Comments on: Geezer Group Gropes For Gravitas

By: dog

dog — Mon, 16 May 2011 05:15:16 +0000

I would compare Farm Bureau with AARP, both with different agendas. At least AARP doesn’t make me hurl as much as Farm Bureau.
The main problem is most Americans are really stupid. We already know we can’t fix stupid. The best revenge is to stay healthy and fit.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sat, 14 May 2011 04:08:50 +0000

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-05-13/medicare-social-security-funds-expiring-sooner-u-s-says.html

My motive to work hard and pay your bills is slipping

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sat, 14 May 2011 03:28:35 +0000

Worth $1,000,000. Very few put that much in.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576314802790577650.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:00:58 +0000

AARP has long been an active lobby effort for liberal agendas. Not that it is a bad thing. The problem is not whom they choose to support, but rather the level of influence they hold with politicians. Let’s face it, money talks and they spend a boatload of it. I doubt that 50% of their membership realizes how active they are politically, but rather what a good “deal” they get on hotel rooms!

By: Clancy

Clancy — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:08:56 +0000

J.M.G.- The AARP is everybody’s target. The Democrats criticized AARP when they supported Bush’s Medicare Drug Bill in 2003 and again in 2005 for AARP’s announcement of their Part D plan. The GOP was after them in 1995(Simpson) and 2008 (Grassley) questioning the tax exempt status.

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/10850-aarps-medicare-drug-move-renews-democratic-criticism.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-06-14/news/9506140128_1_aarp-senior-citizen-prescription-drugs

Good link to explore political activities of various organization or individuals.
http://influenceexplorer.com/organization/aarp/1d60edbc5e5d4d958feff279f4f2cf09?cycle=-1

We can talk all day about whose talking points are more accurate and never agree. But I find it ironic, that AARP is complaining about lobby efforts in Idaho, while back in Washington DC their lobby efforts are larger than Big Oil and Pharmaceuticals.

footnote: AARP was never on my radar until yesterday. My google skills needed some exercise though.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:56:22 +0000

AARP is a lobby for the elderly. They have given what used to be called the GRAY PANTHERS a voice in government at the state and national level.

I am a member and mostly agree with their efforts for the elderly in this country. The Repubs want to dismantle S.S. and Medicare and they can’t give enough tax breaks and freebies out while the borrow the money to fund all this largess and tax breaks for the rich. The Dems want to waste and spend money and raise taxes on the rich (or what they think are rich $250k/yr incomes).

I made it to 62 without going out on disablity, (barely). Since retirement I have been unraveling like a cheap sweater with various issues related to doing heavy manual labor during my working years. I am so thankful to have Social Security at this stage of my life. Medicare is another benefit I will need and use when I hit 65.

What needs to be done is a board that puts a stop loss order on docs and surgeries that have questionable value to the elderly. Case in point: My late Father was scheduled by his doctor to have double knee replacement surgery at the age of 91, he died at age 92. We talked him out of having the surgery and encouraged him to deal with the knee pain via medications. He lived in a senior citizen community where most of the residents and doctors had the opinion death was optional in California.

Great Britain has a program whereby they will not grant a organ transplant for an older person with limited life span but will allow it for a young person who has the prospects of living a number of decades longer with the organ transplant. We have got to put some limits on Medicare such as this one done in Great Britain.

By: James Bond

James Bond — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:45:07 +0000

Listening to AARP whine about political donations is like listening to the fox complain about chicken wire around the coop.

By: sam the sham

sam the sham — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:24:03 +0000

(love the geezer shot)

By: J.M.G.

J.M.G. — Fri, 13 May 2011 03:57:38 +0000

Response to Clancy:
The AARP became the GOP’s target when they supported the Health Care Reform Act.
The references you have recommended are solely talking points, are not factual or supported by documentation. They are simple minded guesses and opinions that always end with scary outcomes.
Idahoans need to do research from all sides before formimg their opinions.
That is why Boise Guardian should be on everyone’s checklist. Dave offers another view on subjects that affect all of us.

By: Goobs222

Goobs222 — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:49:13 +0000

I’d have found their report more interesting if they had actually identified the 7 who received 100% of their support from corporations, etc., as well as others that ran a high percentage. This seems like crying wolf, but not identifying where it’s hiding.