AARP DROPS OPPOSITION TO SOCIAL SECURITY CUTS

AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans, is dropping its longstanding opposition to cutting Social Security benefits, The Wall Street Journal reports, a move that could rock Washington's debate over how to revamp the nation's entitlement programs. The decision, which AARP hasn't discussed publicly, came after a wrenching debate inside the organization.

http://inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/17/what-were-watching-friday-june-17-2011-aarp-says-ok-to-cut-social-security-greek-cabinet-reshuffles-syria-may-feel-pressure/

and that is justified.

I don't plan to renew my membership!

depravity. :patriot:

http://twitter.com/#!/AARP


AARP spokeswoman: "Stay tuned--our position has not changed on Social Security."

We remain committed to #protectseniors against harmful cuts to #SocialSecurity. Stay tuned...we're fighting for you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/aarp-social-security_n_878966.html

You can't have it both ways

AARP Official AARP Tweets:

We will continue to protect this bedrock of lifetime financial security for all generations of Americans.
2 minutes ago

We urge elected officials to address #SocialSecurity’s long-term challenges in a way that’s fair for all generations.
18 minutes ago



http://twitter.com/#!/AARP

House Republicans seek IRS probe of AARP - March 30, 2011

http://www.keprtv.com/news/national/118934774.html

saying they are open to benefit cuts. It sounds like they want things both ways. It can't be like that. AARP wants to to be in the inner circle with the White House and back door decision makers and they can get there by supporting benefit cuts. They got caught.

Maybe at one time AARP really was an advocate for seniors, but all I see is marketing and mailing lists. "When I heard this plan (insurance) was endorsed by AARP, I said, sign me up!"

Who are protected from any cuts. People like me, who are only 49, don't count because we are not members of AARP. The leadership expects that in 10-15 years, younger people will forget how they got screwed with the blessing of AARP, or, they will join anyway for the discounts and for the fact that the group that screwed you ten years ago is now in your corner.

Plus, it may be kind of a wash. If they oppose this plan, they could lose some of their wealthier members.

They don't sell insurance or products.

They opposed all the disastrastous MMA "reforms" to Medicare and are speaking out against AARP.

www.ncpssm.org

They also have a pretty active facebook community: www.facebook.com/nationalcommittee

Full disclosure, I'm a member :)

we have to cut somewhere. We can't simply raise the income cap.... that would be too simple!

We have to rein in any spending on old people.... or young people, for that matter... so the richest 1% can get bigger yachts.

This country is so Fucked!

But I was going to. Now, I figure they can to to hell.

I hope Betty White tells them to take a leap at the moon, too.

I'm 52. I get a mailer from them every month telling me why I need to join. Fuck them. It looks like I won't be getting my SS OR Medicare now. Thanks, AARP. You've been a great advocate for us old people. Not.

.

I just did. My husband and I were planning to join after many years of receiving their mailers. I told them that if they cannot support a program that is crucial to their membership, then they are useless and do not need us to help them do so. Our retirement funds have been savaged for a decade, and others have totally lost everything.

Not one more fucking dime from me.

:mad:

:wtf:

NO matter how many years pass
no matter how many times you move/change address
No matter how long you ignore them
No matter how many times you send their crap back marked " TAKE ME OFF YOUR MAILING LIST!!!!
in bright red letters..

they will, till the end of time, send you membership letters, junk mail, and even the magazine.
The magazine stopped after five years of no renewal, the junk mail is going into year 8.

take all their shit that will fit and mail it back to them. It will cost them money.

Time for the Catfood Commission "findings" to be dusted off, and presented as the President's Plan. Never mind that the Commission never issued a final report, never came to any conclusions as mandated, and that it disbanded without doing anything officially except wasting a lot of time and money. Alan Simpson will be called upon to read out his justification for reducing Social Security benefits, AARP's non-committal to future retirees, and the budget "crisis" will be used as the rationale for why folks will be fighting the cat for scraps so that banksters don't have to face the humiliation of pulling into the marina in last year's yacht.

They won't be politically suicidal enough to cut benefits for current recipients, but all you free-loaders who have worked for 35 years or more can just figure out how you're going to fund your retirement. Didn't plan on getting fucked right before you made it to the finish line? Well, that's your tough titty.

:argh:

"The decision, which AARP hasn't discussed publicly"

Maybe they did, but they haven't said they did. Why should I take the word of that Right Wing Rag.

strong opposition

1-866-OUR-AARP

http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-04-2011/AARP-fights-against-threats-to-medicare-and-social-security.html?cmp=RDRCT-PRTCSR_APR26_011

Congress Must Prevent Harmful Cuts to Social Security and Medicare
Slashing benefits would reverse decades of progress

AARP should correct it ASAP

explains why there is conflicting information.

and are working on a press release. How strange that we are getting conflicting info.



