AARP

The Absolutely Urgent Need For Compromise In The Tradition Of The Founding Fathers!

Ronald 1 Comment

With the nation on the brink of financial chaos, due to the failure to have both sides come to an agreement on the Debt Ceiling and budget cuts, America is entering uncharted territory that is arguably the most dangerous since the Great Depression, and possibly the Civil War!

When one looks at our history, one realizes that our brightest and greatest moment was the time of the Founding Fathers, when compromise ruled and we came up with a Constitution that involved sacrifice of the differing sides of the political battle toward the greater good, compromise to save the nation at a dangerous moment!

When we look at the Civil War, it was exactly the opposite of compromise, and the nation suffered through four long years of war, and two thirds of a million soldiers killed, because compromise was no longer possible.

The Great Depression saw tremendous division, but yet a unity among the American people that they had to support the effort that had been started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, rather than create a divided government of the two houses of Congress in the hands of opposing parties, causing paralysis!

It is time that this nation moved toward a short term solution in the image of the Founding Fathers, followed by a long term solution whereby the American people make a choice as to their future, by giving full authority either to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to take action without a paralyzed Congress in which no compromise is possible!

It is not acceptable to have a continuation of what the American people, by their lack of knowledge or participation have wrought at the present–divided and paralyzed government! The only way government can work is full control by one party for a four year term of a President, followed by an opportunity for a reversal in view by the American people, but in a manner that allows action, instead of stalemate!

The battle for the future can only be decided by full accountability, not by creating a government which can do nothing except hurl accusations back and forth, and therefore prevent any action! This dangerous situation cannot be allowed to continue!

So therefore, what must be done right now, through compromise?

1. Raise the debt ceiling through the next Presidential election in one action.
2. Agree to long term changes in Medicare that allow gradual raising of the age limit to 67 for people under the age of 50 now, but allowing, as with Social Security, a lowered coverage at age 65 for those who do not wish to wait to 67 to gain full benefits.
3. Raise the Social Security full benefits for future retirees, so that those born in 1980 and after must wait for full benefits to age 68, and those born in 1990 and after must wait for benefits to age 69, but in each case having the ability to gain lower benefits, as now, at age 62 or somewhat later if they wish.
4. Have the Social Security tax apply to all income, not just to $106,800, as with Medicare, which has no limits.
5. Agree that some increase in taxes on the top two percent MUST occur, but less than what has been proposed in the past.

It is essential that the lobbying groups, including those for corporations and the wealthy, and for the AARP and other progressive groups, have to be told that compromise is unavoidable, and that sacrifice is necessary, but in a way that affects people, regarding taxation and the social safety net, in a way that is less harsh, but part of being a patriotic American, accepting responsibility of paying more taxes and recognizing that social programs, to be saved, require some changes in age limits and taxation levels!

Once compromise is reached, both parties go to the country, and hopefully, instead of creating a paralyzed government that can accomplish nothing, we go more in the way of parliamentary government, the creation of total responsibility that can be reversed by the electorate in future elections, if the public is more educated and involved and decides major changes are needed!

So we need a combination of the late 1780s and the 1930s, rather than the 1860s, if we are to have progress as a nation to resolve our differences, and have a government that works!

The AARP Begins To Concede On Social Security And Medicare: Is That A Wise Move?

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The American Association For Retired Persons has long been a group unwilling to recognize the long range financing problem of Social Security and Medicare.

Suddenly, the organization has made an about face and is beginning to concede that some changes in the systems set up by Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal and Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society in the 1930s and 1960s are essential for long term survival.

Those who are strongly progressive are bitterly opposed to any changes, but it is not a question of what one would wish. Rather, it is of what MUST be done to avoid privatization or destruction of the system, with privatization really much the same as destruction!

The author has stated earlier in this blog, over the past couple of years, of the need for two changes: raise the amount of income taxed for Social Security to be unlimited, just as with Medicare; and raise the retirement and eligibility age for Social Security and also Medicare.

Also, tighter controls over Medicare fraud and payouts MUST be instituted, so that the system will be available for the long term future!

One must recall that Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill of Massachusetts and President Ronald Reagan, who often sparred with each other with their totally differing views of the role of government, came up with an agreement in 1983, which transformed the Social Security system, with very little negative effect. That was to raise the retirement age for those born after 1938 by two months, making it 66 for those born in 1944 and after, and age 67 for those born after 1960.

