An Open Letter to AARP

Lee Ellis

AARP members recently received a letter from its CEO, Bill Novelli, asking us to help him raise money to defeat the Social Security plan as described by President Bush. As a long-time member, I was so furious by this request from AARP, I had to cool off before answering. This is a copy of my reply. Do any other members or readers agree with me?

Mr. Bill Novelli, CEO
AARP 601 E. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049

Dear Mr. Novelli,

Thank you for sending me your letter requesting money from us seniors to stop the plans (as you wrote) “to change the Social Security program as you and I know it — trading a proven system for another one that could seriously threaten the future security of millions of Americans.”

You also describe the present system as an insurance plan that was never meant to be an investment program. You even call such investments, “risky.”

Obviously, we seniors, who are part of Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation,” are smart enough to know the following:

1. The current program designed by President Roosevelt was never an insurance plan; it was a “Ponzi scheme,” relying on hundreds of young citizens to contribute money to pay for the few seniors. Now that the pyramid has been turned upside down, there are fewer workers to support the many hundreds of retired seniors.

2.The reform plan will not affect my generation as it is only designed for the younger generations to insure that they will have some money when they retire.

3. It is a lie to call this reform by President Bush an “investment plan.” One can VOLUNTEER to choose the private investment, but it is limited to a maximum of only 4%! In addition, it has to be in a conservative fund program that pays a much higher interest rate than one would receive if he or she had just kept the 4% with Social Security.

4. There will be no stock gambling allowed. AARP sells similar funds, but I have never heard you warn us that your fund plans were risky! Is AARP concerned with potential competition?

5. More importantly, President Bush announced that one will OWN this investment portion, able to pass it on to a spouse or children or to a charity of choice. This is not true of our current S.S. when we die.

Instead of helping us members, you seem to be more willing to help Democrats or Socialists who want to increase our taxes and redistribute our hard-earned income as well as that of our children and grandchildren. We are trying to teach the youth of America the advantages of ownership and the value of keeping what they earn; you seem to be doing the opposite.

Perhaps it is time for us all to look for membership in a different organization that is more concerned with the welfare of future seniors. The current AARP seems only to want to elect those who will tax our future. Is the Sheriff of Nottingham being revived to steal everyone’s money via heavy taxes?

You can be sure that there are many of us seniors who are proud to live in the America envisioned by our founders, not one that becomes similar to the socialism that has taken over much of Europe and Canada.

Sincerely,

Lee Ellis
indiolee@dc.rr.com

###

Lee Ellis is a retired journalist and narrator, formerly with both CBS and Gannett (USA Weekend). He was also a combat veteran of WWII, having fought in the South Pacific invasions. He had the pleasure of interviewing Ronald Reagan as an actor and then later working to help him become Governor of California. At the age of 80, he is keeping busy writing and doing free lance narrations for radio and television. He is an active member of Rotary and the VFW.

indiolee@dc.rr.com