The AARP is pretending to be non-partisan with its "Divided We Fail Platform. The basic message is: "let's put partisanship aside, and just agree with the Democrats." Which, incidentally, is largely Barack Obama's basic message, come to think of it.
"All Americans should have access to affordable health care, including prescription drugs, and these costs should not burden future generations."
While I believe this is essentially true, the Republican is very different from AARP's. The AARP's answer is "government should pay for much, if not all, of it for many, if not all, of Americans." This is the Democratic view, not the Republican view.
"Wellness and prevention efforts, including changes in personal behavior such as diet and exercise, should be top national priorities."
I don't believe that at all. I think our national priorities should have nothing whatsoever to do with any of that, except to the extent that the federal government should work to prevent epidemics of communicable diseases, and I do not believe the government should ever try to change anyone's personal, non-criminal, behavior.
"Our children and grandchildren should have an adequate quality of life when they retire. Social Security must be strengthened without burdening future generations."
Social Security is unconstitutional and should be phased out over time.
"Workers should be provided with financial incentives to save, should have access to effective retirement plans, and should be able to keep working and contributing to society regardless of age."
Government should have nothing to do with any of that.
"Americans of all ages should have access to tools to help manage their finances, and save for the future and better, easy to understand information to help them increase their financial literacy and manage their money wisely."
Government should have nothing to do with any of that.
I don't mind that the AARP pushes these things. Anyone can push any policies they want to. But I do mind that the AARP is dishonestly pretending that they are not marching in lockstep with the Democrats, and against the Republicans. You can push your agenda without being dishonest.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
Posted by pudge at May 09, 2008 09:14 AM | Email ThisI quit paying dues after the first year, but they still count me among their members. You become eligible at age 50 for membership.
I am so ashamed at my generation.
Posted by: swatter on May 9, 2008 09:30 AMMany people forget that S/S was not suppose to be a full retirement system, but a suplement to another.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on May 9, 2008 09:35 AMIs there any way we could get this to McCain’s campaign so he can make all these points loudly and clearly to the baby boom generation? It would virtually guarantee a crushing defeat for him in November.
Not that he really needs yet another set of issues to drag him down. He already has the twin millstones of Iraq and the Economy to overcome.
These socialists are idiots!
Posted by: RJK on May 9, 2008 11:07 AMYour points may get you you elected in Snohomish, but will get you 5% of the voter in King
I've come to the conclusion that the Romney Healthcare Plan (state sets minimums and everyone must have it like auto insurance) deserves a hard look in in Washington, because it's less expensive to do preventive care, than to have to write off the uncollectible costs of the hospitals.
Think of it like like the Frahm oil filter
Posted by: Green on May 9, 2008 11:12 AM"I've come to the conclusion that the Romney Healthcare Plan (state sets minimums and everyone must have it like auto insurance) deserves a hard look in in Washington"
Because it strips away our liberty, like so many other Democratic policies here?
"because it's less expensive to do preventive care, than to have to write off the uncollectible costs of the hospitals."
Yep, screw liberty, as long as you can save a buck! You should put that on a t-shirt.
Have you looked at Mass. recently? It is a mess. I was a Romney guy be default, but he is way wrong on this issue and Mass. is paying the price. The real answer is to get govt. to stop killing private insurance. The Democrats in this state and nationally have been murdering private insurance with mandates and regulations in an effort to enslave us all under a govt. monopoly.
Posted by: AP on May 9, 2008 11:32 AMRight now, I am seriously worried that McCain is going to beat Obama in November. McCain, after all, is a highly decorated war hero and has a reputation as a sensible moderate conservative who gets along well with Democrats.
If we can get McCain to start adopting and advocating Pudge's ideas in his campaign, then McCain will be trounced by Obama even worse than the last Arizona Senator that the Republicans nominated 44 years ago.
Posted by: Richard Pope on May 9, 2008 11:59 AMThanks in advance.
Posted by: pudge on May 9, 2008 12:01 PMGo away. I swear the more you say, the dummer you get.
I can say one thing for sure, if Pudge wanted to become a lawyer. He not only could he do it, but be a much better one than you!
Try KOS, their more your type.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on May 9, 2008 12:19 PMSo, how is that mandatory vehicle insurance working out? May I now stop paying for extra coverage for uninsured motorist collisions?
I guess my question comes down to whether everyone would do the health insurance thing (and perhaps we could take those lessons and apply them to vehicle insurance) or whether it's more likely that I would end up paying to cover myself, and THEN to pay additional monies to cover those who are uninsured.
Gee, I really don't see a benefit here. The first option is so unlikely so as to be laughable.
Posted by: Esteban on May 9, 2008 02:26 PMWiz, your self-delusion is AWESOME! Obama has an entire brick factory hanging around his neck, and you write as if Barry has nothing to worry about. And that conclusion is sub-moronic. But then, you know that... and your failure to acknowledge it shows how delusion is the key to becoming... and remaining... a fringe left whack job.
Posted by: Hinton on May 9, 2008 03:25 PMGo back to gummin down your creamed corn at the early bird special, and stay out of politics you AAPR geezers!
BTW, Pudge, you are on the money with all of this post. It's funny how you say the right things unless it it ragging on a man who actually believes in small government and the 10th (along with all others) amend. to the US Constitution.
It's like some kind of self-destruction mechanism you hear about a lot on Okra and Doctor Phil.
Maybe some kind of 12-step program would work for you, Pudge. I know they do for me - usually by step 3 (pay your yearly dues to the organization) I drop out and feel so much better about myself.
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 9, 2008 04:44 PMMany other posters at SP have, but I have not. I've actually defended Ron Paul FROM other posters on SP, on multiple occasions.
Posted by: pudge on May 9, 2008 05:37 PMRichard Pope is right.
-If McCain adopts your foolish posts, he will be defeated
-We end up paying for it when we reimburse the hospitals for emergency care (more expensive than preventative) for the indigent
Both of The Commentators find your analysis unusual
Posted by: Green on May 9, 2008 05:43 PMHow would either of you know that?
We end up paying for it when we reimburse the hospitals for emergency care (more expensive than preventative) for the indigent
Irrelevant, of course, for two very obvious reasons. The first is that this argument is a slippery slope: if this is your reason for taking away liberty by socializing medicine, then anything else can -- and should! -- be socialized just because it can potentially cost less.
The second is even more obvious: there are many, many other ways to deal with the cost of health care than simply having government pay for it.
Both of The Commentators find your analysis unusual
Were they talking about me AGAIN behind my back?!
Posted by: pudge on May 9, 2008 08:33 PM"We are the change that we seek."
That might quite possibly be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Anyone dumb enough, gullible enough, or both, to get excited and behind a campaign with such vapid pablum is a complete fool.
A person that foolish or mentally damaged could probably also be convinced that a medium sized planet, with a largely molten core, covered mostly in water, ice, or in vast swaths of uninhabited wilderness, and in close proximity to a star, could have it's temperature drastically changed by a gas making up a tiny percentage of its atmosphere, and created in an infinitesimal proportion by one of its species, while simultaneously being either exhaled or inhaled by almost all of its species.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 9, 2008 10:16 PMSounds like Jim Jones to me...and we all know how that turned out don't we?!
Moral of the story: Don't drink the kool-aid
Posted by: Rick D. on May 10, 2008 12:01 PMOf course, no one expects the Democrats to consolidate power through murder like the Nazi's did. But, there is no doubt they would consolidate power and make many conservative views illegal.
Posted by: Ray J Tuleya on May 10, 2008 02:47 PM