Earlier today a commenter in an open thread asked if AARP support for healthcare reform reflected a new position. I started to reply as a comment, but by the second blockquote I realized it would be better done as a diary.
As it happens, last summer I aged into the AARP "potential member" range, which means that I am now, in their opinion, inexorably bound to reach the age of 50 in the next 5 years. (Goes to show how little they know about me.) It also means I am now receiving a complimentary copy of the AARP Bulletin every month. (That qualifies a backhanded compliment, at least to someone firmly committed to remaining in her 30s for another decade or two.)
Since I am new to the organization (in a manner of speaking), I have been reading the Bulletin to see if they might be of some benefit. All I really knew about them is that they are very aggressive in marketing themselves and my father (a dyed-in-the-wool, yellow-dog Democrat) didn’t like them at all. That tells me something about their political leanings in the past, but not much specifically, so I’ll stick with what I know about in the present.
AARP does have a new CEO, Barry Rand, who took over in May 2009. A former Xerox executive who worked his way up over 30 years from a sales representative to Executive VP for International Operations, his focus on hiring, developing and promoting minorities and women is credited for making Xerox the most diverse of the Fortune 500 companies.
He should be a big help to AARP, which seems to have a small diversity problem with its leadership. Rand is, I believe, the first African American CEO at AARP, and of the 34 members of the Board and Executive Team, 10 are women (29%) and 7 are minorities (20%). Since he took charge, the AARP "products" like the magazines and newsletters have become noticeably more member-centered and, to my thinking, progressive.
AARP has had healthcare reform as its primary issue for the past year. They have a series of videos posted on YouTube and the AARP website (aarp.org) and a number of tools on their website to help members negotiate the healthcare maze. They have been strongly endorsing reform in their printed materials, and they were the first into the fray to fight back against the town hall turmoil staged in August.
In October 2009 AARP President Jennie Chin wrote a columnin the AARP Magazine explaining their process in determining their healthcare reform policy:
AARP's policy agenda is driven by you, our members. We developed our health-care reform priorities from nationwide member surveys, from member focus groups in a number of cities, and from the thousands of letters and phone calls we've received. You've told us what you need and what you want in health-care reform, and that's exactly what we've been fighting for.
Remember that AARP membership isn't limited to age 65+. Chin explained that the most complaints were from members age 50-64, who cannot even buy insurance because of "pre-existing" conditions. Often those conditions were something like a disease they had as an adolescent -- in other words, a thinly veiled disguise for not wanting to insure older people, who might actually need health care.
Those of you who like your current plan and your doctors have told us in no uncertain terms that you want to keep them. Those of you ages 50 through 64 who have had trouble getting coverage have told us that you're tired of being told you can't get insurance because of an illness you had five years ago, or because of some other preexisting condition, or because of your age. AARP supports reform that ensures Americans ages 50 through 64 a real choice of quality, affordable health-care plans.
Those of you on Medicare let us know, in overwhelming numbers, how the Medicare Part D prescription-drug coverage gap—the dreaded "doughnut hole"—is hurting you. Annually, about one-quarter of Part D enrollees fall into the gap, paying so much more for brand-name meds that some people stop taking them altogether. Only 4 percent make it across the gap to the other side
Here is one of a the AARP health care videos on YouTube, In this series AARP's policy director, John Rother, talks about how various aspects of health-care reform would help Americans and their families. This video, targeting people who currently have health insurance, explains how health reform would benefit them.
Here is an excerpt from the transcript, which you can read in full here.
This isn't about "other" people. It's about you and your family. It's about your future.
You've probably noticed that premiums are skyrocketing. They've doubled in eight years, and there's no end in sight. But you're also paying a price in ways that aren’t so obvious. If you have an employer plan, you’re paying for it with lower wages. You’re also being charged to cover people who don't have insurance.
