Posted on 01/26/2005 11:44:00 AM PST by ceoinva
Explosive revelation threatens AARP credibility & raises serious questions about a liberal bias inside the AARP.
(Excerpt) Read more at usanext.org ...
I will never belong to an organiation that has the word RETIRED in it.
haha! Love that pet pic there. :^D
Does anyone here have any questions about liberal bias in the AARP?
AARP Caught Manipulating Poll Results
Explosive revelation threatens AARP credibility & raises serious questions about a liberal bias inside the AARP.
To: Members of Congress and America’s Taxpayers
From: Charles Jarvis, Chairman and Chief Executive, USA Next
Date: January 25, 2005
Re: AARP’s Misleading Survey on Social Security
The future of Social Security is critical--not only for seniors, but for Americans of all ages. Given that importance and the key role this debate will play in the coming weeks and months in Congress, we wanted to give critical information to you. National pollster John McLaughlin has a devastating analysis of the methodology behind the recent survey released by the AARP. It shows how that organization is attempting to falsely frame the debate over reforming Social Security by manipulating the American people, Congress, and the media.
According to Mr. McLaughlin’s analysis, “AARP’s survey raises several concerns about its methodology and about AARP’s apparent attempt to obscure the true opinions of Americans about Social Security. Nonetheless, the survey still reveals overwhelming concern about Social Security and finding a solution now.” They are engaged in a long-running, multi-million dollar campaign to convince policy makers to suppress the problems of social security.
The following are examples of the misleading methodology:
The survey includes no respondents under age 30 even though voters age 18 to 29 made up 17% of the 2004 electorate.
Those age 60+ constitute 34% of the sample, yet they were 24% of the 2004 electorate.
20.7% of adults receive Social Security benefits. Yet 33% of AARP’s respondents report receiving benefits. This biases results against plans to strengthen Social Security since all surveys show resistance to change among Social Security recipients.
AARP’s sample gives Democrats a six-point advantage over Republicans (37% to 31%). However, the parties made up equal percentages of the 2004 electorate (37% to 37%).
AARP finds a right direction/wrong track margin of 32% to 60%, far below those of other recent major surveys: 46% to 53% in January 3-5 Gallup survey; 44% to 51% in January 3-5 AP/Ipsos survey; and 40% to 54% in January 5-9 Pew survey. This indicates a sample far more Democrat than are American adults.
A 47% to 48% margin trust the President, similar to the Democratic party’s 48% to 43%.
AARP finds all those age 30+ holding a favorable view of Social Security. Yet other national surveys have shown those under 55 hold a decidedly unfavorable view, again raising questions about the partisan composition of AARP’s survey.
AARP asks respondents whether they favor or oppose allowing workers to invest some of their Social Security payroll taxes in the stock market -- never mentioning other options, such as bonds, that are seen as safe and win higher support. Even with the slanted wording, a majority of those under 50 favor the idea, and even with the skewed sample composition, the idea only loses by a slim 43% to 48%.
AARP asks respondents whether they agree “Social Security should be protected as a guaranteed benefit, and should not be privatized.” Yet no one has proposed privatizing the Social Security system and Social Security benefits are not now “guaranteed.”
AARP also asks whether respondents agree “We have a responsibility to meet our obligation to people currently on Social Security to protect their benefits.” This clearly implies to respondents that personal account proposals threaten retirees’ benefits even though the President and others have emphasized that no proposal would affect retirees or those near retirement.
Rather than conduct a survey to gauge real opinion, the AARP chose their sample and their questions to deliver the results they wanted. Despite these efforts to skew the survey, the reality is still clear that seniors and all Americans understand that Social Security needs reform and it needs to be done now. Example: 88% to 6% say problems should be addressed now, not later.
It’s important that members of Congress who hear from the AARP on issues of importance to seniors understand the extent to which they are falsely framing the debate over Social Security. The AARP continues to engage in a consistent, deceitful campaign to demagogue the Social Security issue, frighten seniors and policymakers alike, and confuse the public.
While we thought it was important to call your attention to these developments, this comes as no surprise to those who have followed the actions of the AARP. The organization is committed to a political agenda that is out of line with the views of their members and they will do anything to advance that agenda.
For the good of America’s seniors, their grandchildren, and citizens of all ages, we urge you to work towards true reform of Social Security that protects our seniors and gives real opportunities for prosperity to workers of all ages. President Bush is right—we need an Ownership Society. We need to transform Social Security from a ticking Debt Bomb to a Wealth Machine for all.
CONTACTS: Charlie Jarvis--703-359-6500/ John McLaughlin—845-365-2000
USA Next is the national grassroots association dedicated to Uniting the Generations for America’s Future. We are champions for families to have expanded Investment Freedom, Health Care Freedom, Retirement Freedom, and Tax Freedom. USA Next is dedicated to recovering the best principles of America’s founders. Art Linkletter is National Chairman and Charlie Jarvis is the Chief Executive
Did not we discuss this false poll some time last week? If I remember I said then that the poll was a fake by the AARP.
Push poll.
Becoming a member at 55, I dropped them like a hot potato when I found out their stance on "W". Now that I AM retired , I use the AAA discounts instead .
I'm shocked...simply shocked that the AARP would fix the results of a pole...not.
It was obvious during the Clinton years that AARP leaned VERY far to the left. I never joined and never will. There are plenty of senior citizen discounts elsewhere.
Gee... I'm so shocked.... It was kind of obvious with their latest poll.
Is kittie still sick?
File this under "dog bites man."
I would like to know what their membership numbers are and whether they are increasing or decreasing...
You mean to tell me someone actually questions the liberal bias of AARP?
GROW UP !!
Before you tell someone to "Grow Up" you should make sure of your facts. According to the AARP website about the poll in question:
"The telephone poll of 1,500 adults aged 30 and over was conducted for AARP by Roper Public Affairs from December 6 through December 23. The margin of error is 3 percentage points."
There was nothing in the initial post or the article to suggest the poll was of AARP members.
Just about every special interest group cites a poll or study backing up their spurious claims. It's a media favorite to create a fact out of an opinion -- or a bias. At least 90% of the studies and polls have serious flaws -- especially the ones in which the samples are self-selected. Those mean virtually nothing.
Here in Hawaii, the Department of Education is world-famous for fabricating daily/weekly/monthly studies that "prove" all the money in the local economy should go to teachers in the public education system -- even though anybody paying attention for the last ten years knows that the cost of information (education) should be going to zero -- instead of requiring $100,000 annual salaries.
Fifty years ago, several educational aids companies came up with the revolutionary idea of a "teaching machine." Very little mention is made of "teaching machines" anymore but most of us know them as personal computers. Also, the distinction between information, education and propaganda has blurred. What is claimed as education, is often propaganda; likewise for "information."
But the major objection I have to the AARP is that it perpetuates the model of a disempowered subculture that needs another union-like (demagogic) leader to speak for them -- rather than the emerging alternative of an increasingly competent, fair-minded segment of society. That is the real hope and solution for the problems of tomorrow.
Most of the retired people are above average successful older people; the failures are either dead or not retired. I have no problem helping the poorest and most disadvantaged people in our society. What I don't like are these middle class and above people claiming to be underpaid and underfed -- when their faces, bodies and self-worth are bloated to the bursting point, and they're claiming they're not getting their fair share, their entitlement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.