AARP To Kucinich: Drop Dead
AARP President Bill Novelli is a company man.
No, the company is not AARP.
Novelli doesn’t give a damn about AARP or its 38 million members.
If he did, he wouldn’t be selling down them down river by opposing a single payer system that would benefit not just AARP members, but everyone in the country.
Novelli doesn’t give a damn about the health of the nation.
What he cares about are the health insurance companies.
Novelli - a founder of the giant Porter Novelli corporate public relations firm - jumped to AARP in 2000.
But he never shed his corporate skin.
Case in point?
On Thursday night, AARP will host a debate in Iowa on the issue of health care.
Republicans and Democrats running for President will attend.
Of all of the Democrats and Republicans in the race, guess who is the only one who would put the Novelli’s buddies in the health insurance industry out of business?
Guess who is the only candidate among the Democrats and Republicans who would create a Canadian-style single payer, everybody in, nobody out, no deductibles, no co-pays, no in-network, no out-of-network, streamlined system that would save billions of dollars in administrative costs, deliver a higher quality health care system, and cover everyone?
Yes.
And guess who was not invited to confront Novelli’s corporate brotherhood of profit and death?
You guessed it.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich.
Why?
Well, Kucinich would put out of business Novelli’s corporate support system - including United Healthcare and Aetna.
Earlier this year, both these health care industry giants signed a contract with AARP that will net AARP a cool $4.4 billion over seven years.
Kucinich said that AARP sponsorship of the Presidential forum “is like having Haliburton or Blackwater sponsor a Presidential forum on doing away with no-bid government contracts to private contractors - or an oil company sponsoring a forum on reducing the world’s dependence on oil.”
“Millions of trusting AARP members have bought Medicare-supplemental and prescription drug insurance plans from AARP, believing that they were getting a good deal,” Kucinich said. “It turns out, however, that AARP is taking a $4 billion cut by steering its members to profiteering private insurance companies trying to capitalize on fear and confusion.”
“The fact that Senators Clinton, Obama, and former Senator Edwards are pushing plans to keep the for-profit private insurers in business and in control may explain why they are willing to participate in this fake and tainted debate,” Kucinich said.
Kucinich also questioned the decision by Iowa Public Television to televise the Presidential forum and simulcast it to other PBS stations in other states.
“Profit-driven and politics-driven media conglomerates are controlling what we see on TV and what we hear on the radio. Public broadcasting should represent a higher, more ethical standard. In this case, public broadcasting will shamefully promote private interests.”
We’re all getting old.
But we don’t have to all join AARP.
If your not a member yet, don’t join.
If you are a member, call Novelli and tell him to take a hike.
Then sign on with any Presidential candidate who supports single payer.
Russell Mokhiber is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter.
It isn’t a “hike” I told him to take.
Considering that PBS’s programs’ showcase sponsor’s such as Exxon Mobile, ADM, and Monsanto shows all you need to know about the direction of “our” Public Broadcasting Stations.
DAMN, I joined this organization just before I heard a progressive talk-show host tell us to NOT join AARP because it’s nothing but an insurance scam. I didn’t know.
Now this!
Each day that passes, I can’t believe I can get any angrier.
Damn right I’m going to contact AARP. I’m pissed.
AARP’s premise is based on the fear and insecurity of the aging. At one time I was a member until I discovered that booking a hotel room via online was a whole lot cheaper then calling up and mentioning you were a n AARP member. After several similar incidents I realized AARPs goal is to make seniors feel they are powerless and vulnerable without them. The can kiss my a$$.
The only half-decent email address I could find to send my scathing letter was this:
webactivist@aarp.org
…and the subject line said “For William Novelli”.
AARP insulates its VPs quite nicely. Obviously, they don’t want to be disturbed with phone calls and emails from members.
AARP might have started off as a good idea, and that’s a big maybe, I’ll never join them.
I too was a member for several years, until AARP backed the so-called Medicare drug reform program…again to benefit the insurance companies and big pharma…I quit my membership and made my reasons well known to them (meh, they don’t give a ratzass).
This is outrageous that they are excluding Kucinich in this sham debate–as outrageous as the ‘health reform’ platforms being proposed by the media-anointed ‘leading contenders’, which are nothing more than insurance company welfare programs–forcing people to buy health insurance?!?!?! I don’t think so!
This isn’t the first time Billy has given AARP members a Corporate Cashectemy. What do America’s seniors need to do to get simple healthcare? Besides hang congress and move to Cuba…
Dover September 20th, 2007 12:49 pm
Try member@aarp.org - works for me.
How do we send $ to Dennis?
I contacted AARP earlier this week, this is their response.
On July 2, 2007, Congressman Kucinich’s campaign was sent a
registered letter inviting him to participate in the event. The
letter was accompanied by criteria that were set by AARP and IPTV for participation in the forum. Criteria include:
* Have filed an FEC Form F-2, “Statement of Candidacy,” with the Federal Election Commission;
* Have publicly announced an intention to run for the nomination of the Republican or the Democratic Party for President of the United States;
* Have a Campaign Office inside the State of Iowa; and,
* Have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to perform full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the candidate since at least August 1, 2007.