AARP contact information

Toll-Free Nationwide: 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277)

By E-mail
member@aarp.org

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/aarp-social-security_n_878966.html

They're trying to play both ends. Don't be fooled. They want to cut it for future generations. Don't let them bargain on our behalf.

Playing both ends....




http://abcnews.go.com/images/Business/AARP%20Has%20Not%20Changed%20Its%20Position%20on%20Social%20Security.pdf

AARP Has Not Changed Its Position on Social Security
Reaffirms that program must be strengthened to maintain critical benefits

WASHINGTON – AARP CEO A. Barry Rand offered the following statement in response to inaccurate media stories on the association’s policy on Social Security:
“Let me be clear – AARP is as committed as we’ve ever been to fighting to protect Social Security for today’s seniors and strengthening it for future generations. Contrary to the misleading characterization in a recent media story, AARP has not changed its position on Social Security.

“First, we are currently fighting some proposals in Washington to cut Social Security to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Social Security should not be used as a piggy bank to solve the nation’s deficit. Any changes to this lifeline program should happen in a separate, broader discussion and make retirement more secure for future generations, not less.

“Our focus has always been on the human impact of changes, not just the budget tables. Which is why, as we have done numerous times over the last several decades, AARP is engaging our volunteer Board to evaluate any proposed changes to Social Security to determine how each might – individually or in different combinations – impact the lives of current and future retirees given the constantly changing economic realities they face.

“Second, we have maintained for years – to our members, the media and elected officials – that long term solvency is key to protecting and strengthening Social Security for all generations, and we have urged elected officials in Washington to address the program’s long-term challenges in a way that’s fair for all generations.
“It has long been AARP’s policy that Social Security should be strengthened to provide adequate benefits and that it is sufficiently financed to ensure solvency with a stable trust fund for the next 75 years. It has also been a long held position that any changes would be phased in slowly, over time, and would not affect any current or near term beneficiaries.

“AARP strongly opposed a privatization plan in 2005, and continues to oppose this approach, because it would eliminate the guarantee that Social Security provides and reduce benefits, and we are currently fighting proposals to cut Social Security to pay the nation’s bills.

“Social Security is a critically important issue for our members, their families and Americans of all ages, especially at a time when many will have less retirement security than previous generations with fewer pensions, less savings and rising health care costs. And, as we have been for decades, we will continue to protect this bedrock of lifetime financial security for all generations of Americans.”

Just like Ryan..."We're not going to end Medicare." But that's exactly what he wants to do, then just call the new program Medicare. I'm dubious. Sounds like AARP is trying to play both sides here.

.

AARP denies shift, but open to 'change'.

They will specifically say we're against benefit cuts whether it's reducing COLA, global spending caps, raising the retirement age, means testing etc.

http://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/?p=1795&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

is nothing but an Insurance shill. I'm sure they see this as a chance to sell more product. The only value Seniors have to the AARP is access to they savings.

the only opposition to it was the left and the dem party has done a great job at both silencing and taking down those.

they better get with the program.

and was asked why the representative got a tad defensive. I told them it was no use getting defensive over an indefensible act.

Board info from 2009 annual report is at http://pubs.aarp.org/aarpannualreport/aarp2009ar?folio=24 .

American Association of Rich Retired Persons.

(I quit them after the Part D debacle.)

They've shown their true colors.

From AARP's web site. I can't vouch for its truthfulness, of course, just passing it along...

WASHINGTON – AARP CEO A. Barry Rand offered the following statement in response to inaccurate media stories on the association’s policy on Social Security:

“Let me be clear – AARP is as committed as we’ve ever been to fighting to protect Social Security for today’s seniors and strengthening it for future generations. Contrary to the misleading characterization in a recent media story, AARP has not changed its position on Social Security.

“First, we are currently fighting some proposals in Washington to cut Social Security to reduce a deficit it did not cause. Social Security should not be used as a piggy bank to solve the nation’s deficit. Any changes to this lifeline program should happen in a separate, broader discussion and make retirement more secure for future generations, not less.

“Our focus has always been on the human impact of changes, not just the budget tables. Which is why, as we have done numerous times over the last several decades, AARP is engaging our volunteer Board to evaluate any proposed changes to Social Security to determine how each might – individually or in different combinations – impact the lives of current and future retirees given the constantly changing economic realities they face.

See my explanation in that thread.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/us/18aarp.html?_r=2

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/aarp-denies-social-security-cuts/story?id=13859214

"The AARP, a powerful nonprofit organization that fights for the rights of individuals over the age of 50, appeared to be easing its longstanding opposition to cuts to Social Security benefits in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, then the group backed away from those comments."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1316001

Honestly, why should I trust RupertMurdoch's right wing rag?

on National Television and saying the story is WRONG, no misleading, but wrong