Senior Issues

Senior Resources
Senior Information, Resources, and Organizations
(Alternatives to liberal AARP)
Last Updated Thursday May 20, 2010 02:18 PM -0400

Heritage Foundation: Click here for Social Security. Click here for Medicare/Medicaid.

Dirty little secrets by Herman Cain (3/15/2005) There are three dirty little secrets congressional Democrats don't want you to know about Social Security.

WILLisms describing our current Social Security system: The government confiscates your money, keeps it for decades, gives you back a terrible return on your money, then taxes you for the privilege.

More Social Security deceit by Walter E. Williams (3/9/2005) A fortnight ago, I explained some of the congressional deceit that has become part and parcel of Social Security. ...There's more to the deceit and dishonesty about Social Security. Congress tells us that one half (6.2 percent) of the Social Security tax is paid by employees and the other half paid by employers. The truth of the matter is that all of it (12.4 percent) is paid by employees. You say, "What! It says on my pay stub that I pay 6.2 percent." Let's look at it.

Just Facts Publishes Fact-Based Analysis of the Social Security Program - Just Facts has published a compendium of objective and thoroughly documented facts surrounding the Social Security program. This original research includes scores of facts concerning one of the largest government programs in the world. Just Facts, a non-profit research and educational institute, has completed an extensive analysis of the Social Security program. With over 250 easily accessible footnotes containing direct quotations from the Social Security Trustees Report, federal statutes, vote records, transcripts, federal agency reports and other primary sources, this research places a storehouse of thoroughly documented information at readers' fingertips. Holding to strict standards of credibility, Just Facts has taken an exhaustive look at this topic and published the results at " Social Security Facts."

FYI - Congressional Pension Plan - Compare to Social Security, and consider asking your Congressmen to terminate their pension plan and go under Social Security and Medicare instead. Fewer than 4 out of 10 Americans have a pension, with an average fixed pension of $7,500 a year.

Members of Congress can have up to $2 million dollar pensions funded by your tax dollars, 2 to 3 times more generous then plans offered by private businesses. Ex-Senator Tom Daschle receives an estimated $96,000 a year.
Social Security recipients receive a 2-3% return on their tax dollars.
In 2005 Congress raised its pay by $330 a month while Social security COLA was 2.7%, or $25 a month increase - and about half of that will be taken away by higher Medicare premiums.
While their is no limit on how much taxpayer money a retired Congressmen can collect, Social Security has no "lock box," just IOUs.
Corrupt Congressmen found guilty of a felony or defrauding taxpayers are NOT barred from collecting their pensions. Former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, convicted of stealing taxpayer funds enjoys a taxpayer funded pension of over $100,000 a year. Former Congressman John Dowdy went to jail for perjury, but since leaving the House in 1970 has received $1 million in a taxpayer funded pension since.
While taxpayers are locked into Medicare, Congressmen enjoy a taxpayer funded health care plan they get to keep when they retire.
Congress has also voted to give themselves full, guaranteed retirement pensions at age 50 after only 20 years of "service" with a COLA that dwarfs the Social Security COLA.

Resources

American Retirement Assistance Corporation The safety net of Social Security didn't do what it was supposed to do. In urban areas, there are all kinds of programs, but out in our rural area, no such animal." The experience prompted Plack and his brother Phil to form a charity to help and honor the nation's elderly. Today, their American Retirement Assistance Corporation gives nearly 100 percent of the funds it raises directly to senior citizens tax-free, with the goal of lifting them from mere Social Security existence to over the poverty line. (See WND article: Would you believe 1 million to attend Christian concert? Doubling the size of Woodstock, organizers say, 'can't be ignored' )
RetireSafe.org is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to preserving the options and benefits of older Americans through advocacy, education, and the power of free markets. We believe in a government that is limited in both size and scope, keeps the promises made to its citizens, lowers the tax and regulatory burden, and allows older Americans to obtain true retirement security.
Christian Companion Senior Care began in 2002 as a intriguing idea in the mind of founder and president Gary A. Brown. He thought, since seniors frequently struggle with loneliness, family dysfunction, regrets and depression, doesn’t it make sense to provide care through a caregiver capable of providing both practical care and spiritual encouragement?
Social Security Briefing Room - The Heritage Foundation has supported Social Security reform for over 20 years, but our research and analysis is totally up-to-date. Look here for the latest from Heritage on the Social Security debate. How it works, Latest News, Reform Myths, Required Reading, more...All Heritage Research on Social Security
Facts on Medicare (White House) Under President Bush's framework for Medicare, seniors will have the right to the same type of health care benefits enjoyed by members of Congress and other employees of the federal government.
Administration on Aging AoA is the Federal focal point and advocate agency for older persons and their concerns. In this role, AoA works to heighten awareness among other Federal agencies, organizations, groups, and the public about the valuable contributions that older Americans make to the Nation and alerts them to the needs of vulnerable older people. Through information and referral and outreach efforts at the community level, AoA seeks to educate older people and their caregivers about the benefits and services available to help them.
FirstGov for Seniors - Website for Seniors
Council for Government reform, Inc. (RetireSafe.org) a grassroots action network promoting dynamic, pro-growth solutions to America’s retirement security challenges.
Mesothelioma - 75% of all mesothelioma patients are seniors. With more than 3,000 pages of content, our site features information on asbestos, malignant mesothelioma, and other cancers that are caused by asbestos exposure (lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.). Unlike other sites, Asbestos.com has achieved HON code approval (Health On the Net (HON) Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation that works to preserve the accuracy and trustworthiness of Web-based medical information). Our site has employed a full staff of writers dedicated to research and writing about asbestos exposure and the diseases that result from exposure to the toxic mineral. In addition, our medical adviser and editor, Dr. Mauricio Salazar,M.D., who has worked in the field of cancer treatment for years, has personally reviewed, edited, and approved all medical information on our site.

