AARP ready to lose more members?

[crazy connie]

AP Sources: Dem Health bill to get AARP backing - Yahoo! News

 

[unclemick]

Great - no guts, no glory. Plus it it will probably piss off my Independant(closet Republican Sister) which just tickles me to no end.



That will teach her to desert the Pat's and go Green Bay cause she thought Brett was cute. I mean look what happened there.

Still he is a good football player - hopefully with some good years left.

The point. If they do endorse - to early to predict the result.

heh heh heh - but it might be fun. .

 

[Dawg52]

I dropped my membership a couple of years ago. Didn't disagree with everything, but didn't care for a lot of their philosophy.

 

[samclem]

I wish I could join . . so I could quit.

 

[Stevewc]

Never been an AARP member but:
Go AARP's Go !!!
Keep stirring the Pot !!!
Make my insurance more affordable so I can ER into the sunset.

Not bad for a dreamer, right?
Steve

PS. I normally think and vote exactly opposite to this thinking. But I want to ER so bad it has become a life changing dream at this point. I guess I can be bought
I may even stop watching fox news !!! They are getting kind of nutty anyway.

 

[crazy connie]

We can (almost) all be bought Steve. The devil is in the price! It does little or no good to get a health care subsidy if it costs more in taxes than the current costs for health care. That is unless you have none to start with and get others to pay your way.

 

[ziggy29]

We can (almost) all be bought Steve. The devil is in the price! It does little or no good to get a health care subsidy if it costs more in taxes than the current costs for health care. That is unless you have none to start with and get others to pay your way.

But as we've said before in other recent threads, we can game this to our advantage -- AARP or not. As long as they focus on income in terms of their definition of "rich" and "poor" for the purposes of providing health care subsidies and targeting tax increases, the key to FIRE may be to concentrate on paying off the mortgage and all your debt so you can live simply yet comfortably on the smallest possible income.

As for AARP itself, they seem to claim to represent seniors but I think they underestimate the love and concerns many seniors have for their grandkids, and I hear more and more seniors griping NOT that they are being cheated, but that we are destroying the future of their grandkids with all this borrowing from their future. They aren't, as a group, as self-centered as AARP's political advocacy sounds.

 

[Stevewc]

Ziggy,
I think I have just about driven myself nuts (short drive) trying to figure out how to take advantage of what ever they do in this bill. Every time I think I might have something going my way, they take it out of the considerations.
Got to keep watching and hoping though,
Steve
PS. Also trying to conjure up an idea to con my employer into something that would help me get out of their way. Could be a win win for both of us

 

[JOHNNIE36]

The only thing I get from AARP that is worthwhile is the magazine. Small piece in the paper says the AARP is now backing the latest version of the House bill on health care. My membership is up for renewal in December and think I will just keep that money in my pocket.

 

[youbet]

But as we've said before in other recent threads, we can game this to our advantage -- AARP or not. As long as they focus on income in terms of their definition of "rich" and "poor" for the purposes of providing health care subsidies and targeting tax increases, the key to FIRE may be to concentrate on paying off the mortgage and all your debt so you can live simply yet comfortably on the smallest possible income.

Potentially having more govt programs that you qualify for based on income, are means tested or determine your subsidy based on your income makes for an interesting counterview to the theory that you should delay SS and pensions as insurance against outliving your money.

To minimize income and maximize your assests you would collect SS and pensions early taking smaller amounts but having that income to allow you to preserve your retirement portfolio (minimize withdrawals from the portfolio). Interesting food for thought for folks who are currently in the delay SS until 66 or 70 camp......

Yep, you can "game" the system but it may require a significant shift in strategy from your current plans.

 

[haha]

But as we've said before in other recent threads, we can game this to our advantage -- AARP or not. As long as they focus on income in terms of their definition of "rich" and "poor"

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

 

[Bestwifeever]

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I'm not seeing the connection between 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and retirees' health insurance coverage--'splain please?

 

[Notmuchlonger]

I'm not seeing the connection between 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust and retirees' health insurance coverage--'splain please?

Probably has something to do with the people who watched and did nothing to stop the persecution. Since it did not concern them directly. Not a connection I would use but. Just trying to help out s' plaining

 

[Bestwifeever]

Probably has something to do with the people who watched and did nothing to stop the persecution. Since it did not concern them directly. Not a connection I would use but. Just trying to help out s' plaining

Perhaps that's it? Not a connection I would make either. Ever.

I imagine most people are worried about the cost and coverage of healthcare, for themselves and for others. I hope there's coverage for the psychiatric care I expect to need as a result of that worry (and for everyone else)....