During the weeks following his campaign’s receipt of the letter of invitation, Congressman Kucinich’s office had no communication with AARP or IPTV. The campaign did not acknowledge receipt of our invitation, nor did he or any of his campaign staff indicate any interest in participating in this forum. We did not hear from anyone about the forum until a story appeared in the Quad-City Times stating incorrectly, that Congressman Kucinich had not been invited to participate.
To our knowledge, Congressman Kucinich did not meet all four of the stated criteria that would enable him participate in the upcoming forum by the designated date.
My questions are
1. Did they send these letters to all the candidates?
2. Did they require all the candidates who are participating send back the information to AARP/IPTV?
3. Once they were made aware that Kucinich wanted to participate and met the 4 criteria, why couldn’t they allow him to participate?
Maybe it’s time us “aging baby boomers” (god, how I hate that phrase :)) started our own organization.
whatfools, you can donate to Dennis at
www.dennis4president.com
IF ypou’re an American citizen. Pity that I can’t help Dennis on the financial front.
I just finished a great book by John Perkins, The Secret History of American Empire. This shit goes so deep down the rabbit hole and the illussions so pervasive right is wrong and wrong right. The corporatacracy runs the global show and all the so called “progressives” bought and paid for while still rubbing elbows in and dispensing meaningless rhetoric on behalf of progressive values. Kucinich and Nader might be the only two people not in the pay system. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Enlighten yourselves about the corruption and how deep it runs by reading Perkins.
I just renewed my AARP membership too. This will be my last year until they dump this turkey and return to their roots of supporting us retirees.
I dropped my AARP membership as soon as I read the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill. After AARP’s total sellout, I had to quit. So I am surely not surprised that they continue to pander to the cruel insurance behemoths.
Now when I receive solicitations from AARP in the mail, I stuff everything they sent me into the reply envelope and mail it back.
Thank you for helping me confirm something I already suspected. I subscribed to AARP for one year and all I ever got from them was advertisements to buy insurance! I figured out they are a waste of money and a scam.
“Now when I receive solicitations from AARP in the mail, I stuff everything they sent me into the reply envelope and mail it back.”
Thank you. I used to do this, but thought it was juvenile. I guess it will make me feel younger to indulge again.
I wish the Association of Retired Ammericans
(ARA) would get out do more grassroots organizing. We need a broadbased alternative
to the AARP.
NovaScotian September 20th, 2007 2:01 pm
Thanks for the address - I’l send Dennis some loonies today, from my FXC account.
daveg90275,
“To our knowledge, Congressman Kucinich did not meet all four of the stated criteria that would enable him participate in the upcoming forum by the designated date.”
Do you mean he DID meet the criteria?
“To our knowledge, Congressman Kucinich did not meet all four of the stated criteria that would enable him participate in the upcoming forum by the designated date.”
Maybe they will let Dennis participate after the designated date? Whatever that could possibly mean?
“Have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to perform full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the candidate since at least August 1, 2007.” I wonder if that’s what nixed it for Dennis? I suppose with enough searching AARP could always find something to disqualify a candidate they didn’t want to participate.
Dennis Kucinich doesn’t seem to meet the AARP criteria, the DLC criteria, or the M$M criteria. But he meets mine, so I will vote for him.
Thanks, whatfools. You’ve made me feel that I have perhaps been able to help with Dennis’s campaign from afar. But only through your good graces.
militantlibrarian & Dover … tape the reply envelope to a brick/rock.
And everyone get a Kucinich bumper sticker
I am a member, I’m not sure this is still the case, but the AARP credit card they push “ONLY”
charges around 19% interest. Not what I would call looking out for people on a limited income.
I will think twice about paying for another year.
No problem NovaScotian. The loonie is worth more than Bush’s brokenback dollar by now anyway. I put Dennis on my list with the Green Party, Amnisty, ACLU etc. It’s just a pensioner’s tithing but every little bit helps. Eh?
When AARP started, it was touted to be a strong political force and lobby for a growing class of senior citizens. Very quickly it discovered that it was much more profitable to turn itself into a huge insurance company for health, life, home owners, and auto insurance. Since then, they are part of the problem, not a solution to our countries’ domestic woes.
Thank you for this article! Kucinich needs to be heard, and this is a prime example of how he has been suppressed everywhere he goes. That’s what happens when a for the people, not for the ‘Man’, candidate voices concerns AGAINST corporate interests. Spread the word about Kucinich, and about this, yet ANOTHER attempt to keep him out of the public eye.
Peace,
TL
OK, IMAGINE THIS:
ALL CANDIDATES POST THEIR PLATFORMS WITH NO IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUTHOR.
