Most people I know who joined did so for discounts on travel.
They lost lots of respect when they supported the prescription drug fiasco. The AARP is actually into insurance and they stand to gain from being a provider.
They lost me before my 55th birthday when I got envelopes that announced on the outside that I would soon be 55 and could join.
(I've grown up...now, I divulge my age proudly....but I still do hate the AARP selling out retired people)
The AARP is anti-American. It's the same as the Democrat (Socialist) Party. They are even featuring Belafonte, who thinks President Bush is a terrorist, on their cover. http://www.aarpmagazine.org/
The Federal Election Commission should look into their income and expenses.