The AARP are a bunch of bleeding heart liberals

[Wicked Jester]

The AARP (Army Against Republican People [sarcasm]) has the published its list of People Of The Year. Look who is on the list: Harry Belafonte. Lets back up for a minute though. What is the AARP? Let's investigate.

From the AARP Website (American Association of Retired Persons ) (http://www.aarp.org/)

Enhancing quality of life for all as we age. Leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50 and over through information, advocacy and service. Visit AARP website for resources on aging and retirement; discounts on drugs, travel; insurance, financial services, and a wide range of unique benefits and products for members."

Seems by thier charter that is is a great organization. My grandma is (was) even a member. On the surface it seems like they are not a political organization. If you look deeper into this lobby group you can see they certainly lean to the left.

If you read thier policy book (The Policy Book: AARP Public Policies 2005 http://www.aarp.org/issues/policies/policy_book/) you will see that the organization favors strict gun control, entitlements for migrant workers and a progressive tax policy.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Congress should eliminate gaps in and strengthen enforcement of the Brady
Handgun Violence Prevention Act and other federal gun laws.

Programs for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers
Greater emphasis should be placed on meeting the housing needs of migrant
and seasonal farmworker families, concentrating on those who are older or
have disabilities.
Outreach programs should be developed to ensure greater participation by
migrant and seasonal farmworkers in all low-income assistance programs.

http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/legpolicy/2_tax05.pdf
There is just to much to quote in here, if you just page through and read it you will see what I mean)

A Progressive tax is tax that represents a greater proportion of a person's income as their income rises. In other words, the average rate of taxation rises. Its pretty much income redistribution.

The AARP also is in favor of the so called 'Death Tax'

Property tax deferrals
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia
also offer property tax deferrals, often for those whose incomes are too low
to afford payment, in exchange for some arrangement for the deferred taxes
to be paid upon some event, such as the owner’s death

Stop a random senior citizen and ask them what they think of the death tax (if you don't know one)

When a family member inherits a family business after the death of its owner, they don't simply pay taxes for the liquid assets inherited. Truth is, they have to pay the government up to 55% in taxes -- in cash -- on all assets, including land, building, equipment, and more. Because the estate taxes are unreasonably high, many heirs who cannot afford to pay them are forced to sell their business, break up or liquidate their assets. (http://www.deathtax.com/deathtax/issue.html)

The AARP is also for higher taxes on gasoline in order to conserve it (Nonetheless, excise taxes serve a useful social purpose by discouraging the
consumption of harmful commodities such as tobacco or by encouraging the
conservation of commodities such as gasoline.)

Now lets go back to thier 'People Of The Year'

Mr. Harry Belafonte

(http://www.aarpmagazine.org/people/impact_awards_bela.html)

Let's look at a few things he has said:

"There's an old saying, In the days of slavery, there were those slaves who lived on the plantation and [there] were those slaves that lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master ... exactly the way the master intended to have you serve him.

Colin Powell's committed to come into the house of the master. When Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture."

"Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich. Color does not necessarily denote quality, content or value."

"[If] a black is a tyrant, he is first and foremost a tyrant, then he incidentally is black. Bush is a tyrant and if he gathers around him black tyrants, they all have to be treated as they are being treated."

"In fact and practice ... you are serving those who continue to design our oppression," he said of Powell and Rice. "That is villainy, and I insist you look at it."

Belafonte, also says he expects "the Bush administration to try to wipe away affirmative action, eliminate a woman's right to choose abortion and pursue a war with Iraq "that makes absolutely no sense."

"Sept. 11 wasn't just Bin Laden. Bin Laden didn't come from the abstract. He came from somewhere, and if you look where ... you'll see America's hand of villainy."

The AARP cites his work with the UN as a reason he was on thier list. The UN! Now that is a laugh. A UN credential and $2.50 will get you a cup of coffee and a doughnut at Dunkin Donuts.