These costs are rising fast. But the potential costs you face are even more dangerous. Hopefully, you won’t suffer a major illness. But if you do, it could ruin you financially. We often hear from people who are shocked to learn what their insurance does NOT cover. Three-fourths of people who go bankrupt because of medical bills actually had coverage. [New York Times 7/1/09]
But let's say you are satisfied with your insurance coverage. How safe you are from losing it? The answer for a lot of people is: Less safe than you realize. This can happen if you lose your job, or you change jobs. Or maybe your employer stops offering health care.
Right now, more than 14,000 people are losing coverage every day. [Families USA] Every day. When that happens, you and your family are at the mercy of the individual insurance market, which can turn down--or charge unaffordable premiums--to anyone they think might get sick.
All the problems I've described are getting worse. They are affecting more people every day including people who thought they had nothing to worry about.
A lot of people are skeptical because AARP offers Medigap and Medicare Supplemental insurance, but these products actually contribute little to their enormous budget. AARP is pushing hard for real healthcare reform. They have stepped up in the face of enormous opposition and devoted a lot of resources, including lobbying expertise, to support the kinds of reform we know are critically important.
Now, be for we go on to Top Comments, a word from our sponsors...
We have so many insightful and powerful diaries written here at Daily Kos. Our diaries inform, inflame, impassion, and even entertain. We Kossacks have strong voices and an even stronger will to be the change we wish to see in this country.
One of the richest, and perhaps most under-appreciated, areas of thought come in the form of comments attached to these diaries.
Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and through nominations at made at topcomments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks.
These nominations are subjective, and certainly not complete (as no one can read the complete site on a daily basis!). But hopefully they will serve to shine a light where deserved, and to give the reader a good starting point in finding conversation on the site.
Tonight’s Top Comments....
From 4Freedom:
Stonepounder points out the all-too-often-overlooked obvious in this comment. Our society is broken. Only voters, you and me, can fix it.
From bubbanomics:
A trollish comment generated a pretty darned funny, and dead-on accurate, response from jamfan.
From Jill Richardson:
High Tide makes the Best. Comment. Ever. -- at least about nachos.
From Colorado is the Shiznit:
Dump Terry McAuliffe just had a great comment in a diary about Orly Taitz.
From Its the Supreme Court Stupid:
In the Saturday Hate-mail-a-palooza, Eryk hits it out of the park with this response to a hate-mailer's contention that "The Sleeping Giant" of a silent majority has been awakened.
This comment was also nominated by smileycreek, who also points to Prognosticator's description of the new mythical beast in the same thread.
From cany:
This comment by ontheleftcoast, in response to Hedwig, provided the heavy lifting for a very funny (if long) thread that followed. Truly funny:) . Hate mail is one of my favs not only because of the humor IN the mail (if one can call it that!), but because of the creative and fun Kos responses. Great stuff.
From Seneca Doane:
There's nothing like posting a non-political diary on something like music to bring out a flood of good comments. My diary today, about my daughter having to choose an instrument this weekend for beginning 5th grade music instruction elicited some beauties. The aptly named trumpeter had someexcellent advice here, as did many others like cany here.This long comment by Gundark927 is almost startling in its generosity with time and expertise -- it's something that could quite seriously be published in many local newspapers for people with kids entering the study of instrumental music. Thanks to all who participated!
From Casual Wednesday:
FoundingFatherDAR makes an extremely subtle joke that pretty much sums up the Finance Committee bill.
From Purple Priestess:
Blue aarvdark does some translation for us in Jed Lewison's "Values voters" go nuts at reporters covering their event.
In KingOneEye's CNN's Rick Sanchez To Fox News: You Lie! [UPDATE:] The Networks And WaPo Respond rhetoricus has a good idea for other news sources re: Fox Noise.
In itsnotbutter's diary Rep. Roy Blunt's racist "monkey joke" grey skies turning to blue lays it out for us.
