Arthur
Wylie,#2Author of original report
Tue, October 21, 2008
No problem. I wouldn't dream of joining. But if you read the above and still can defend this organization then fine. Be an ostrich and a citizen whose sense of patriotism never goes further than his own narrow interests. But if you think you can make people shut up and go away by inferring that the only recourse they should have it to vote with their feet then I imagine you not only disagree with the contents of this report but also with the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, and sites like this as well. Go away (from AARP)? No problem. Already did. Quit exposing them and their socialistic bent? Never.
Alan
Ellicott City,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, September 26, 2008
I am a member of AARP and I believe that they not only represent my own interest, but the best interests of the memebership. They are, first and formost, an advocacy organization. They don't hide that fact. That is what they are SUPOSED to do. They are not "ripping you off", they are doing their job. If you don't like the positions they advocate, then don't join.
Alan
Ellicott City,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, September 26, 2008
I am a member of AARP and I believe that they not only represent my own interest, but the best interests of the memebership. They are, first and formost, an advocacy organization. They don't hide that fact. That is what they are SUPOSED to do. They are not "ripping you off", they are doing their job. If you don't like the positions they advocate, then don't join.
Joe
Austin,#5Consumer Comment
Wed, July 25, 2007
As more and more people become older Americans and realize that they can't live on the pittance retirement the government has taken from our paychecks and is doling back to us, drop by drop, we are going to have to remian in the worlforce longer. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS INTENSIFIED COMPETITION FROM YOUNGER WORKERS AND ILLEGAL ALIEN WORKERS! And the AGE DISCRIMINATION PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING HIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE! It hit me at about 40 and I could not find a job in my field anymore. It hits ladies, especially minority ladies a lot harder than us guys. The older ladies are usually divorced or widowed and can't live on the scraps of their husband's Social Security or pension ( assuming he was fortunate enough to work someplace where he could get a pension), so they have to find work. Well, good luck ladies! Because that boss man is probably going to hire someone who looks like Anna Nicole Smith --who cares that she has the brains and job experience of a maggot and the older women are discarded or given the lest desireable work. Same thing for us guys too! AARP is supposed to be all about HELPING OLDER AMERICANS FIGHT DISCRIMINATION ---Especially in employment. I know the name is supposed to be about RETIRED PERSONS but not very many people I know can afford to retire. Lots of jobs in the South never offered a pension program and on minimum wage, you can't save very much when you are trying to raise a family and pay for the necessities... IT IS A FACT THAT OLDER AMERICANS ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN EMPLOYMENT! AND IN TEXAS, AND ELSEWHERE TOO I HEAR, EEOC IS DOING NOTHING TO STOP IT! What are we supposed to do, crawl off in a dark corner and die????? AARP IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE OLDER PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE! But like the two political parties ( two different labels on the SAME bottles of POISON), they sit back and DO NOTHING TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATION. Until AARP can STAND UP AND DEFEND OLDER AMERICANS' CIVIL RIGHTS, THEY NEED TO SHUT THE HELL UP and WE NEED TO STOP GIVING THEM THEIR DUES, OR NOT JOIN THEIR SORRY ORGANIZATION IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Pam
Beverly,#6Consumer Comment
Tue, November 15, 2005
I am a member of COSTCO, but they don't go to Washington D.C. and claim they represent me. How can AARP claim to represent members and ex-menbers, when they haven't even asked our opinions. I did not see "AARP" on my voters ballot, running any campaign as my states representative. Is AARP doing identity theft? I quit them over a year ago and they still claim to represent me. I still get AARP junk mail, especially now, about AARP MedicareRx Plan, for perscription drug insurance. (UnitedHealthcare) AARP offers the program for $24.89** to their "valued AARP Medicare Suppliment insured member. Which incidentally costs an additional $9.50 (without discount) per month, this amount is not mentioned on the AARP Medicare Rx Plan. So the actual monthly amount payed out for this plan would be $34.39 monthly plus AARP annual membership of $12.50. Their "Formulary" is an insult to a persons intelligence. I traced out the benefit I would receive from them in purchasing a medicine I take. I can buy it for the same price at our local pharmacy without the insurance, as it would cost from one of their approved pharmacy's with the insurance? they offer. I compared it to the benefit I would receive if I get the UAMedicare PartD (United American Insurance Company). They are straightforward about their insurance plan & price, total $32.80 per month in my state. Anyway, I could get the same medicine, saving approximately $25.00 per month on the medicine and have a greater choice of pharmacys. They have no deductable and pay a percentage. To sum up: If I get the UAMedicare Part D, I would only be loosing $7.80 ($32.80 - $25.00)per month until I need other medication, then my savings will be greater. With the AARP Medicare Rx Plan, I would be loosing the $34.39 per month plus the $12.50 per year plus the actual cost of my medicine. They have no deductable but "Tier and $Co-pay". Their "$ Co-pay" happens to be the price of my medicine. Now, isn't that strange. I hope others get wise to AARP, and soon.