 

[ziggy29]

Probably has something to do with the people who watched and did nothing to stop the persecution. Since it did not concern them directly.

It does concern me and it's not something I support in its current form, particularly the surtax-like "bubble" created on the middle class in the income band where the subsidy would phase out. That's not the same thing as standing by idly because it doesn't impact me.

BUT -- if it happens, I'm sure as heck going to investigate how to use it to our best legal advantage during retirement. If that is reason enough to compare me to a Nazi, so be it.

 

[haha]

Perhaps that's it? Not a connection I would make either. Ever.

In that case, I am happy to help. The relevance is in form, not substance or amount of horror.


"First they came ..." is a popular poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

First they came... - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pastor Niemoller was clearly speaking about the tendency of people to be slowly boiled alive, by looking at each limitation on their freedoms and doing the calculus- "What does this do to me?"

Although you chose to focus on the mention of the Jews, you may notice that in the Pastor's poem they were well down on the more or less chronological list of Nazi targets.

As I read it, the lesson is that one should not accept government overreaching merely because you think that you are not on the list of targets; sooner or later they get around to everyone.

Ha

 

[haha]

BUT -- if it happens, I'm sure as heck going to investigate how to use it to our best legal advantage during retirement. If that is reason enough to compare me to a Nazi, so be it.

I am so sorry Ziggy that the poem was not clear. The comparison, if any, is to those who accept governmental overreaching, because they do not yet see that it will eventually affect them. To make it clear, what might start with income testing can very easily morph into asset testing of those "cheats" who hide their wealth in non-income producing assets.

Ha

 

[unclemick]

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

In the 1800's when Ivan was drafting for places like Afganistan - my ancestors left for Minnesota.

They ended up in Michigan but what the hey!

Like the Bear(Bryant) used to say - agile, mobile and hostile.

heh heh heh - Medical tourism is still alive and well - but bring cash. .

 

[JustNtime]

I am NOT now, NOR have I ever been a member of the AARP party.

But, I will gladly provide the names of friends and family who are/were members for a nominal fee...

 

[youbet]

I am so sorry Ziggy that the poem was not clear.

I don't think you should be apologizing Ha. Folks who grabbed onto only the fourth line of the poem need to go back and read and reflect on the message of Pastor Niemoller's words as they were conveyed rather than in their own "creative" interpretations.

Your point is very well taken Ha. I agree we all need to be watchful and thoughtful as we're led through these changes......

 

[REWahoo]

I don't think you should be apologizing Ha.

Being a gentleman will hopefully never go out of style.

 

[Notmuchlonger]

I don't think you should be apologizing Ha. Folks who grabbed onto only the fourth line of the poem need to go back and read and reflect on the message of Pastor Niemoller's words as they were conveyed rather than in their own "creative" interpretations.

Your point is very well taken Ha. I agree we all need to be watchful and thoughtful as we're led through these changes......

I do not think he should apologize either. Frankly I think he is spot on. But I wont get into that so much

 

[youbet]

But I wont get into that so much

Understood.......

 

[unclemick]

I do not think he should apologize either. Frankly I think he is spot on. But I wont get into that so much

I count it as a 'gentlemanly' explanation - not an apology. As a registered Dem, card carrying AARP member - I just change the nouns and use it on my Sister.

Now I hear AMA not my favorite people may have endorsed if I believe the Google headline.

Sooo - do I not wait and get on my Sister's case early in case Bret takes Minnesota into the playoffs against my Saint's - or do I wait and deal with the consequences.

heh heh heh - this bru ha ha is going to be with us for a while. And unfortunately Dems can screw up almost as good as Republicans - but if the Saint's finally make the Superbowl - ya gotta jump on the bright side.

Maybe we should email Congress so they(all of them) can get the straight skinny from this forum.

 

[Notmuchlonger]

I count it as a 'gentlemanly' explanation - not an apology. As a registered Dem, card carrying AARP member - I just change the nouns and use it on my Sister.

Now I hear AMA not my favorite people may have endorsed if I believe the Google headline.

Sooo - do I not wait and get on my Sister's case early in case Bret takes Minnesota into the playoffs against my Saint's - or do I wait and deal with the consequences.

heh heh heh - this bru ha ha is going to be with us for a while. And unfortunately Dems can screw up almost as good as Republicans - but if the Saint's finally make the Superbowl - ya gotta jump on the bright side.

Maybe we should email Congress so they(all of them) can get the straight skinny from this forum.

I really dont care what your political affiliation is UM I just felt he did not need to apologize for whatever reason I hope to see the Saints and Steelers in the Bowl with the Steelers winning another one