NO WAY TO CONNECT WITH A GENDER
NO WAY TO CONNECT TO A RACE
NO WAY TO SEE WHAT THE PERSON LOOKES LIKE, HOW “ALPHA”, HOW TALL, HOW GOOD LOOKING, ETC.
NO WAY EVEN TO CONNECT TO PERSONAL HISTORY
JUST PLATFORM, THAT’S ALL
DENNIS KUCINICH WOULD WIN BY A COUNTRY MILE. BUT …. OH MY …. THE MEDIA HAVE CREATED THIS MANTRA: “HE’S NOT ELECTABLE, HE’S NOT ELECTABLE, HE’S NOT ……………. “
militantlibrarian, Dover,
“Now when I receive solicitations from AARP in the mail, I stuff everything they sent me into the reply envelope and mail it back.”
Don’t forget to wrap a brick in brown paper and then paste the return envelope to it!
Alas, I, too, joined AARP earlier this month. So I emailed them at
member@aarp.org (Thanks, whatfools!), added a link to article above, and told them to cancel my membership effective immediately (and to forward a copy of my email to William Novelli.
I haven’t received my card yet, so I told them that I expected a full refund of my membership fee as soon as they receive my cut-up card. I said that I have no intention of using it and refuse to belong to any group that opposes universal single payer healthcare and tries to prevent Dennis Kucinich from participating in the upcoming IPBS debate.
The next salvo will go to Iowa PBS , , ,
Dennis Kucinich has the right position on health care, animal protection, and everything else! I joined AARP to get 10% off my hotel rooms but soon found myself the recipient of streams of junk mail, mainly from insurance companies. I realised that there was a sinister agenda at work. I am appalled that PBS would ban my hero from this debate.
Lots of misguided seniors have AARP in their wills. If you’re one of them, change your will today!
Does anyone have phone numbers to call Iowa PBS if it engineered the Banning of Dennis? Or Novelli’s office (direct line). I expect he has an unlisted home number!
daveg90275’s comment regarding AARP’s requirements not being met by the Kucinich folks deserves serious attention and investigation. Having been an ardent Kucinich supporter until just recently, I believe Dennis has a number of serious faults that will ultimately be the cause of his political suicide. When I compare the current campaign with the 2004 campaign, I see (1) the same inability to hire staff who are competent and trustworthy, (2) the same tendency to seek “peace at any cost”, and (3) the same stubborn resistance to accept the advice of those more knowledgeable about and courageous on certain matters (e.g. seeking the truth about 911) than he.
Never join any organization who’s acronym sounds like a burp.
AARP from the beginning has looked after AARP. They rake piles of money off members who are also members of their medigap insurance, or who use any service AARP advertises.
Their support of the prescription drug act was the final straw for me. I quit. I still get renewal notices!
Their position on single payer reform has been rejected by the membership for years. Makes no difference. I’m surprised they have any members left. Almost everyone I know quit in 2003. Since they keep sending us renewal notices, I wonder if they still count us as members.
I never joined AARP because I did not see what they really had to offer me. I really turned against AARP when I felt they were too close to the pharmaceutical companies. They were pushing an Alzheimer’s drug. I had done a lot of research on this because of an elderly parent. There is no good evidence that these drugs improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s, and there are side effects. The money is better spent giving patients support in their daily activities. But families feel desparate, and the drugs play right into this. And AARP played right into the interests of the drug companies.
It is absurd not to invite Kucinich. He is probably the one with the best plan. It is not an open forum if the only plans discussed benefit insurance companies more than people.
AARP is a for profit exploiter. A classically profitable swindle with all the advantages of corporate theft repacked and advertised as a service. Outsourcing, tax evading, profiteering and controlling bastion of organized crime. I pray the old never give another cent to these gangsters and punish them, big pharma and big banking in a crushing trifecta.
good things..come in small packages.i would cheer to see mr. dennis…win !
It tells you a lot that the other scum in the Democratic Party are attending. I would have thought it was a no-brainer to insist that all candidates in an election be invited, and any other candidate with the character worthy to be president would withdraw as soon as they heard it wasn’t the case. So to me it says loads about Edwards, Obama etc that they are still showing up to this (I’ve known Hillary was scum of the earth for years … no surprises there).
Add this to Edwards and Hillary being caught on mic discussing how to get other candidates excluded from debates and you start to get a picture of the manipulative scum these people are. You certainly learn very fast that the very basic concepts of free and fair elections in a government of the people, by the people and for the people mean absolutely nothing to them.
One reason why I am no longer a Democrat and flat will not vote for any member of that party is that they make it plain over and over again that winning is all that’s important to them and that any scrap of integrity, honesty or principle gets tossed overboard the second it gets in the way of that goal. And they make it plain that what’s good for the country also doesn’t matter to them and gets discarded if it gets in the way of them winning.
What’s good for the country is that we have free and fair elections and open and honest debates on the issues. When the big health care companies get to exclude people who don’t support their agenda, and when the other candidates are happy to go along with this, you know all involved don’t give a damn about what’s good for the country. And we’ve elected way too many people like that already.
