AARP slammed for not fighting Social Security cuts

[Sevareid]

AARP, the powerful lobby for older Americans, was hammered Friday by fellow activists for refusing to oppose any and all cuts to Social Security benefits.

More... ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Xena]

AARP showed their (its?) true colors over Medicare part D. I left it then.

[Schneibster]

That piece of propaganda showed its' (its?) colors by claiming "any and all."

I'm not old enough to be eligible to join yet; I'll be making a judgment call when I am. The AARP needs to do a lot of work to convince me they're worth joining.

[webhead]

AARP showed their (its?) true colors over Medicare part D. I left it then.

I happen to have saved an article about this:

excerpts:


AARP Faces Rebellion Within on Medicare


AP Top News At 2:25 p.m. EST

By MARTIN FINUCANE
Associated Press Writer

November 26, 2003, 2:18 PM EST


BOSTON -- Senior citizens angry over the AARP's endorsement of the Medicare bill are ripping up or burning their AARP membership cards and flooding the lobbying group's Internet message board with complaints in what could be the biggest revolt in its ranks since the 1980s.

Many fear the Republican-backed bill approved by Congress on Tuesday will harm senior citizens, and they say the AARP -- the nation's most influential retiree lobby, with 35 million members -- sold them out.

The bill "destroys one of the most successful programs in the history of this country," Isaac Ben Ezra, president of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, said as he led a demonstration of about 40 people here against the bill Monday. "Shame, AARP."

John Rother, policy director at AARP, said Tuesday that the bill was not perfect, but it was a step forward, and the organization will continue to try to improve the law.

"We were either going to get something now or else it wasn't going to happen for many, many years to come," he said.

Rother estimated that, as of Monday, 3,000 to 4,000 AARP members had canceled their memberships.

Julia Kayser, 76, of Easthampton, N.Y., the president of a local AARP chapter, said that during a recent visit to a senior center, where she serves lunch as a volunteer, she told people they ought to quit the AARP.

"A lot of people will not renew their membership when it comes due," said.

Card-burnings and protests were also reported in such places as Washington, D.C., Webster Groves, Mo., and San Francisco.

"We don't think AARP in the least represents seniors on this issue," said Bruce Livingston, executive director of Senior Action Network in the San Francisco area. "We're going to encourage people to quit. This is just the beginning."

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[big sky brad]

That piece of propaganda showed its' (its?) colors by claiming "any and all."

I'm not old enough to be eligible to join yet; I'll be making a judgment call when I am. The AARP needs to do a lot of work to convince me they're worth joining.
You can join AARP when you turn 50.

[big sky brad]

One of the things that ticked me off was when the President of AARP said that they have always held the view that Social Security must be reformed (cut).
Which is a total lie.
I imagine that President will be forced to resign before the summer is over.

[SubstituteTeacher]

The AARP is a special interest group that operates in it's own interest. They have a strong lobby but care nothing for the senior citizens in this country.

[webhead]

They care about $$$! I wonder what the top executives earn each year from selling memberships and insurance?

[Schneibster]

You can join AARP when you turn 50.Yep.

[Schneibster]

AARP is an insurance company.