AARP Fraud

N and I joined AARP 15 years ago to take advantage of hotel discounts and the like.  Since then, in our view, the AARP have become advocates for a progressive political agenda with which we do not agree.  We resigned with prejudice, many years ago for that reason.

Despite our resignation, AARP has continued to send us marketing materials for their growing number of for-profit businesses.  These materials often tout their political agenda.  We have been completely unable to opt out of these mailings.

Recently, AARP have returned to mailing us their magazine and ever more blatant political declarations.  The mailings routinely ask for donations in order to help AARP continue its political agenda and propaganda campaign.  We have no proof but we absolutely believe that the AARP represents us – and millions like us – as members of their awful organization when nothing could be further from the truth.  We also suspect that the AARP represents that all of their members support their political point of view which we know is not the case.

Their latest outrage is a mailing that urges citizens to sign and mail “petition” coupons to SC Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint as well as Representative Joe Wilson.  We imagine similar campaigns against other Republicans in other states.    The petition demands that there be no cuts whatsoever to either Social Security or Medicare.  There are no petition coupons addressed to any Democrat.

There’s nothing wrong with sending your opinions to your legislators but the letter to AARP members completely misrepresents the role of AARP, the fiscal problems facing the nation, the affordability of current entitlement programs and the impact on existing retirees of current legislative proposals.  You can read the letter below. 

The AARP is the new Acorn with the added cynicism of being a profit making organization in support of a single political party while pretending to be an independent, nonpartisan advocacy group.  Don’t drink the kool-aid.

[Don’t forget, the documents below can be read by pointing at any one.  It will expand for easy reading.  To return to the post, use the back button of your browser in the upper left hand corner.]