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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPetition concerning AARP back-room meetings on Social Securities future.
I received the following, just passing it along.
From:
Brian Sonenstein
Director of Online Activism,
Firedoglake.com
AARP is holding back-room meetings to strategize with social security opponents.
The Huffington Post reports that AARP CEO Barry Rand is inviting outspoken safety net opponents to an "off-the-record, salon style" meeting on March 27th on the future of social security, called The E Street Exchange, including US Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue, Merrill Lynch Executive Harold Ford Jr. and former MI Gov. John Engler from the Business Rountable for corporate CEO's.1
Once again, AARP is working behind the scenes to build support for benefit cuts while masquerading about as an ardent defender of the safety net to its massive, dues-paying membership.
This is outrageous, and AARP should immediately call off the event and disavow this shameful attempt to throw its weight behind benefit cuts. Can you join us in demanding AARP CEO Barry Rand cancel the back-room E Street Exchange meeting on cutting social safety net benefits?
Tell AARP CEO Barry Rand to cancel the E Street Exchange event and abandon his efforts to throw AARP's support behind benefit cuts.
Click here to add your name: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/aarp-rand
Last summer, our campaign of over 32,000 activists was successful in getting AARP to backtrack after their board voted to drop its opposition to social safety net cuts.2
But while AARP is offering a pathetic 6-question survey and 'town hall series' called "You Earned A Say and We're Listening" as a gesture towards "listening" to their 40 million+ membership, it seems they are most interested in adopting the same kind of off-the-record, unaccountable negotiations over benefit cuts that have characterized numerous attempts to dismantle the social safety net over the past few years -- from the Catfood Commission to the Super Committee.3
Laughably, while Rand's E Street Exchange is holding "relaxed and robust" discussions on "Strengthening Social Security: Facing up to the Challenge" with Washington's 1%, AARP's 6-question online survey assures its members: "...AARP is taking the debate about the future of these programs out from behind closed doors in Washington, so you can make your voice heard."4
Clearly, just from looking at the invitation to their salon style talk, nothing could be further from the truth.
Tell AARP CEO Barry Rand to cancel the E Street Exchange event and drop his efforts to throw his organization's support behind benefit cuts.
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/aarp-rand
The E Street Exchange is scheduled to take place in Washington, DC on March 27th, and we're going to do everything we can to stop this silent assault on the social safety net. I hope you will join us in once again holding AARP accountable for its actions.
In solidarity,
Brian Sonenstein
Director of Online Activism,
Firedoglake.com
------
Sources:
1. Social Security Battle: AARP Plans Secret 'Salon' With Social Security Opponents. Huffington Post, 3/16/12. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/social-security-cuts-aarp_n_1344934.html
2. With AARP Supporting Social Security Benefit Cuts, Its Time to Burn My AARP Card. Firedoglake.com, 6/17/12. http://firedoglake.com/2011/06/17/with-aarp-supporting-social-security-benefit-cuts-it%E2%80%99s-time-to-burn-my-aarp-card/
3. AARP: You've earned a say, so tell us what you think! AARP's "You've Earned A Say..." campaign. https://action.aarp.org/site/SPageNavigator/youve_earned_your_say_questionnaire.html?JServSessionIdr004=dx7451rhv2.app244b
4. AARP CEO Barry Rand's Invitation to The E Street Exchange. AARP. http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/saloninvite.pdf
The Huffington Post reports that AARP CEO Barry Rand is inviting outspoken safety net opponents to an "off-the-record, salon style" meeting on March 27th on the future of social security, called The E Street Exchange, including US Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue, Merrill Lynch Executive Harold Ford Jr. and former MI Gov. John Engler from the Business Rountable for corporate CEO's.1
Once again, AARP is working behind the scenes to build support for benefit cuts while masquerading about as an ardent defender of the safety net to its massive, dues-paying membership.
This is outrageous, and AARP should immediately call off the event and disavow this shameful attempt to throw its weight behind benefit cuts. Can you join us in demanding AARP CEO Barry Rand cancel the back-room E Street Exchange meeting on cutting social safety net benefits?
Tell AARP CEO Barry Rand to cancel the E Street Exchange event and abandon his efforts to throw AARP's support behind benefit cuts.
Click here to add your name: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/aarp-rand
Last summer, our campaign of over 32,000 activists was successful in getting AARP to backtrack after their board voted to drop its opposition to social safety net cuts.2
But while AARP is offering a pathetic 6-question survey and 'town hall series' called "You Earned A Say and We're Listening" as a gesture towards "listening" to their 40 million+ membership, it seems they are most interested in adopting the same kind of off-the-record, unaccountable negotiations over benefit cuts that have characterized numerous attempts to dismantle the social safety net over the past few years -- from the Catfood Commission to the Super Committee.3
Laughably, while Rand's E Street Exchange is holding "relaxed and robust" discussions on "Strengthening Social Security: Facing up to the Challenge" with Washington's 1%, AARP's 6-question online survey assures its members: "...AARP is taking the debate about the future of these programs out from behind closed doors in Washington, so you can make your voice heard."4
Clearly, just from looking at the invitation to their salon style talk, nothing could be further from the truth.
Tell AARP CEO Barry Rand to cancel the E Street Exchange event and drop his efforts to throw his organization's support behind benefit cuts.
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/aarp-rand
The E Street Exchange is scheduled to take place in Washington, DC on March 27th, and we're going to do everything we can to stop this silent assault on the social safety net. I hope you will join us in once again holding AARP accountable for its actions.
In solidarity,
Brian Sonenstein
Director of Online Activism,
Firedoglake.com
------
Sources:
1. Social Security Battle: AARP Plans Secret 'Salon' With Social Security Opponents. Huffington Post, 3/16/12. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/social-security-cuts-aarp_n_1344934.html
2. With AARP Supporting Social Security Benefit Cuts, Its Time to Burn My AARP Card. Firedoglake.com, 6/17/12. http://firedoglake.com/2011/06/17/with-aarp-supporting-social-security-benefit-cuts-it%E2%80%99s-time-to-burn-my-aarp-card/
3. AARP: You've earned a say, so tell us what you think! AARP's "You've Earned A Say..." campaign. https://action.aarp.org/site/SPageNavigator/youve_earned_your_say_questionnaire.html?JServSessionIdr004=dx7451rhv2.app244b
4. AARP CEO Barry Rand's Invitation to The E Street Exchange. AARP. http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/saloninvite.pdf
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Petition concerning AARP back-room meetings on Social Securities future. (Original Post)
RKP5637
Mar 2012
OP
freshwest
(53,661 posts)1. Thanks, they need to go on the boycott list with Rush.
But then again, they don't care what the peons think, when you consider the company they keep, huh?
HubertHeaver
(2,522 posts)2. AARP sold us out on the Bush drug deal.
Looks like they want to do it again.
Cobalt Violet
(9,905 posts)3. They must be pretty dumb to cut their own throats.
If their members get their benefits cut many won't be able to afford to be members anymore.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)4. Any reductions in Social Security will cut into
Medigap insurance which will impact AARP's business model.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)5. AARP = Insurance Conglomerate. I really don't see the benefit of AARP. Anything they
offer (insurance, etc.) is usually something to be very very cautions of.