Aarp Fall From Grace

[VolAgent]

You could kill PBS tonight, and 90% of the programming would have a home tomorrow. There would be a bidding war over Sesame Street. Also, PBS already runs a commercial supported network for children's programming, Sprout. PBS may be non-profit, but the producers of the shows definitely are for-profit.

 

[sman]

Al, you go ahead and try to get elected on, We saved Big Bird. That just isn't going to fly. As for abortion, where in my post did I say it should be criminalized? And yes, preventing your side from adding $5 billion to the debt over the next two years would be a ticket to run on. For what it's worth, the House just passed a bill to reduce this current year spending by $61 billion. That's doing BIG things.

And your comment about Obama wanting to work with the Republicans is a joke. Paul Ryan just stated that Obama has yet to contact him. Obama is long on lip service and short on follow through. You know what it's like being short. You can relate little man.

OK, so you are going present to the voters next election that you killed Big Bird, you re-criminalized abortion, and you prevented 5 trillion in spending.

President Obama and his Dems are going to say "They had the shot to work with us or even present their own programs... but all they wanted to do was obstruct. They are the party of "no." Elect them and they will continue to do the same "nothing" they've done since they won the House."

Scott, I know... we all know... that you arch-cons and assorted tea-baggers are not the brightest bulbs on the movie-house marquee, but I don't think anyone figured you all to be as politically naive (stupid is a better word) as you are showing us currently.

If your people piss away this golden opportunity to bring some substantive changes or programs or whatever to the table then your only hope is that the economy stays bad, gas stays high, and people blame President Obama for it as they did President Carter. Oh yeah... to beat an incumbent you'll have to dig up a Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton to carry your message against an astute communicator... and I don't yet see anyone in the wings with that ability.

Kill Kermit the Frog, liquidate Planned Parenthood, and claim saving the taxpayers some government funding... yeah that's surely a platform for electoral success. At least let your Randy Paul repeal the civil rights laws so you can say you did SOMETHING of substance while you had the power!

It's all right there in front of you... and none of you get it. Naive or stupid? You make the call.

 

[redkee]

I love their TV ads-"as soon as I heard it was AARP ,that was all I needed to hear". How do I sign up with great plan? Not in this lifetime-thank you!.

 

[Josh]

.
What is sacred about planned parenthood? Don't they basically talk girls into unnecessary abortions.

They actually present and promote birth control options
, not just perform abortions. They provide Dr care and subsidized birth control which helps prevent pregnancies from happening in the first place. It could just as easily be referred to as planned childlessness. Ok, I just made up a word, bit Tue organization doesn't just promote abortions, but its much easier to demonize them if that's all people think they do.

 

[Guest]

I belong to AARP because I want to read their bullshit they mail out to members.

That's smart. Read what your clients read.

The AARP is still very popular with seniors. If you young guys like sman are really brave, next time you are in front of someone my age, tell them how much you hate AARP and what a scam it is and why seniors who are members are just plain stupid.

I'm not defending AARP. I'm not even a member anymore. But I understand its attraction. They are very good at telling seniors that "We speak for you." Who else does?

You have Limbaugh and the entire Fox network speaking for YOU and your viewpoint that Medicare and SS should be abolished so you don't have to pay the taxes. Well, to us, SS and Medicare is our holy grail of politics and no one addresses the "senior side" of it as well as the AARP (or at least that is what most believe... rightly or wrongly!)

That doesn't mean they don't put their own interests first... but who doesn't do that?

Warts and all, AARP is going to retain a fair amount of political clout... and you naive young agents can rant and rail about it all you want but we're soon to be the largest and best educated voting block in the country so maybe you might want to take note of who has the money and the influence?

Scott (sman) should take a copy of the letter posted earlier and give it to all of his older clients and prospects and see what their reaction is. Better yet, you should all do it and see if they continue to do business with you? Let me know how it turns out. I know that if you put it in front of the people I'm acquainted with... members or non-members of AARP, they'd kick your butt out of their living room or leave your office in a New York minute.

