pudge's Journal: AARP: "Let's Not Be Partisan! Or not!"

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/*>.

Agreed... almost...

[FroMan]

Right up to the "marching in lockstep with the Democrats and against the Republicans" part. The Republicans at the federal level are not exactly standing up for some of the limited government aspects.

But that is more wry commentary on the state of the Republicans, not AARP's position.

Re:

[pudge]

Right up to the "marching in lockstep with the Democrats and against the Republicans" part. The Republicans at the federal level are not exactly standing up for some of the limited government aspects.

But that is more wry commentary on the state of the Republicans, not AARP's position.

Agreed. But I distinguish between the Republican Party -- its platform, and the views of (overwhelmingly) most of its active members at the grassroots level -- and the elected Republican officials in Washington DC. The fact that there is such a disconnect between the party and its electeds is a sad state in itself.

partisan, or political?

[Bill Dog]

I see no reason to believe that AARP is siding with the Dems because they're Dems. They're siding with them because they're Libs and the Dems are promoting their kind of policies.

And they're not the only ones. The ACS, the AHA, etc. all promote socialized medicine, higher taxes, on individuals as well as "big corporations", and more govt. programs., including telling people how to live.

It's amazing how everything over time has to deteriorate to the Left -- organizations, society, its institutions, govt., po

Re:

[pudge]

I see no reason to believe that AARP is siding with the Dems because they're Dems.

I didn't say they were. I said they ARE siding with the Dems, regardless of the reason why, but that they are CLAIMING to be non-partisan.

It's one thing to take partisan sides. It's another to do it, and say you aren't.

Re:

[Bill Dog]

I take "partisan" as favoring a "party", versus merely a "policy" that happens to have been adopted by one or more of the political parties. So to me, if they're for a party, no matter the policy, they're partisan, but if they're for a policy, no matter the party, then they're not. So they're claiming non-partisanship truthfully.

Your definition of "partisan" would apply to anyone who subscribed to pretty much any policy, since pretty much every policy has an advocate in some political party, so yours is mea

Re:

[pudge]

I take "partisan" as favoring a "party"

Yes, and AARP favors the policies of the Democratic Party so completely that they actually favor the Democratic Party. When policy views become so close as theirs, it becomes partisan.

So to me, if they're for a party, no matter the policy, they're partisan

No, that is not how it works. I am for a party, the GOP. But not "no matter the policy." No one would call me non-partisan, but no one with a brain would say I am for the GOP no matter what.

So they're claiming non-partisanship truthfully.

Nope. Did you even read their web page? They have a picture of a donkey and an elephant morphed together. They say directly that

Re:

[Bill Dog]

Yes, and AARP favors the policies of the Democratic Party so completely that they actually favor the Democratic Party.

I'm sure they do, but they're not telling us to vote for Democrats, they're telling us to vote for who agrees with them on policy issues. So they're not partisan, they're political. It may be a fine distinction, but to me it's the difference between propriety and impropriety.

But not "no matter the policy."

You took that too literally.

Did you even read their web page?

Yes. I'm not blind, and I'

Re:

[pudge]

they're not telling us to vote for Democrats

I never said they were.

So they're not partisan

Incorrect.

AARP stinks

[multimed]

I just plain don't like the organization. From a philosophical level of course - clearly individuals forming a group to represent their interests is as fundamental of an American right as it gets. I just can't stand that they are so myopic - their issues to the detriment of anyone or anything else, and that they have so much clout to direct an enormous block of voters many of whom will walk into the polling place with their AARP checklist in hand, voting verbatim as they're directed. They force politicia