Alternatives to AARP which accepts Federal funds, does not oppose raiding the Social Security Trust Fund, does not support a Balanced Budget Amendment, supports tax increases, lobbies for a bigger federal government, etc.

Dark secrets of AARP finally exposed to light Executives, employees backed Obama, Dems by 14-to-1 ratio - But while many seniors believe AARP offers worthwhile discounts on health and car insurance, vacations and advice on financial planning, the group has a history of left-leaning political stances and activism. Why the AARP health 'reform' endorsement? AARP collects royalties on "Medigap insurance," a privately purchased insurance coverage that helps pay some of the health-care costs that Medicare doesn't cover. However, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Medicare website, seniors have the option of joining Medicare Advantage plans, allowing them to use Medicare funds to purchase private insurance plans that offer extra benefits and lower copayments than the Original Medicare Plan. An estimated 10.2 million seniors have enrolled in Medicare Advantage. When seniors enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, they often drop Medigap policies. Therefore, the switch may slash Medigap revenues – and simultaneously impact AARP royalties from Medigap insurance.

...AARP's federal funding - AARP is a private, nonprofit group, but the AARP 2008 annual report shows that of the $1.1 billion in revenue AARP received last year $90 million came from a variety of grants, including a substantial amount of federal aid. Its two largest grant programs offer tax counseling for the elderly and job training for low-income seniors. ...In a March 2001 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on federal aid, the AARP Foundation reported receiving money from the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice, according to NLPC.

...Former President George W. Bush attempted to reform Social Security through the use of private retirement accounts in 2005. His plan sought to permit workers to redirect 4 percent of their Social Security payroll taxes into private accounts that would invest in mutual funds and other securities. But AARP reacted to Bush's proposal by slamming its members with mass mailings and spending $5 million on full-page advertisements in 50 newspapers and an additional $5 million on print ads opposing Bush's plan.

...According to NLPC, AARP combated tax cuts during the Reagan and Bush administrations. It also fought the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991 and helped the Clinton administration defeat a balanced budget amendment in 1995. ...A search of campaign contributions by AARP executives and employees reveals they overwhelmingly gave to Obama's campaign and Democrats during the 2008 election cycle – by a ratio of 14 workers to one.

...In its March/April 2003 magazine, AARP honored billionaire George Soros as one of its 50 "top innovators" in a "Fearless 50" article. Robert Knight of Concerned Women for America reported that while the list featured a few conservatives, it was "top heavy with liberal luminaries." House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, blasted AARP in an interview with the Hill just days ago. "AARP is one of the most liberal organizations in Washington, D.C.," Boehner said. "Obviously, most seniors aren't aware of that."

...AARP declared in its 2007 policy book, "Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws."

...AARP also supports entitlements for "migrant workers." In the same Dec. 10, 2004, press release, AARP stated: "Migrant workers are among the most poorly paid and ill-housed workers in the nation. They often do not qualify for Social Security or income assistance programs. AARP supports efforts to meet the needs, particularly of older and disabled workers, including making them aware of low income assistance programs for which they may be eligible." ...In 2004, AARP partnered with the National Council of La Raza – a group that has promoted driver's licenses for illegal aliens, amnesty programs and no immigration law enforcement by state and local police – to "educate elderly Hispanics and their families" on the Medicare prescription drug program.

...Pro-homosexual agenda - Focus on the Family's Steve Kipp published a 2-page analysis on AARP and what he considers a pro-homosexual agenda. He notes that by 2004, AARP was openly referring to multiple homosexual activist organizations, referencing a "web exclusive" AARP article written by Randy Hecht, titled "No straight answers." Kipp wrote that Hecht's article promoted gay sensitivity training sessions that essentially served as "re-education" sessions. A sidebar titled "Sites to see: Organizations and resources for older gays, lesbians" offered the five referred links on AARP's website:...

...Shredding the AARP membership card According to news reports, at least 60,000 AARP members canceled their memberships from July to August of this year amid anger over the group's position on health care. AARP said the members represented a small percentage of its total membership and that during the same time period, 400,000 people joined AARP and 1.5 million renewed their memberships. Some members destroyed their AARP cards and switched to the American Seniors Association, the New York Times reported. The alternative organization is offering former AARP members a year of free membership if they send in their torn AARP cards. AARP has recently announced its endorsement of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962, and the accompanying Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, H.R. 3961.