Why the hell is the AARP setting ‘requirements’ for the candidates?
It should be the other way around. The candidates and the party should have requirements for who they’ll let sponser these debates. And number one at the very top of the list should be that no candidate can be excluded.
BTW, the requirement of having a paid staffer in the state is a slap at grassroots campaigns. Saying one might not be too bad, but you’ve opened the door to them saying ‘ten’ in the future and thus excluding all candidates not back by big bribes from the wealthy and corporations. A true grassroots campaign might not have any paid staff in a state. Especially not 5 months out from the election.
PBS is a better target. They should be slapped for showing a debate that isn’t a true debate because not all candidates are included. And if PBS pulled their coverage, then AARP is left sponsering something seen only by the few hundred people in the room, and then other candidates would probably pull out too.
AARP isn’t going to give a damn what you think. You don’t have the millions of dollars to give them like United Healthcare. Instead, I’d target PBS with your emails and phone calls. Especially the local stations.
This for “whatfools” and others:
Easy. Just google on to Kucinich for President and send every single dollar you have to spare.
AFTER you ask him point-blank to explain publicly, on his own me-first website, precisely WHY he is running on the ticket of the other corporate interest party…instead of running as the peoples own candidate.
What fools indeed.
Kucinich is being deliberately blackballed because he actually makes sense. He is such a breath of fresh air when compared with the other candidates. Naturally they don’t want him up there where the voters can actually hear his rational vision for this country. He might get elected!
Kucinich is going up against the evil money forces of the evil empire we live in…
I suppose you feel safe to say that “Sir” Melvin Cleo-puss, not being here as an American citizen. I recall you wish to eleminate all of the world’s jews also.
I hope insurance men like Novelli finally do get their just rewards, but as the insurance industry rules the nation, that isn’t very likely. Insurance firms own everythng, including the banks.
I’d like to know why Mr. Kucinich and Mr. Gravell were excluded from the Democratic candidates “steak fry” in Iowa given by Sen. Tom Harkin. What a phoney bunch of jerks. Obviously they don’t believe in freedom of speech, just as their Republican masters do not.
Dennis Kucinich is “not electable?” If someone like George Bush can be “elected” and placed in the White House, ANYONE can be!
Have you ever listened to Mr. Kucinich speak? Mr. Kucinich is an intelligent, honest, and capable man. I guess that excludes him from being president of the USA.
Pat’s Presidential Platform.
1. Refuse rights of personhood from all corporations located in or doing business in the United States.
2. Initiate a Universal Healthcare program.
3. Pull troops out of Iraq.
4. Appoint a Department of Peace.
5. Raise the minimum wage to a livible wage of $10 per hour.
6. Introduce a flat tax rate of 10% of gross income, regardless of whether earned or unearned, on all individuals residing in the United States.
7. Introduce a flat tax rate of 25% of gross income of businesses or corporations employing more than 100 people.
6. Introduce a flat tax rate of 15% of gross income of all businesses employing 10-99 people.
7. Repeal the No Child Left Behind Act.
8. Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
9. Work to repair the seperation of church and state.
10. Work to return control of education, healthcare, social welfare and the National Guard to the states, where it rightfully belongs.
11. Downsize, downsize, downsize the federal government.
12. Work to pass legislation tying the pay and benefits of the three branches of government directly to the national minimum wage.
13. Work to create publically financed campaigns and to eliminate the 2 party system.
Well, that’s my platform. It is not in order of importance. There were other things I wanted to mention like returning the airwaves, the internet and all utilities to the control of the people. The need to develop a fair trade based economy and get out of NAFTA.
And of course there is the burning issue (pun intended) of global warming and how to end our dependence on fossil fuels. Finally, the need for a diplomacy based foreign policy.
So that’s it.
Is there still time for me to get in the race?
Peace
Pat
Mr. Kucinich is an intelligent, honest, and capable man. I guess that excludes him from being president of the USA.
Try not to be too bummed out. It took me a long time to catch on, too. It’s so counterintuitive.
GARBOTOO September 20th, 2007 6:13 pm
“Kucinich is going up against the evil money forces of the evil empire we live in…”
Yes, he is…….but if you and many other supporters can convince a few (”he can’t win”) friends and relatives to vote for him in the primaries, anything is possible!
We The People are getting sick and tired of the same old bullshit protection propaganda used by the politicians whose campaigns are being funded by these corporate predators.
Isn’t it time that you actually vote for the person you want to see in the White House instead of saying: “He can’t win”? Well, of course he can’t win if you don’t vote for him! And if DENNIS KUCINICH doesn’t win, does it really matter which other corporate-hack Democrat does win?
How many times do you have to get screwed by empty rhetoric before you learn?
We’ve always resisted joining AARP inspite of their continuous mailshots. we intuitively mistrusted them and it appears we were correct.
