Someone is out of touch and I don't think it's me. It looks like another version People magazine instead of one for the everyday over 50 crowd.
A. Barry Rand - AARP CEO
Posted on 12/16/2009 7:35:48 PM PST by La Lydia
Dear Mr. Rand, Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you. Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith.
While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it's abdication of our values. Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.
Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!
We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.
This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don't have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mindset in power. Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.
Your website generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our 'house', invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perp language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.
I DON'T choose to welcome them.
I DON'T choose to support them.
I DON'T choose to educate them.
I DON'T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.
American home invaders get arrested. Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?
Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?
We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America . Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.
We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you.
I am disappointed as hell.
I am scared as hell.
I am MAD as hell, and I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!
ping
All those letters I used to get recruiting me to AARP membership.....I tore them up and returned them, not to the mail drop, but to the CEO.
Your letter is an excellent one!
I “divorced” AARP some years ago when I realized they have a taken a liberal path to enhance their insurance program! Yes, they are primarily an insurance company!
They no longer represent the Senior Citizen in spite of their magazine!
I echo Joe Wilson’s remark, “You Lie!” to them!
I never “married” them in the first place.
BUMP!
Much to liberal, even in the beginning.
Good post. I hate AARP. I wonder what “60+” the organization does and supports.
Does anyone have info on their stances. Me thinks they are the conservative group, but are smaller.
The first "turn-off" occurred when I was 49 and rec'd. my first "mailer" welcoming me into "senior-hood!"
Sorry at 49 I equated Senior Citizen status as those over 65 NOT over 45!
After that, continuing to get AARP's "exciting" offers, too good to be true. I don't believe that from the Casinos and not for AARP.
At least at the gambling tables, I have the opportunity for a small modicum of "entertainment" while my pocket is being fleeced, while with AARP, their representation is always tinged with how much they wanted to "help me get what I 'deserved.'"
Balderdash!
After reaching the “ripe” old age of 50 fairly recently, I began receiving corespondence from AARP. As of yet I’ve not replied. After reading this letter I believe I will pen a response to AARP’s ceo (lower case letters intentional). I will be looking to find other organizations to help me in these later stages of my life.
I recently let my AARP membership expire. I have thought of doing so for some time because of their support of liberal policies.
Didn’t write a letter to them but probably should have.
Borderline insanity? The Tea Party protesters and like-minded Patriots?
They lost me there.
They... WE, are the voice of REASON in an increasingly INSANE world created by "American" (or Kenyan) socialists, progressives, etc.
We want our country back, and will fight if necessary to do so.
I believe that most of those eligible for membership in AARP remember the days of fearing a Communist takeover of our great country, having to duck under desks in classroom drills in case the “big one” was dropped on our soil. These are the same folks who see through the attempted socialist takeover of our country. I agree that AARP is nothing more than an insurance company offering car, health, life and RV insurance. They stand to profit from the health reform bill as it stands now. They care not that the elderly will meet an untimely death, as they will have expanded their base with the lowering of Medicare eligibility and the increase of those buying mandated government approved insurance.
When I got a letter in the mail for my 50th birthday I got so angry...who had the authority to tell AARP my birthday? I threw every letter I ever got from them away and still they send me stuff. Whose money are they wasting? Anyhow, having been an insurance agent for many years and after having examined the insurance policies that my own mother bought from these people, I figured out that they are in it for the insurance sales...but also that their product is expensive and doesn’t necessarily cover the benefits the insureds think it does.
What a great letter. I agreed with every word, every thought! I’ve never joined AARP (I’m 63) because of its liberal bent but I have joined Senior something or other.
I hope all people with love of this country deep six their membership in AARP immediately!
Someone is out of touch and I don't think it's me. It looks like another version People magazine instead of one for the everyday over 50 crowd.
A. Barry Rand - AARP CEO
I’ve admired your postings since I first lurked in 1998!!! Bravo!!! Encore!!!
My 34 year old son just got a letter from them congratulating him on his recent birthday and urging him to consider joining.
34????? Hmmm. Sounds like they are desperate for membership - LOL.
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