Although, President Barack Obama participated in an AARP Town Hall to promote his health care reform, his appearance was not a success among members of the powerful AARP. Comments posted by AARP members indicate they are far from assured by Obama or his message. Most comments show a continued distrust of Obama's assurances that Medicare will be protected and that health care will be better.
Baby boomers who now hold a great deal of power in the AARP and among voters, just don't want their entitlements smaller. Never mind, that they are the only group of Americans who have what Obama (and "we the people") really wants – universal health care for all Americans.
Here is a typical AARP comment,
"I don't care if it is from the democrats or the republicans, the government cannot give us better health care. And more importantly, as soon as we look to government to take care of use we have made a tacit agreement to give the government control over all aspects of our lives. It is like making a deal with the Devil."
The majority of the comments oppose health care reform in the form that Obama has attempted to use, driving down costs by making health care delivery more efficient and giving Americans the option of choosing between private insurers and a government-run plan. The elderly have the same universal health care that is the birthright of people in every developed nation except the United States, and they are doing all that they can to protect their entitlement. Even if it means working to keep that same benefit from other Americans.
May all people have good health care, food, shelter and the access to the abundance of resources now available to all humans onboard Spaceship Earth.
What do you think about this? Write your comments below. I read them all.
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Comments
The government can't run anything better than the private sector. Look at cash for clunkers. Look at the Post Office. Look at Am-Track.
Look at cash for clunkers. Look at the post office. Look at medicare. Nothing is perfect, but all of these government run institutions work well for the majority. If the government doesn't do something, how much of your income will be used for healthcare next year and the year after that? You can answer that by looking at how much more it cost this year over last year.
Really - so picking some random comments off the AARP website is representative of their 40 million members as a whole.
I'm quite sure I could cherry-pick three or four comments off of your columns to show whatever I want.
Quite lazy journalisming there. But perhaps you were just trying to toss off an easy column rather than do actual solid reporting.
It is working so well in other countries, right? The largest power grab in US history. I want no part of it. What right does the government have to counsel me on ending my life? I will be sure and inform my friends and family that the AARP has turned socialist, and obviously does not care for the well-being of its members. If its membership doesn't dwindle now due to the outrage of its decision to support this obamanation, it will when universal healthcare serves its purpose of weeding out the weak. Who is in charge of it? Holdren and Sibelius? Population control advocate and a friend of "Tiller the Baby Killer"? No thanks AARP, I am done with you.
You can't save money and add 50 million new people without rationing somewhere. And thats going to come out of the hide of everyone who has decent care right now (~ 85 % ?) The middle ager is going to pay (new) taxes on his employee subsidized health care, and the old geezer is going to have his hip surgerry placed on the back burner, as well as end of life care (when exactly is that, anyway?).. But what the hay! Half the people without coverage are illegals, and they're going to make out just fine. Don't you feel generous !?
What "We the People Want"?????
Leave this family out of the we the people we do not want his kill grandma healthcare!
The AARP seems to have sold it's and our soul to Obama. The president and the board seem to have buddied up with the administration, forgetting about their constituents.
unbelievable, what you say about "elderly Americans" being selfish - and the "only ones" who get "universal healthcare." What about Badger Care - which supports every single mom, every dad, every child in this state, and now has been extended to single people? I pay a lot for my healthcare- these get it free! What lies you tell!
People will trade freedom for security every time. Once they loose both THEN they finaly revolt. Obuma is only doing what he promised to do, that is turn the USA into a third world country.
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safe- attributed to Ben Franklin. Whether he said it or not it is ESSENTIALLY true.
It boils down to this - you believe in 1 of 2 things:
FREEDOM: The individual's right to the fruits of one's labor and to use them to take care of his family and friends(and, through charity, those who are unable to care for themselves).
TYRANNY: The government's right to take by force the fruits of an individual's labor and distribute it to whomever it sees fit, regardless.
I don't currently have health insurance, because we just plain can't afford it. And while the thought of being able to go to the dentist or doctor when I need to (without huge bills) is appealing, this whole health care plan scares me. Especially the rationing. I'd rather scrimp and save and have the freedom of choice than have my health care decisions made for me.