Is it too much to hope that some member of the audience will stand up and ask the candidates, or organisers how their plans shape up against that of Kucinich - and by the way why isn’t he present ?
All you Kucinich supporters have just had a taste of what it is like to be a Green or independent and to be denied the right to debate and participate in the political discourse. The Democratic Party (the “UN-democratic” party, that is) set up the unreasonable and politically motivated criteria for the debates just so they could exclude Kucinich—in exactly the same way they have done in general elections to avoid the daunting task of actually having to debate Ralph Nader instead of just slandering him from afar. Remember that Nader was threatened with arrest by the security guards on the payroll of the Democratic Party for simply showing up—valid ticket in hand—to WATCH the presidential debates on a closed-circuit TV in a room adjacent to the debate hall and be interviewed by a news crew. That’s the way the DLC Democrats deal with competition, only this time it is from a competitor from WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTY! I wouldn’t be surprised if they threatened Kucinich with arrest if he decided to show up uninvited to the debates.
So how does it feel when YOUR candidate is marginalized and excluded by the Democratic Party Goon Squad? I can’t vote in the Democratic primary, but I have written letters with the subject line saying “A debate is not a debate until ALL the candidates are present,” defending the right of Kucinich and Gravel to be heard. I’m not a Democrat, so why should I even care? Because I care about (lowercase “d”) democracy!
The televised debates are the most important way that citizens learn about the views and personalities of the candidates for high office. By restricting who the people get to see and hear, the political power brokers and their media enablers actually decide who is “electable” and who is not. Remember that several years ago, Jesse Ventura was considered an long-shot independent candidate until he was allowed to participate in the Minnesota debates and the people had a chance to see and hear him on television. That debate appearance made all the difference, and the “unelectable” Ventura went on to win the election.
We Greens stand up for the right of ALL ballot-qualified candidates to be heard in debates—including those candidates we don’t particularly agree with. In this case, we happen to agree with Kucinich on almost everything, but even if we didn’t we would still defend his right to participate in the debates.
My question is this: Will you stand up for the right of OUR candidates to participate in the debates when the time for the general election rolls around?
Gail
As a matter of fact I donated to Kucinich 6 months ago…I’ve liked him when he was the mayor of Cleveland at age 20y something. He’s always on the right side of most issue and he’s also a vegetarian…for that very reason he’s unelectable.
His biggest asset is his new Lovely wife..it’s taken the curse off of the loner image that he had…who’d vote for a short loner vegetarian..wrong image for the US…not macho enough
He’s the comeback kid!
It came out a long time ago that AARP was being run by one family, for their own benefit, and that collectively the other members had no power at all. This was so long ago I don’t have a copy or a link.
A debate that only invites those with enoug money to have at least one paid worker is not fair.
I switched the channel to My Name Is Earl reruns…
Shirley September 20th, 2007 4:03 pm
“I am appalled that PBS would ban my hero from this debate.
Lots of misguided seniors have AARP in their wills. If you’re one of them, change your will today!”
Yes, and remove PBS from your will!
TO ALL POSTERS:
I hope that you will “blanket e-mail” this piece (and comments) to everyone on your mailing list–and THEN SOME for two reasons:
1.) To let more people know about AARP’s underskin and covert true purpose.
2.) To let everyone know about Dennis Kucinich and his stance on healthcare and ALL the issues that will affect them.
To those who post negatives on Dennis because he happens to choose to fight the good fight “inside enemy lines”–SHAME ON YOU! And shame on your narrowness of mind to recognize a good politician when one appears. He is right out of the mold of Paul Wellstone and I’ve never heard any TRUE Progressive badmouth that gentleman.
http://www.dennis4president.com/home/
The majority of americans are too shallow to think for themselves. They want their daily news, information about insurance and medications, politicians, etc. packaged for them like some product they buy at the market. They don’t want to read the fine print just the large caption. Anyone who appears to be outside the norms (appearance or otherwise) and not packaged doesn’t stand a chance. Basically what I’m saying is a 5′ 2″ bald round man or a 6′ 9″ Ichabod Crane will not be elected president of the united states regardless of their intelligence, views and experience. By the way, I’m not saying Dennis is odd looking but I’m just making a point of how shallow people are. Kucinich matches my views more than anyone and I think it would be the greatest thing if he were elected president. I also realize there is no stinking way he will be elected president but he has the right to be heard as everyone does. I’m not being pessimistic but realistic.
good article.
greencat: “Kucinich matches my views more than anyone and I think it would be the greatest thing if he were elected president. I also realize there is no stinking way he will be elected president but he has the right to be heard as everyone does. I’m not being pessimistic but realistic.”
It’s that kind of negative, double-tongue speak that goes out into the Universe and becomes a self-fulfilling “wish”.
PLEASE, you and everyone else with the “Yeah-buts”, STOP sending out that harmful, defeatist energy!!!