From me:
Clarknt67 explains all you need to know about Roy Blunt's credibility in itsnotbutter's diary Rep. Roy Blunt's racist "monkey joke."
joynow sums up exactly how wrong the Congressional response to accusations against ACORN really was in BooMan's My Experience With ACORN.
Tonight’s Top Mojo ...
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and C&J comments:
1 - Dang it.....it really is that important.....145
2 - Brilliant, brilliant, long overdue . . ......nyceve.....131
3 - Hyperpalatable foods........earicicle.....122
4 - Don't forget Michelle Obama.....Diogenes2008.....111
5 - IRITI, you are so right, and I am so.....blue jersey mom.....102
6 - This ought to be an Op-Ed. Indeed ........Meteor Blades.....94
7 - Obama is a truly brave man.....pattisigh.....88
8 - Pravada?.....Hedwig.....86
9 - Anyone.....Lava20.....82
10 - Can't trust those damn Russkies!.....Kimball Cross.....79
11 - Tweaked your tags. Nicely done, but there's one.....Jacques.....76
12 - Many of the people criticizing ACORN,.....chuckvw.....74
13 - This makes me so angry, iriti!.....KelleyRN2.....74
14 - Yes. Support Robin Carnahan......JanF.....72
15 - Temptation.....JekyllnHyde.....71
16 - I have Medicare and Medicaid after $4000+........ImpeachKingBushII.....65
17 - Yeah, but they only come in lefts! n/t.....ontheleftcoast.....65
18 - Listened to the audio,.....ozarkspark.....64
19 - You'll notice.....BooMan23.....63
20 - Gay Music.....Psychotronicman.....63
21 - crazy how some foods are like that.....Jill Richardson.....62
22 - He is brave-- and demanding.....Blank Frank.....62
23 - And a black mother-in-law!.....tethys.....61
24 - The "Sleeping Giant".....Eryk.....61
25 - It's definitely easier to make the rules when.....earicicle.....58
26 - You are in an unusually good situation to study.....feeny.....58
27 - That Damned Obama!.....dewley notid.....57
28 - Unfortunately there's a different guy.....Dbug.....57
29 - Here's the video.....Troutfishing.....55
30 - Nope.....qwertyuiop.....55
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1 - Tip Jar.....itsnotbutter.....472
2 - Tip Jar.....BooMan23.....430
3 - If Obama can get up every morning and go to work.....henry porter.....393
4 - Tip Jar.....Jill Richardson.....363
5 - Tip Jar.....it really is that important.....330
6 - Tip Jar.....blackwaterdog.....326
7 - This diary is dedicated to Lady Libertine.....Dallasdoc.....324
8 - Tip Jar.....Kitsap River.....284
9 - Tip Jar.....Adept2u.....254
10 - Dang it.....it really is that important.....145
11 - Brilliant, brilliant, long overdue . . ......nyceve.....131
12 - Hyperpalatable foods........earicicle.....122
13 - Don't forget Michelle Obama.....Diogenes2008.....111
14 - Tip Jar.....shevas01.....110
15 - And now........CJB.....110
16 - Tip Jar.....bobswern.....102
17 - IRITI, you are so right, and I am so.....blue jersey mom.....102
18 - This ought to be an Op-Ed. Indeed ........Meteor Blades.....94
19 - Obama is a truly brave man.....pattisigh.....88
20 - Pravada?.....Hedwig.....86
21 - We will not forget them......rb137.....82
22 - Anyone.....Lava20.....82
23 - Can't trust those damn Russkies!.....Kimball Cross.....79
24 - Tweaked your tags. Nicely done, but there's one.....Jacques.....76
25 - The House Rebuke Thee!.....Hedwig.....76
26 - Many of the people criticizing ACORN,.....chuckvw.....74
27 - This makes me so angry, iriti!.....KelleyRN2.....74
28 - Tip Jar.....Frankenoid.....73
29 - Yes. Support Robin Carnahan......JanF.....72
30 - Temptation.....JekyllnHyde.....71