Roland C. Eyears

Get out of the AARP now

As published in Our Town

There should be comfort in belonging to the largest support group in the country. The stated purpose of the American Association of Retired Persons is to give seniors a better break and a voice in Washington. But about 15 years ago, the leadership shifted radically to the left.

AARP swells its ranks with the implied promise of never pay full price for anything again. Some recruitment is done through a website and captive publications - most notably Modern Maturity Magazine. But in recent years, AARP has concentrated on direct mail. When you hit 50, prepare to be buried in cards and form letters.

Remember the senior citizen funded, government operated, need I say expensive Catastrophic Health Act that laid on an insurance program that few wanted and promised little in net benefits? In a grassroots letter writing, angry telephoning campaign rare in its volume and intensity, seasoned citizens caused the congress to repeal the act after 2 years. AARP had supported the program and fought a heated battle against the repeal.

Early in the Clinton administration, Hillary's behind-closed-doors study group was attempting to have the national government seize direct control of the entire healthcare system, one-seventeenth of the economy. AARP inserted a survey coupon in the October '93 issue of Modern Maturity.

Twenty-five thousand members licked a 29-cent stamp to say no by 82 percent. From that, management learned a lesson. Although AARP claims to research members' wishes, that happens infrequently and unwelcome opinions are suppressed.

AARP supported Bill Clinton's 1993 massive tax increases (the one he later said he thought had been too much) including gasoline taxes and the unprecedented tax on 85 percent of Socialist Security benefits. AARP pushed for means testing that would have cut Socialist Security and Medicare benefits for many seniors. On the other hand, it opposed raising the earnings limit for people who had to work past 65, thereby robbing them of half their pay. AARP says don't worry because Americans are more productive (but not a better buy versus 90 cents/hour elsewhere), are better paid (ask a Walmart clerk who was a technician), and work longer (then why solicit at age 50?). Although the proposed revisions will not affect anyone over 55, AARP is working hard to defeat any changes that might increase self-reliance and independence.

The organization is dead set against Socialist Security reform and individual, voluntary investment of small amounts. This is called a risky scheme, as opposed to giving politicians your money in hopes they will give part back in 30 to 40 years. Instead, AARP wants to peddle their mediocre mutual funds that invest in the stocks and bonds they say are too risky? During 1993 the organization sold out the membership again. The Medicare prescription plan offered drug and insurance companies huge profits.

AARP projected the increase in its profits at more than $150 million annually. If it's market-based or involves choice, AARP opposes it, such as Medical Savings Accounts, education vouchers, school choice, and a balanced budget amendment.

AARP is a giant insurance conduit. It receives "access fees" and "quality control fees" from insurers plus money earned on the float - investment time between collection and passing premiums to insurers. Of course, there are the kickbacks on all premiums. In one recent year, the insurance net alone was $162 million.

Why do so many seniors join? Ignorance? Discounts? Join and you will be offered auto insurance (Hartford), health insurance (United Health Care), mutual funds (Scudder), and life insurance (NY Life) - each no better than you can find on the open market. Discounts are offered on hotels, rental cars, home improvements, telephone services, pharmaceuticals, etc., plus tips on how to eat healthy and avoid scams anyone with half a brain could see coming.

What if AARP does spend more to acquire you than your $12.50 annual dues will bring them in 10 years? A membership of 35 million (nearly half of those 50 and over) means political muscle and an attractive target market. To circumvent the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act, the AARP Foundation operates as a shell corporation to receive grants of taxpayer money - $98 million in one recent year. That frees up money for AARP, with its overlapping board of directors, to attack and erode Constitutional rights.

AARP does not act in the best interests of its seniors, 40 percent of whom characterize themselves as conservatives. It is a political and financial juggernaut that is helping take Americans deeper into socialism and dependency.