I just emailed Iowa PBS at http://www.iptv.org/contact.cfm:
—–
“Shame on you for not letting Kucinich join the debate
I listen to PBS in Colorado and appreciate much of what your organization does–but I do NOT appreciate that you and AARP kept Dennis Kucinich from joining tonight’s debate on health care issues. Shame on you!
Ironically, I recently joined AARP–but I cancelled my membership effective today. I will not be part of any organization who limits debate on such important issues–much less of an organization that actively opposes a single payer universal health care system.
I am a progressive and not only do I vote at the polls–I vote with my wallet. I have asked for a full refund from AARP for my membership duesI over this issue, and I will not support PBS if your organization continues to limit debate as you did this time.”
—–
When the AARP card comes in the mail I will cut it up and return it to them. When I get my refund, I will send the money to Dennis!
Oh, on an interesting side note: I tried to stop receiving emails from AARP but their system appeared to be overloaded:
—–
https://mss.aarp.org/servlet/wppdispatcher
Thursday Sept 20 7:15 MDT
We are currently experiencing system problems.
Please call an AARP Representative at 1-800-424-3410 (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM, (ET) Monday - Friday) to process your request, or try back later.
Thank you.
—
Gee, I wonder if a bunch of angry progressives are tying up the site trying to cancel their memberships?
AARP is a money making business; its members are target customers. It has little interest in representing older peoples’ intrerest.
I watched the debate. There was one question only which touched on the single payer system Kucinich proposes, and it was skimmed over with “No”, ‘No”, ‘No” from each and Jo Biden changing the subject immediately.
There was no opportunity for the system to be explained to the audience so they could weigh it against the others put forward.
How is this democracy?
I am British by birth, spent most of my life there - I come from a country with socialised medicine - National Health Service, and I feel very grateful for this, having seen the travesty of health care in the USA. I feel so bad for the people here. I am angry for you. And angry that the one candidate who could and would help has been denied the opportunity of explaining his plans to a wide audience.
Such a great discussion with facts about AARP that I’d never heard before. Also will think twice before sending PBS any money again. I’ve been a member of AARP for years (I’m almost 80) so will also let them know I quit!
Reading and taking part in blogs is new to me. I sure didn’t expect to stay up this late but I’m hooked! This really is a great way to spread the word. I’ve been a Kucinich supporter since his run a few years ago, when his literature was much about my concerns, and especially his Department of Peace. Let’s urge everyone to learn more about him and give ourselves the gift of a great leader.
mickm:
Welcome! Well done!! Well said!!!
http://www.dennis4president.com/home/
Anniesee, it’s not “democracy.” It’s fascism.
“The Police State Is Right Here, Right Now
By Carolyn Baker
In the “10 easy steps” outlined by (Naomi) Wolf (”Fascist America, In Ten Easy Steps”), countries move from open to closed and repressive societies by devolving past certain markers, and Wolf makes a powerful case for the way in which the United States is following a similar pattern without any significant deviation. In each instance she compares and contrasts how America’s adherence to the pattern compares or contrasts with the pattern in pre-World War II Germany. The 10 steps are:
1. Invoking an external and internal threat
2. Establishing secret prisons
3. Developing a paramilitary force
4. Surveiling ordinary citizens
5. Infiltrating citizens’ groups
6. Arbitrarily detaining and releasing citizens
7. Targeting key individuals
8. Restricting the press
9. Casting criticism as “espionage” and dissent as “treason”
10. Subverting the rule of law”
Kucinich for President 2008, 11808 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44111
How about all of us sending our AARP renewal fees ($12.50 per year) to Dennis Kucinich instead. I’ve included the mailing address above. You can also go to Mr. Kucinich’s website, and contribute by credit card.
A mere $12.50 is not a lot of money for most of us. It’s 1/2 a drop in the bucket of what a campaigner must raise these day. But if Dennis receives $12.50 from every “AARP eligible” who believes in his integrity and his message, we can make a real difference in his electability. Our country needs to hear what he has to say!
Whaddya think? My check is going out in tomorrow’s mail.
Quitting AARP is simple, and you get a prorated refund [eventually]. Sending that money to Kucinich is good, he sure can use it!
There is another senior organization that I much prefer to Aarp. It’s the Alliance for Retired People. Much more progressive, union oriented, and activist then Aarp. They don’t stuff my mail box either, just send me a weekly on-line newsletter and occasional alerts when something important is happening.
Oh, they support single-payer health care…
Check them out at: http://www.retiredamericans.org/
Why does Kucinich have to have ANYONE represent him in IOwa? There are other primaries that he may be more interested in! It sounds like a situation similar to ID needed to vote.
AARP isn’t anything more, or better, than the rest of this silly drama going on. It’s just a huge corporate scam focused on herding us sheep around and around the corral until we’re milked (bled) dry. And the “journalism” presented in its publications is, for want of a beter word…vapid. Try using any of their services (multi-billion $ corporations) and it’s quickly apparent where AARP’s interests lie. Novelli is a whore to moneyed interests, an is, oh, so charming, as he grabs hold of your crotch and your pocket-book. Actually, I’d like it better if a genuine ho was holding my hand instead of AARP…the $ would be much better spent and wouldn’t leave such a bitter aftertaste.
