AARP misguided

Michael ORDONA’S article about AARP ignoring seniors in its membership and going for baby boomers is right on the mark (“AARP Is Getting Younger as Time Goes By,” Aug. 11). As a member of AARP since the early ‘80s and an active participant in AARP’s VOTE movement, I worked for passing legislation protecting seniors: e.g., Social Security, Medicare, decent housing, nursing home rules, etc.

In those days, the “RP” in AARP meant “Retired Persons.” I began to suspect the intent of AARP when its highly paid professional staff decided to drop the full name and just use the initials in order to downplay the words “Retired Persons.” After that, the emphasis went to baby boomers who were still employed and had more money to buy the insurance and other products AARP was involved in advertising.

The latest misbehavior of AARP was to back President Bush’s thinly disguised, so-called prescription drug plan for seniors, actually meant to weaken Medicare and eventually kill it. I presume the AARP staff’s next move will be to join Bush’s plan to privatize and kill Social Security.

Bill Blanchard

Arrowbear