Arthur
Wylie,#7Author of original report
Thu, October 27, 2005
You are right to call the AARP a socialist-leaning organization. Why have you seen the AARP commercial where the female police officer pulls the hapless man over to check which company supplies his auto insurance? Not only does it have sexist overtones (you know the drill: highly intelligent woman--stupid dolt of a male who needs to be wised up by a much more competent female), it shows how they have no problem with the obvious abuse of power the "officer" displayed by using her authority to pull him over for no infraction and without probable cause. Look at all the rip-off reports in this section regarding the Hartford and perhaps consider changing. I hear Amica is very good, and they only have one complaint, which seems to have been competently and caringly handled by the company. I first found Amica when I checked with J.D. Power and Accociates. They have only just begun advertising, as far as I know, and have built up quite a business by word of mouth alone. It's time to reward the good people of the earth, and quit enabling anti-social behavior. Go Rip Off Report!
Arthur
Wylie,#8Author of original report
Sun, October 02, 2005
Note: When I ran the numbers on the SSA website it apparently malfunctioned and showed full retirement age for my 22 year-old male to be 75 instead of 67. Was this perhaps prophetic?
Is that where we are headed, where a male who is 22 years old now will have to work until he is 75 by the time he retires? It will be if crooked politicians and the AARP get their way.
Anyway, here are the corrected numbers:
At maximum confiscation and today's 12.4% rate he "pays" in:
$11,160 per year for 45 years, Total:$502,200
Monthly Social Security "benefit":
$11,082
Had he invested his $11,160 @ 10%, deposited and
compounded monthly, he would have at age 67: $9,829,966
This invested in, say, Immediateannuities.com
would yield a lifetime monthly income of: $68,033
Loss per month due to government theft: $56,951
With his life expectancy he can draw, on average, 100 checks.
Total loss over his lifetime: $5,695,100
Multiply this by all the victims and this goes far beyond grand larceny.
This is something only God can fix....
And punish.
Pete
Valley View,#9Consumer Comment
Sun, October 02, 2005
Every time I see one of those ridiculous commercials, my automatic answer is: "I DON'T need AARP."
Question: Although I know it was strictly for illustrative purposes--where does a 22 year old get a job that pays $90,000 per year? :)
I have on more than one occasion contacted my senators and congressman to let them know I disagree with the dictates of this socialist leaning organization. They claim they have the interest of the 'little man' at heart. Yeah, sure--'little' like Teddy Kennedy! Their magazine is packed with advertisements for fabulous cruises, worldwide vacations, etc. What 'little man' can afford these?
I have yet to see one positive article in the rag they publish, which isn't even good for lining a bird cage, regarding PSAs. Their reasoning? The average Joe wouldn't be able to manage his account. Well--ya' big dummies--the average Joe won't be managing that account. There are financial planners, analysts, account managers, etc., who are trained in this field. They'd be handling investment of this $$. How many of us actually direct investments in our IRAs, mutual funds, etc.? Someone schooled in this area does this job. We've seen when 'Account Managers' fall on their face, they are quickly replaced by another more successful person. How does anyone think John Corzine made his money, or Mayor Mike Bloomberg? (Poor examples, I guess, because they toe the AARP line.)
Only reason I'm an AARP member is because I get a fairly decent rate on auto insurance. Although I know I should go to another company for this product because I'm just feeding into their socialist line when they can count me as a member.
I agree it's time we started telling Washington that we don't need AARP.
Pete
Valley View,#10Consumer Comment
Sun, October 02, 2005
Every time I see one of those ridiculous commercials, my automatic answer is: "I DON'T need AARP."
Question: Although I know it was strictly for illustrative purposes--where does a 22 year old get a job that pays $90,000 per year? :)
I have on more than one occasion contacted my senators and congressman to let them know I disagree with the dictates of this socialist leaning organization. They claim they have the interest of the 'little man' at heart. Yeah, sure--'little' like Teddy Kennedy! Their magazine is packed with advertisements for fabulous cruises, worldwide vacations, etc. What 'little man' can afford these?
I have yet to see one positive article in the rag they publish, which isn't even good for lining a bird cage, regarding PSAs. Their reasoning? The average Joe wouldn't be able to manage his account. Well--ya' big dummies--the average Joe won't be managing that account. There are financial planners, analysts, account managers, etc., who are trained in this field. They'd be handling investment of this $$. How many of us actually direct investments in our IRAs, mutual funds, etc.? Someone schooled in this area does this job. We've seen when 'Account Managers' fall on their face, they are quickly replaced by another more successful person. How does anyone think John Corzine made his money, or Mayor Mike Bloomberg? (Poor examples, I guess, because they toe the AARP line.)
Only reason I'm an AARP member is because I get a fairly decent rate on auto insurance. Although I know I should go to another company for this product because I'm just feeding into their socialist line when they can count me as a member.
I agree it's time we started telling Washington that we don't need AARP.