I don't believe anything President Obama says. He looked the camera in the eye and said there were no earmarks in the stimulus bill. After that, he lost me!
Even Chuck Schumer knows there were many. Quoting him..."the people don't care about these porkies".
I care!
At the risk of sounding nuts:
Rationing medical benefits not only reduces medical costs, it reduces the lifespan of seniors and the disabled, thereby reducing Social Security outlays.
Are Seniors listening? I'm just sayin'
One way or another, those who have will have to support a program for those who have not. But I prefer less government involvement, and more encouragement for insurance companies and medical caregivers to provide input and possible solutions for the uninsured. I am totally opposed to free health care for illegal aliens. If they are taking our wages, they should pay for their care, and supposedly, they are here because they like the life style offered, and the available opportunity they didn't have where they came from.
We all heard that there had to be a rush to pass a health care bill-before any of us knew what wass in it. Now that we are learning and not supportive-it is I who am being targetted as mean spirited. There are so many flaws, and thing I don't like in the proposals, I don't know where to begin. I like things better as they are. The Gov't can't run anything. Note medicare, social security and the money trown away. I do not trust these folks. And now I know why there was such a rush to get it done. The public would not support it if we knew what was proposed. Shameful.
You've got more nerve than I have by claiming that our elderly are only acting in selfishness to protect their entitlements. Can anyone say that generations have becoming more generous and less selfish since the 50s? Not likely.
I agree that they are trying to protect their interests, but not in the same sense that you suggest. They sense a change in the wind - that the current administration is beginning to see the elderly as a liability about which "hard choices" will have to be made. With age comes wisdom, and it doesn't take a whole lot of it to see the inherent danger in the direction that our leaders are rushing us in regards to health care reform.
AARP is an insurance company that hopes it will be able to run the new government health care system. When you see AARP statements limiting certain older senior citizens critical life saving operations or procedures, they are talking "insurance talk" about AARP making profits.
Not sure where I stand, but one thing is for sure, Americans need to be made to be more responsible for choices they make that affect their health. Overweight, loose it; don't expect others to pay for your knee replacements. Smokers, quit; don't expect others to pay for your inhalers. Diabetics,eat correctly and exercise; don't expect an endless supply of medications to control your blood sugar. whether the government or private insurances assist us with health care costs, if you do not take personal responsibility, shame on you for wanting others to pay for your lack of self control. This comment is not meant for individuals who have health issues they have no control over.
As soon as ObamaCare passes (and it WILL pass) I am going to? make a sign for my front lawn that says "Soylent Green is People." That is what is going to come next after Obamas Death panel/ Cost cutting panel.
The government wants to get the insurance companies out from between my health care and my doctor. Well if I do not like the services that my health insurance company provides I can CHANGE companies Once the government starts directing my health care how do I ever get them out? You can't! How about putting the uninsured in Medicare? That is a perfectly run government health service isn't it? Or how about we sent the uninsured to the VA hospital. ANOTHER well run government program. Do you get my point? Government cannot provide quality health care and they have no right under the constitution to enact such a policy.
I have a very simple solution. I want the same health plan as members of congress have.. at the same cost. We can help pay for it by imposing term limints of 8 years maxium on members of congress..( this will help eliminate the sweet deals most of them are able to get at tax payer expense) and do away with their lifelong benefits packages, convict them of crimes when they are committed instead of accepting apologies and open more issues up to public referndum
I am "Mex-American", a veteran, and I know demographics mean something these days. I DO NOT want national health care. I am retired and will not join AARP, over this issue. I was once in an HMO, that was the closest I ever came to suing a doctor for malpractice. No real damage was done and we are overly litigious in this country. National health care will be worse that an HMO. Doctors should earn as well as they work. If they don't treat well, patients don't return.
A majority of Americans today are pleased with the health care they have!!! we do not need health care run by the Government.
listen to the American People across our great nation WE DONT
WANT GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE.
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