Floridatennisplayer
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- May 3, 2014
- Messages
- 485
I am always getting their mailers asking me to join. So for you that have joined do you think it’s worth it? just curious
I joined 8 years ago. I thought I paid for 5 years, but they seem to continually send me renewal forms suggesting I'm still a member now. And I get the magazine. There are pros and cons.
Pros:
- You're supporting an organization, probably one of the very few, that will advocate for the interests of seniors and retirees.
- Their magazines and newsletters sometimes have some interesting content.
Cons:
- Like most magazines, they're mostly superficial fluff stories you already knew.
- They do a LOT of advertising for questionable products and services, especially life insurance and the like. Maybe not quite scams, but borderline deceptive.
- They work very hard to NEVER take a position on any political issue or party.
That last one is sort of understandable. Anyone who tells it like it is will get flack from the far left, and the far right. Both fringes prefer to believe over-simplifications or outright lies to support their own biases.
If you come out and say "Republicans (or Democrats) are trying to pass a bill that hurts seniors," you lose half your subscriber base. So instead they don't take sides. They'll say "this issue is important to seniors. Call your representatives and tell them what you think."
But they'll never tell you who sponsored the bill, who supports it, what party they're from, or why it'll hurt seniors. Any of that would cost them subscribers. In other words, since they can't call out anyone, their advocacy has no teeth.
... originally named the American Association of Retired Persons, but in 1999 it officially changed its name to "AARP" (pronounced one letter at a time, "ay ay ar pee") to reflect that its focus was no longer American retirees
There are a lot worse organizations to support. AARP has seniors interests at heart. We like that, and will continue to support them.
AARP Services, Inc., founded in 1999, is a wholly owned taxable subsidiary of AARP that manages the range of products and services offered as benefits to members. Its offers include Medicare supplemental insurance; member discounts on rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and lodging; special offers on technology and gifts; pharmacy services; legal services; and long-term care insurance. AARP Services founded AARP Financial Incorporated, a subsidiary that manages AARP-endorsed financial products including AARP Funds.
...the association earns more income from selling insurance to members than from membership dues.
They also lobby politicians on behalf of seniors, and that is a good thing for all of us on this board.