Dennis Kucinich’s stance on healthcare…as well as other issues…is the only one that really makes sense. But, until many more of the sheeple stampeding around the corral catch the scent of the wolf about to chomp on their throats, I don’t think there’s much hope. It’s all just too comfortable…or at least the Koolaid were sucking up makes us think.
I’ve heard that before Bush took office, AARP was actually an effective organization that looked out for seniors, but then the Republicans did a purge of the activists and installed the nasty Novelli to turn the place into the insurance and junk mail mill it is today. My God, they even have ‘Harry and Louise’ TV ads with the actors wondering if they have enough insurance — it’s insulting to the millions of seniors who can’t afford their prescriptions, much less AARP’s high-priced ’supplemental’ health insurance. Flogging is too good for Novelli and his fellow AARP swindlers, taking advantage of older folks on a fixed income.
This is the same tactic, incidentally, that the Bush-Rove GOP used on the Reform Party in 2000; they forced Pat Buchanan and a host of well-funded ‘ex-Republicans’ into top posts in the Reform Party and they squandered the $12 million in federal election funds the party received, effectively guaranteeing it would be no threat to Bush in the general election. (It wasn’t.) Today, the Reform Party is in tatters, a true third party destroyed by unprincipled, greedy, power-hungry Republicans, just as the AARP was.
I hope the Greens fare better, but I can’t help but be cynical about their prospects in the current corporately-financed two-party political environment.
Here we go again! People did you all just fall off a turnip truck?
Did you expect AARP to stay a real for senior citizens place?
Now I know nothing about this guy who leads AARP but there is a 99 percent chance that what I just read about him is true.
We Liberals think that if something is good it will never change, What SMUCKS we are. We sit back la laing a happy tune, yet from the very day AARP made a differance for the Senior folk the powers that be started their take over of this place.
Hey AARP cost them profit that is high treason. Their armies of financial terrorists and their goosestepping bankers were on the march to do like Hitler did with excuse the spelling Checzhlovakia.Only this time it was gotten away without even a single person noticing it.
Truly we have taken all the power we have and thrown it away. Everyone of us now is only concerned about themselves. We just want to survive in our little corners of the world.
You got to know I am talking about more then AARP here people. If you would only look around at all we have given up without even a single peep from us for our little corner.You Do Know The Powers That Be could legally take our little place from us in a moment.
Yes I belong to AARP. I have read their Magazine where they spend most of the words trying to get more Senior dollars then then do anything.
What has AARP done for me? Very Little ,but it is still a place where a large amount of people do vote in a block on a few subjects.
Maybe one day this AARP will wake up and be furious what has gone on with them.
It is for sure outside here where we put our few words of protest there is little to no chance that we will ever unite.
A little PS here! Would anyone like to bet that at this very second the Powers That Be aren’t in the proccess of taking over CommonDreams.org? and they will do it
GENE THERAPY is absolutely right! Dennis Kucinich has a platform that most Americans would support and IF the Main$tream Media actually covered him and reported how people react to him when they hear him, he would be THE top candidate and on his way to being our next President. I can dream, can’t I????
When AARP did not take a stand in the 2000 presidential race, I discontinued my membership.
Any candidate with progressive ideas and plans benefitting common working-class people will be marginalized and kept in the background by the monopolistic corporate media and even by their own political party.
Dennis Kucinich is the man and Mike Gravel for his VP. Talk about a ‘dream ticket’.
Doesn’t anyone remember that AARP IS an insurance company? Their political pressure group is a marketing tool for their insurance.
With the tens of thousands of insurance workers that will no longer be needed with Universal Healthcare, has anyone proposed how to train these people to be healthcare workers providing care to those in need?
OK: I just heard on the radio, that Kucinich was invited, but for some unknown reason did not attend.
If this is true, the author of this article and Common Dreams need to get their act together.
I don’t like being fooled.
What are the facts, Common Dreams?
See:
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=200709201680.2_f8cb00408e5f927b
Dover - See the 10th (I think) comment from the top by daveg90275.
Apparently AARP didn’t receive a response, within a time frame, from Kucinich’s office following their invitation( with a list of 4 requirements), to the debate.
If they didn’t receive a response there could have been other reasons than rejection - and they didn’t receive a rejection. It would have been more fair if they had enquired futher. Obama rejected the invitation. Kucinich, as far as we know didn’t. Because Kucinich’s stance is different from the others you’d expect equal-handed organisers to have at least made a second enquiry of Kucinich’s office. But they are not even-handed, that’s now quite clear.
See also a report here
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,182798.shtml
PBS has been taken over by the dark side to use as their tool. Don’t trust anything you hear or see on it anymore. As a matter of fact they[CIA,FBI,spooks in general] have their tentacles into pracically everything. There is no media you can trust anymore. You just have to compare one source against the other check and recheck then decide for yourself whatever the truth is.