I know most of you young agents never got past junior college, but you don't get as large as AARP (or Fox) by accident or by being a sham. To be that big for that long you have to have a real and substantial value proposition. And if you politically conservative agents want to do battle with the AARP, well all I can say is that you will need an organization with a value-proposition of its own to take its place... and I don't see any of you having one. It's not the tea-baggers.

(And many seniors ARE tea-baggers, but I'll bet most of those who are AARP members have not given it it up.)

Here. Let me paint you a picture. Most of you young men and women are Christians or Jews. Well, in my experience most people don't leave their church or temple to become atheists. They leave to join a new/different congregation.

So go ahead and tell your senior clients to drop their membership in AARP because Our Mother of Scott Sman or The First Church of Fox and Barney or Congregation Shalom Bronstein is going to be "looking out" for them. I'll be interested to see how many of you are successful with that approach.

Take the advice from someone whom Scott (sman) denigrates as a "short man"... (not to be confused with a stupid man: ) Concentrate on how you can HELP your senior clients (like me... those with money) with the products and services you sell and not how you can convince them that your politics and belief structure is somehow going to be better for them.

Most seniors like myself who are in the 60 to 70 age bracket are far better educated than you are... or ever likely to be. AARP recognizes that, speaks to that, and most seniors are not going to throw the ARRP under the bus on your suggestion.

You can listen to Scott and his arch-conservative band of brothers and sisters... or you can listen to me. I don't think either of us really care. Do what you want... but I caution you... you really need to think about IF (and how) you want to express your disdain to your senior clients with the AARP given what I've told you above... assuming you believe Scott walks on water and that the whole world is a Tux and I'm a pair of brown shoes... (and in this venue... on this board...I think I already know that answer to that!!!)

Al
This is my website.

 

[Newby]

Al I don't find seniors feeling about AARP out in the real world like you are describing. At least not in big numbers.
About half of them are members. About 1/3 have at one time or another bought an insurance product through AARP. Most have canceled and gone elsewhere before I ever meet them.
Most seniors I meet (Indiana and Kentucky) do not believe AARP or any organization is looking out for them.

 

[Guest]

Al I don't find seniors feeling about AARP out in the real world like you are describing. At least not in big numbers.
About half of them are members. About 1/3 have at one time or another bought an insurance product through AARP. Most have canceled and gone elsewhere before I ever meet them.
Most seniors I meet (Indiana and Kentucky) do not believe AARP or any organization is looking out for them.

Interesting analysis. In my area (N. CA) as well as at my condo in N. Palm Beach most people in their mid-60s and above that I meet are members.

I find that the richer they are the more likely they are to be members (dues are only about $14 a year or so.) One thing about wealthy people... they love a bargain... and the overwhelming majority of those I meet are members for the discounts they can get by showing the card. They also like the magazine and tabloid.

I've met many who have the UHC Med Sup via AARP and a few who have the Hartford home/auto package, but I've never come across anyone who had the NYL life plans.

I do believe that if AARP said "vote against this" or "vote for him/her" that it would have significant impact... but I have no exact numbers to back that up... just based on my experience of being a senior and talking with other boomers my age (63.)

Most seniors I deal with only care about 3 political issues... social security, Medicare, and capital gains taxes. Many live in a non-income-tax state. Everything else is secondary.

YMMV.

Al

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

I for one believe abortion should be criminalized, and if it won't get criminalized, men should have as much say as women if a baby is aborted.

 

[sman]

Take the advice from someone whom Scott (sman) denigrates as a "short man"

Did that bother you Al? Maybe you shouldn't have posted the following:

Scott, I know... we all know... that you arch-cons and assorted tea-baggers are not the brightest bulbs on the movie-house marquee, (from post #17 on this thread)

That was the only reason I posted the short man comment. You shout from the rooftops about keeping it civil, but just can't seem to do it yourself. You get what you give Al. If you want to be civil, I'll be civil. If you want to get personal, I'll get personal. Simple as that. If you can't take it, don't dish it out.

 

[VaDwayne]

AARP

Another Angry Retired Person