Thank you for going out of your way to be fair, I appreciate that. I should have been more careful not to insult people without reason, and I should have been more specific about seeing the elders as having the most resources as a group by virtue of having been careful with their money, being the one's that "made it", not as being undeserving. Not as being foolish or wasting their time with leisure pursuits; it's what we ALL want! :) And certainly NOT to say seniors have it well off in general. It's not my impression that seniors are having an easy time right now, as a whole. I thought the fact that I hadn't said they didn't deserve their money or fun time was enough, but I can see it still had that tone. I think I was baiting. Not good. Sorry about your being ill! Been there myself recently; hope you feel better very soon and that you have good weather and sunshine :)
When I talk about play time, what I have seen is that many leisure activities, such as gambling and traveling, are predominantly retiree. I ask for more social responsibility, and yes, especially for those with the leisure time, to participate. I guess, simply, it's not that most retirees are well off...it's that most well off folks are retirees. Even if it's just a fraction of seniors overall. If you're on a cruise, going out for the evening, you can easily see that this group has a large number of folks with expendable income and leisure time. That, combined with more experience, worldly wisdom, assuming a vested interest in the welfare of their communities, it makes a difference, I think. Because this group is a powerful voting voice.
I guess I think it could make a difference, especially since this is basically the most conservative group of citizens. It seems if THEY decided to put their efforts to stopping the many goals of this corrupt Admin, it would help. And if they don't, if they instead choose, as a group, such as the AARP, to only involve themselves with retirement issues? Well, I can easily understand that is what their group is primarily for, but in the current political situation, there are larger influences at work over their money. AND their country. If THEY decided to get loud, stout conservatives facing down this "conservative" admin? They stand a chance. They won't be slandered. They won't be "out-Christian-ed". It might help.
Finally, I just get disgusted, because it seems if they don't get involved in other affairs, they'll regret it. As we'll ALL regret it, if our nation slides completely into fascism. Simple constitutional conservatism would be enough. Maybe I am a little whiney, a little selfish. I want my mommy? I don't know, I want the older folks to help, gamble with something else...something that matters! Those that do have the means...should care about more than SS right now. Especially for their fellow retirees that aren't as well off, because that number of people isn't going to be getting any smaller. Certainly any hardship is harder for someone not in the "prime of health" age group. It's just that much worse to be unemployed, just that much worse to be homeless. That much worse a tragedy to let happen.
From reading your post, it sounds like you know all these facts and many more. I couldn't be preaching more to the choir! Thanks for your post, and I wish you good luck in all your efforts!
p.s. And hey, for you, I spell-checked ;) by whatever on Mon Mar 28th, 2005 at 10:18:49 AM EDT http://www.gstlnorml.org [ Parent ]
Since I retired almost a year ago, I spend more than half the day, every day, reading political messages, and replied to petitions and contributing to various political causes. I am not an American citizen (yet), and care much more about what happens to this country than "natives," people who have been born here. It scares me to think that this country is going to hell in a handbasket because of religious fanatics who think they know God personally and will use any- and everything in a political context to try to earn points. This administration's tactic is "keep them scared." That's also the way religion works.
As for AARP, I quickly abandoned this organization when they sided with the Bush administration in the drug issue.
Another thing that really irks me is that people will sell their own country for a dime by shopping at Wal-Mart. But, that's another story in itself. I have seen this coming for several years now. I have boycotted Wal-Mart for at least ten years. Pretty soon, every country will wake up saluting the Chinese flag and wonder what happened.
Monmon
- The majority is usually wrong, but the majority rules! by monmon on Tue Mar 29th, 2005 at 12:23:17 AM EDT http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml [ Parent ]
After reading what you said about the AARP, I don't think we disagree. I'm a libertarian; I truly believe people deserve to keep what is their own. It's not that I think they're obligated. More like I think their vision is too narrow, and right now, that's a dangerous problem.
It's the fact that the AARP sided with Bush at all that has bothered me. It seems like, at this point in time when it's clear the Admin is...out of whack...they should be that much more active in helping to undo the damage that's been done, and taking an active role in thwarting further damage to the country. I think they, I guess the organizations primarily, have a responsibility to remove even the appearance of their support for this Administration. Not just Social Security, but that's all I've seen any movement on.
As far as not being able to judge other retiree activities, well, I can't argue, I only know what I see, so it's just my perception. I haven't witnessed much concern about Bush. It feels much more status quo, business as usual, passing dissatisfaction but no immediate danger. What can I say, it feels like the Titanic to me. by whatever on Tue Mar 29th, 2005 at 05:33:26 AM EDT http://www.gstlnorml.org [ Parent ]
Every state that has a swing-vote senator will have AARP forums, which have been drawing about 300 people each. And every time a member of Congress holds a town meeting, AARP volunteers are dispatched there to protest the president's plan for individual accounts.
Or Make a New Account
t r u t h o u t news feed t r u t h o u t town meeting t r u t h o u t video podcasts