The change was done with additional taxes on higher incomes up to the range of $106,800 where it now stands, and no one was victimized, because everyone knew that 20 plus years later, the changes would affect them, and they had time to plan for their own retirement in addition to Social Security benefits. And for those who wished to retire earlier, the younger age of 62 was kept, although at lower rate than earlier, but again with a generation of notice as to the changes which were coming.

So, to raise the retirement age for full Social Security to age 68 for people born after 1980 and to age 69 for people born after 1990 is acceptable with plenty of warning. The reality is that people are living longer and staying healthier longer and often working longer, so as long as one prepares ahead of time, and with the earlier retirement age of 62 at lower rate of payment available, there is no reason why such reforms cannot be accomplished.

As far as Medicare age, it could be raised for people born after 1980 to age 66 and those born after 1990 to 67, with provision that those who are in poor health could start at age 64 or 64 with reduced benefits.

This will not please everyone, but such changes will be essential in order to avoid the Republican plan to privatize and or destroy both systems, part of our safety net, that MUST be preserved, but in a rational way!

Former Senator Alan Simpson: Lots Of Common Sense, But Highly Controversial!

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Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, who served from 1979 to 1997, has always been known for being blunt, colorful in his language, and highly controversial.

A conservative in his voting in the Senate, Simpson, however, exudes a lot of common sense, even though he antagonizes on a regular basis.

A critic of the American Association Of Retired Persons (AARP), who he accuses of being only a business to make money, rather than an advocate for senior citizens, Simpson headed the President’s Deficit Commission last year, co chairing with Erskine Bowles, Democrat and Bill Clinton advisor.

The two men came up with recommendations to change the Social Security System long term and to pare defense spending by bringing many of our troops home from foreign countries, and they were immediately vilified for their stand.

But what they advocated makes a lot of sense, and their suggestion to raise the retirement age to 68 by 2050 and 69 by 2075 is certainly reasonable, as we already have had one change in age, the 1983 law negotiated between Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill and President Ronald Reagan, raising the retirement age to 66 for those born after 1960.

Simpson has now come out to declare that the Republican Party has a horrible group of candidates, none of which enthuses him, and he was particularly super critical of those, such as Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and others who use the “social” issues of gay rights and abortion as part of their appeal.

Simpson may be annoying to many, but he has a lot of common sense and practical advice, and should not be ignored!

But it is clear to Simpson and to this author that the GOP is in real trouble, with very few candidates that are legitimate!

Again, as the author contends, the ONLY GOP candidates that have real credentials that could possibly lead to a serious challenge to President Barack Obama are Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, and Tim Pawlenty.

With Romney announcing an exploratory committee today, and Pawlenty hiring his campaign manager, the race is beginning, but too much air is being taken out by the loonies and the crazies, and unless one of these three above named can pull things out of the ditch, the Republican Party will be a joke in 2012!

Health Care Reform, The AARP, And The AMA

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With all of the bitter attacks on health care reform legislation by conservatives and Republicans, the American Association of Retired Persons and the American Medical Association have come out in support of the House of Representatives bill, that has been denounced by one Republican Congresswoman as more dangerous than terrorism for America.

The preposterous nature of Virginia Foxx’s attack and similar ones by other GOP leaders and talk show hosts, and even entertainers such as Pat Boone and Jon Voight, is well documented by the strong support that health care reform is receiving from thoughtful Americans who realize that the lack of better health care is killing 45,000 Americans every year, and forcing many thousands into bankruptcy and other tragic results.

This is the most important piece of legislation since 1965 when Medicare was passed, after bitter attacks similar to the present battle. We are reaching the moment of reckoning as the year 2009 nears an end!

Strong Support For Health Care Reform From AMA And AARP

Ronald 1 Comment

Very encouraging news this weekend comes from the head of the American Medical Association and the leader of the American Association Of Retired Persons, two powerful groups that have endorsed Health Care plans advocated by President Obama and Democratic leaders of Congress.

They argued that rationing of health care would NOT occur, and that the so called accusations of “death panels” was a terrible falsehood, and that a complete overhaul would promote major savings and get rid of waste present in today’s health care system.

This was a major rebuke to GOP leaders who contend that the administration plan has too many flaws, and should be abandoned.

This news comes at a time when the Democrats and Obama can use any support they can get, with the growing attack on the plan by corporate and conservative interests.