Dennis for President [independant]. Screw the Democrats they are just different faces for the same leadership.
I received an Action Alert on Thursday from the Kucinich campaign. Kucinich DID reply to the invitation and DID meet ALL of the requirements. He was BLACK BALLED, pure and simple!! This was the PERFECT forum for Kucinich to be heard on healthcare reform. His voice was silenced by AARP and PBS. There are many good links in other posts to have your outrage heard. DO IT!!
THELORAX
and never join an organization whose acronym sounds like HAARP.
Let me predict PBS’ wimpy excuse: They had nothing to do with the debate other than hosting it; it was AARP who vetted all the candidates — please GOP, don’t take away our funding and our soft yuppie jobs!
Except for NOW, Bill Moyers and a couple of special events, PBS is hardly worth watching anymore.
Rebel Farmer: Good Lord, you mean to tell me that I can’t even believe what I heard on progressive radio this morning, either? They said that Kucinich received an invitation, but didn’t respond to it.
Thom Hartmann, I think it was on your show. I know you read this blog (but you may not be reading this one now, since it is yesterday’s news…).
Sounds like Mr. Kucinich was indeed intentionally slighted.
AARP can drop dead, and so, too, can all the insurance companies stealing from hard working people. Kucinich is right on with a single-payer
health care programme.
I welcome paying tax for such a programme . . . the cost far less than what the thieving profiteering insurance companies take from us honest, patriotic citizens.
Listen up Hillary, Obama, Edwards, and the rest: promise single-payer health care or forget winning in 2008.
I, and everybody I know including many many hard-working Republicans, demand Kucinch be on the debate next Thursday.
Kucinich and Gore are the best for America’s future . . . if there is to be a future!
So Dennis Kucinich is unelectable because he’s a vegetarian? hahaha……..what next.
I tore up my AARP card and sent it back to them years ago after one of their earlier insurance scams. Never regretted it.
They remind me of the Red Cross. The wheels and administrators get princely sums while the work is done by thousands of volunteers, who have to collect money for teaching first aid and CPR.
Then there is disaster relief. Everything that gets donated to disaster victims gets charged for by the ARC. During WW-II we donated to the ARC for things like having coffee and donuts and cigarettes for the troops awaiting embarkation. The ARC charged for every donut, cuppa, and short pack of smokes given out (by volunteers) to the troops.
AARP is just the same. Everything costs so those CEO’s can afford their Mercedes, mistresses and penthouses. (or whatever turns them on these days)
A pox on all their chickens.
My bill for annual dues with AARP is laying in front of me on the desk. After reading this I printed it out and put it in the envelope with the blank bill and no payment to be mailed tomorrow. Hopefully it will be effective.
This from my state senator,
From: “Senator Jim Ferlo”
To:XXX
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:57:03 -0400
Subject: Fwd: AARP To Kucinich Drop Dead - CommonDreams.org
>>> Senator Jim Ferlo 9/20/2007 4:10 PM >>>
fyi; please distribute; jferlo
>>> Senator Jim Ferlo 9/20/2007 4:01 PM >>>
Attn: All Staff
National AARP is nothing more than a pyramid scheme for elderly constituents. They own their own for profit health insurance corporation and are part of the Medicare Bush Part D scam. I don’t want any staff dealing with national AARP, they are discredited, I am not going to contribute to them in any way or at any level. They sucker in people, especially the elderly. We are not to xerox notices for them anymore or be involved with them with any administrative, organizational or political/financial resources. Refer anyone from AARP to me directly and share this memo and the commondreams article about the single payer health care debate.
Their direct marketing firm has sent me over 50 requests to join in the past few years which I mailed back in rejection. The national AARP are scam artists and parasites preying on those most vulnerable in our society.
Senator Jim Ferlo
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/20/3972/
To willo: Do you have access to Pacifica Radio? ’cause they have amy Goodman on Democracy NOW every day and on Link TV and some local stations. Also, there’s Air America. Both are very good and cover current news in-depth and fairly.
liberatus fugit: Really enjoyed your comments. Thanks.
“PBS has been taken over by the dark side to use as their tool. Don’t trust anything you hear or see on it anymore. As a matter of fact they[CIA,FBI,spooks in general] have their tentacles into pracically everything.”
Willo, it’s worse than that: former CIA head and current neocon prince James Woolsey once bragged that there was a CIA agent in every US newsroom, and they make sure the news coverage doesn’t get ‘out of hand.’ But I agree with mickm — Democracy Now, Keith Olbermann and some other programs seem to have trustworthy news, as well as websites like TPM, TruthDig, Buzzflash, Greg Palast, Bartcop, Alternet, No Quarter, Make Them Accountable, and the site you’re reading right now.
PJD, good for you and Jim Ferlo; wish we had more like him in office.