he attended the University of Michigan (1951 to 1955), Michigan State University (1956 to 1958), and George Washington University (1960 to 1962), he took a degree from none of them....”
A not so flattering review of his books.
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-26/books/bk-1567_1_novel
Even in his poverty, he doesn't miss the chance to propagandize for his marxist masters, and repeat the slander du jour, like an obedient Beria.
LOL!
True.
You got my reference, did ya?
-PJ
It’s a distinct possibility:)
He is an idiot who by being in the lucky sperm club, lived better than he should have.
Ten years of College for nothing! Never even got an Associates Degree. Must have been some good parties, though.
His own personal Animal House?
His essay (linked above) could be subtitled “act in haste, repent at leisure.” It’s really quite instructive (loosely held together by his underlying liberalism, coupled to his elitism and self righteousness).
Hi,
I have to log off and get to bed but I am so curious: what is the reference? I looked around for it and came up with some odd references to “talk is cheap” (did he actually say something similar to that which led to the current expression?)...
or is this a reference to War and Peace (its length)?
Thanks! And Happy New Year to both of you. :)
LOL, thank you! :)
...in 1986,when McPherson was in the middle of a leave of absence,the Post asked him to either come back to work or take an early retirement. 'I was fifty-three at the time. I chose retirement because I was under the illusion -- perhaps delusion is the more accurate word 00 that I could make a living as a writer and the Post offered to keep me on their medical insurance program,which at the time was very good and very cheap," ...by the time his pension kicked in at age 65, the money he had saved on the Post's 401(k) plan was half it's worth... he still considers himself poor "by any rational standard". He is forced to live in subsidized housing... The District of Columbia is also subsidizing his medical insurance payments...Sounds like it hasn't worked out well for everyone else, but he's doing just fine. DC is not a cheap area in which to live; he was 53 when he retired, did he not figure out that the Compost wasn't employing him enough, and look for work somewhere else? What a loon.
"...Might as well join the #%ing Peace Corps!"
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