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In this corner, we have the "left-leaning" AARP which has revealed itself to be primarily a big insurance racket. In the other corner, we have some organization trying to be "not-AARP" - except that it's describing itself as a not-left-leaning organization. So it's setting out to balance a non-existent entity.
Neither one sounds like anything I would want to be associated with.
The politics of AARP were very much on my mind when I began getting their mailings, many years ago. It is not just a matter of, "It's only $16!". If you financially support any conservative organizations - as we do - then spending money on AARP makes your other donations worthless. Please think of that before you join...you are paying to fight the very groups you support!
I am 67, wife is 65. We retired 2 years ago; I did so by selling my business. The sales agreement stipulates that I will be an "employee" for life (though I don't actually work), and entitled to company medical insurance for self and wife. Thus, neither of us is interested in Medicare.
Well you would have thought the roof fell in, when I turned 65, and again when my wife turned 65. Do you know how difficult it is to decline Medicare? They just couldn't seem to get it right by mail or by phone. We ended up having to go to the nearest SS office to speak with them in person. Otherwise, we would have been billed for Part B!
And we were once again bombarded with AARP mail, so positive were they that we would be enrolling in Medicare and would want their "insurance" coverage for Part D and some other thing I can't even remember. These people are nothing but shills for insurance companies.
So this is AARP's fault how again? You are the exception, well over 90% of Americans file for Medicare. Your frustrations with trying to decline the benefit is understandable but it's hardly AARP's fault. They are not responsible for Medicare's inefficiency. As for their mailings are you really expecting them to cull their mailing lists and take off the small percentage of people who are not interested in Medicare?
All the complaining by conservatives here has just given me incentive to sign up again when my first year is up.
In this corner, we have the "left-leaning" AARP which has revealed itself to be primarily a big insurance racket. In the other corner, we have some organization trying to be "not-AARP" - except that it's describing itself as a not-left-leaning organization. So it's setting out to balance a non-existent entity.
Neither one sounds like anything I would want to be associated with.
Then DON'T! Not sure anyone cares; I sure DO NOT!! I just put the info out there....
Have a go at it and get your politics driven life really in order.
We have, thank you. As retired political and legislative analysts we are quite discerning when it comes to politics. How strange is that? Consequently we do our best to avoid adding to the exchequer of companies and organizations that espouse and support issues with which we disagree. AARP just happens to be one of them as in the past I have gone nose-to-nose and toes-to-toes with their lobbyists while testifying before legislative policy and fiscal committees.
I wouldn't say our lives are "politics driven" but would say it's one of a large number of elements when making decisions on how and where to spend our money and time.
Usually if you look like a senior, no one even bothers to ask for proof.
AARP or aaa.
+1...I don't eat at Denny's/Cracker Barrel, et al, but when we travel domestically I almost always book the AARP discount, (after perusing other 'discounts' on a motel chain site), and I think I've been asked twice for 'my card' in the past 15+ years.
'Senior discount' is quite ubiquitous these days, and just looking semi-senior is all it usually takes.
Fwiw, I 'belonged' back at 50+ for few years, but the mag and mailings and 'discounts' had little value for me.
GL, mD
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