Senior citizens have a choice - AARP or ASA? "When we started American Seniors Association about seven years ago, we did so because we realized there is a large conservative number of seniors that needed better representation and needed an advocacy group that's fighting for them," says President Stuart Barton.

AARP: Did You Know? The managing editor of AARP The Magazine, John Stoltenberg, lives an openly homosexual lifestyle. The AARP website contains articles like, "No Straight Answers," indicating their belief that "straight" laws are not beneficial for same-sex couples and that public policies should be radically changed to accommodate the so-called "gay community." In addition, AARP's website provides links to five homosexual organizations and listed Gay and Lesbian Pride Day in the annual calendar of events, right in between National Senior Citizens fitness Day and Independence Day.

Quit the AARP by Rich Lowry (2/28/2005) The debate over President Bush's proposed Social Security reform is spawning new pro- and anti-groups nearly every day. The latest is Conservative Republican Seniors Against Bush.

Christian Seniors Association - CSA is 100%committed to defending the traditional marriage-based family. AARP's official magazine, Modern Maturity, has promoted same-sex gay couples raising children. Unlike AARP, CSA opposes ACLU and organizations which support groups which want to eliminate Christianity from public life and instead promote immorality.
The Seniors Coalition is a non-profit, 501c(4), non-partisan, education and issue advocacy organization that represents the interests and concerns of America's senior citizens at both the state and federal levels.
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) Our mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for.
Sixty Plus Association A non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach to seniors issues. 60 Plus has set ending the "death" tax and Saving Social Security for the young as its top priorities. 60 Plus has been described as an "anti-tax advocacy group" and an "increasingly influential lobbying group for the elderly...often viewed as the conservative alternative to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)."
American Seniors Association - We are driven by a uniquely American philosophy that starts with the understanding that government doesn’t tax and regulate “things.” It taxes and regulates “people.” Individuals like you and me. That’s why we treat every member as an individual, with a different story and different priorities, freely united as individuals to provide each other with better values in the services we want and need. At American Seniors Association, we don’t just take the government’s side like some other associations. We are not some big liberal bureaucracy here to try to scare you into going along with Big Government all the time or telling you what to think.
The Association of Mature American Citizens Looking for an alternative to AARP? You’ve come to the right place. The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) is a conservative, nonpartisan organization looking out for the interests of Americans 50 years of age and older. We believe in the traditional values of Faith – Family – Freedom that have made the United States of America the greatest of nations. We believe that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not empty words, but the fulfillment of the American dream. AMAC will endeavor to be your advocate to promote commonsense government and to let you keep your hard-earned money in your pocket – not the government’s.
AMAC takes the following positions:
- Taxes - AMAC strongly feels that American citizens are excessively taxed. There should be a reduction in income tax rates for all wage earners. Likewise, corporations are over taxed. When a corporation is taxed they simply increase the cost of their product or service and the people wind up paying for the tax when the price is increased.
- Growth in Government - AMAC favors a reduction in the number of Federal departments and employees. Our government has grown at the Federal, State and local levels. In Washington we now have twice as many Departments as we had 100 years ago. As government grows and each year more laws are passed, the individual citizen slowly has their rights taken away.
- Balanced Budget & the National Debt - The annual budget has gone out of control. The President and the congress have lost sight of their responsibilities. If we do not manage our fiscal and financial condition our nation is put in serious jeopardy. By continuing to borrow we are putting a huge burden on our children and grandchildren.
- Medical Care - AMAC believes it is a serious mistake to have the Federal government interfere and dictate how medical care is provided in this country. The present system of State regulations and free enterprise has proven satisfactory for over 85% of our citizens. A simple change in state regulations can solve most of the problems with people being covered. Medicare should continue as-is with minor improvements, and more competition should be encouraged.
- Abortion - Our position is that we are pro-life. We are against abortion in principle and feel it is improper to allow government funding of abortions, except to save the life of the mother.
- Gay Marriage - We are against gay marriage. We feel it contributes to the destruction of the traditional family and offends the religious beliefs of many Americans. AMAC has not taken a position on civil unions or other legal issues affecting gays and lesbians.
- Second Amendment- the right to bear arms - Amac believes that the Constitution clearly gives the right to carry arms to the citizen. Attempts to infringe upon that right should be defeated.

Abortion - Our position is that we are pro-life. We are against abortion in principle and feel it is improper to allow government funding of abortions, except to save the life of the mother.

Gay Marriage - We are against gay marriage. We feel it contributes to the destruction of the traditional family and offends the religious beliefs of many Americans. AMAC has not taken a position on civil unions or other legal issues affecting gays and lesbians.

Second Amendment- the right to bear arms - Amac believes that the Constitution clearly gives the right to carry arms to the citizen. Attempts to infringe upon that right should be defeated.