So there it is. The AARP is a liberal Lobby group hiding in plain sight. I highly doubt that a vast majority of seniors (35 million members according to the AARP) know what this groups is really doing. If you know someone in the AARP make sure you inform them about thier true agenda and ask them if this an organization they want to be a part of. There is an alternative to the AARP. USA Next is on of them and there is another one but I can't seem to recall the name at the moment. I ammend this post once i track that name down

*WARNING* I did not do any research on USA Next and am no way saying to signup with them. I glanced and some of thier material but did nothing in depth. In time I will take a look at them as well because at first glance AARP does no look like it leans left, but as I have shown above it certainly does.

[RightisRightLeftisWrong]

Oi Ve. Another burden on our treasury. Why can't we just shut all this shit down and make people earn their own way.

Because aslong as you have the gimmie gimmie crowed who want the goverment to pay for everything you wont be seeing stuff like this being shut down.

[Oi_Ve]

Oi Ve.

You raaaaaaaaang?

Now, while I myself am not a member of AARP, and while it does hold certain stances to which I myself am opposed, AARP has done significant good for many of my friends and colleages and done tremendous services to the elderly. Indeed, if it weren't for them many of my good friends would most likely be dead for one reason or another.
Its work is predominantly with old people, they aren't experts on political issues like gun control and what not and, quite frankly, I have never met a member of the AARP who actually gave a damn about their policy on migrant workers, guns, or Belafonte.
They should stick with what they know, yes, but they also need a stance on other issues to appease critics.

[RightisRightLeftisWrong]

They should stick with what they know, yes, but they also need a stance on other issues to appease critics.

Sometimes the best stance is staying neutrual, when it comes to politics.

[Count Rugen]

My dad was in AARP. That is all.

[Wadi66]

but they also need a stance on other issues to appease critics.I don't agree OV. They are suppose to be spokesmen for the elderly, on issues of singular importance to the elderly. Over the years it has become apparent they are also using their leverage to impact issues that are more social in nature than of singular importance. One can hardly argue how the elderly would be victimized were they unable to defend themselves, i.e. gramma shoots the intruder. And as an organization geared to the needs of the elderly, they use their leverage to place undue fear in the hearts and minds of their members, then turn on Congressmen claiming that if they don't support these social issues, their elderly constituents will vote against them. Personally I'm pretty sick of special interest groups twisting the arms of Congress.

[Dagummit]

Wasn't it AARP that was saying that Bush would make drugs unaffordable for the elderly?

[Oi_Ve]

Over the years it has become apparent they are also using their leverage to impact issues that are more social in nature than of singular importance. One can hardly argue how the elderly would be victimized were they unable to defend themselves, i.e. gramma shoots the intruder. And as an organization geared to the needs of the elderly, they use their leverage to place undue fear in the hearts and minds of their members, then turn on Congressmen claiming that if they don't support these social issues, their elderly constituents will vote against them. Personally I'm pretty sick of special interest groups twisting the arms of Congress.

I too am sick of special intrest groups, hence why I refrain from participating in the AARP. I'm certainly not defending them in their entirity, far from it. But at the same time it does offer beneficial services, and I think its good points warrant mentioning as well.
But the incorporation of other ideas into the AARP is exactly what Madison said would happen to a faction. In an attempt to gain power, the faction has to lean farther away from its base and go towards the middle, in this case to grab members. Thus the faction loses its radical tendencies and becomes easier to manage. Its forced to become social and thus its less likely to impose radical measures and policies when it gets into power.
But it is an interest group so, like ALL interest groups, of course it uses scare tactics, thems politics.
However, the AARP has not (at least to my knowledge anyways) launched any huge anti assault rifle campaign. Now it might support the Brady Bill, but it hardly seems fair to condemn the organization as against guns if it doesn't actually act on that stance.

And, Dag, I think the AARP criticized Bush's drug policy, not necessarily he himself.

[Guns R Cool]

Sometimes the best stance is staying neutrual, when it comes to politics.

Exactly, the AARP should help retired people. But voicing their complaints with things that have nothing to do with retired people is what I like to call "having an unnecessary agenda."