Why should I even consider becoming a member of the AARP?

Question

Why should anyone under the age of 50 join the AARP. This is a powerful orgaization that is largely responsible for the current state of Social Security and Medicare. Ours and future generations are now saddled with perpetually high taxes to support these poorly managed entitlement programs.

Historic Social Security Tax Rate
1950 - 3%
1960 - 6%
1970 - 8.4%
1980 - 10.2%
1990 - 12.4%
2000 - 12.4%

What is projected
1984- 2015
The Social Security program brings in more money than it spends. The surplus money is loaned to the federal government.

2015-2037
The Social Security program spends more money than it collects in taxes. The federal government pays back the money that the Social Security program has loaned to it with interest.

2037-2075
The SS program runs annual deficits totaling 30 trillion dollars

Answer 1

If you are under the age of 50 you should join the AARP so that you can vote on any type of issue which they allow their members to vote on.

All young people should join the AARP and vote for them to stop lobbying for more socialist programs.

Answer 2

You shouldn't if under age 50-my 1st question is this, why are we offering special privileges to the elderly-i think retirement and all is wonderful however it's killing us who are younger to pay into a system where we get back less in 3 years than paid into our whole career. The system is flawed. We would be better off w/ a national healthcare program instead of medicaid for the poor and medicare for the old and disabled and streamline medical costs w/ modest deductibles. As for retirement, a mandatory 10% straight into an independent annuity from a company of our choice that is insured by the federal government. Most states require insurance companies licensed to sell in their state to keep so much in reserves and in conservative investments. We can do this easily.

Answer 3

Sorry, but you are wrong. Medicare and Socail Security are very efficiently managed programs. The projected deficits, (which I doubt are correct) have to do with the number of people who will be eligible for these programs, and nothing to do with how they are managed. It is also wrong to say that AARP is responsible for this, they can pass no legislation and they do not run the programs. The problems related to these programs and failure to correct are due to Congress and the President not AARP.

Answer 4

I'm one of the oldest baby-boomers (1/10/1946). That makes me an old f@rt of 60.51 years

I wasn't going to sign up for AARP, but the BOSS signed me up anyway. I haven't agreed with one political issue that they send out in their bulletins.

However, some of their discounts are OK, especially travel.

The BOSS says that the dues are something like $12 for 10 years. So it probably costs them more to mail me stuff that I pay in dues. Give it a try.

On Social Security, I've studied enough Actuarial Science (passed 4 exams) to know that if SS was a private insurance company they would have been declared bankrupt years ago. All there officers would have been waiting for Ken Lay to join them in prison.

Answer 5

i didnt know aarp was an entitlement program. i thought it was a group that you paid an annual fee for membership and then received discounts on travel packages, insurance and other things of interest. as a member, you are not forced to buy anything, subscribe to any programs or send money to support any political entity. you started by asking about aarp and then went off on social security......what was the question again?

Answer 6

Can I answer your question with a question? How the heck do you get them to quit sending you crap in the mail. My husband is older than me and he did sign up once. But there was nothing that benefited us. I kinda freaked out when he gave me my AARP card. I was just in my 30's. But about 1 year or 2 before my 50th birthday they started sending me stuff. They could probably solve the national deficit if they would quit using so much money for postage to send me something every other day ! LOL

Answer 7

The AARP finances its lobbying activities from the rip off insurance products it sells to its members. Those annual dues that you pay aren’t enough to even pay the exorbitant salaries of their executives.

All my life I’ve heard this line from AARP members that the Republicans are going to steal my social security. Usually, it was coming from someone who was going to collect several times what he or she paid into the program.

All this AARP money goes to politicians who have assure us that the Social Security Trust Fund is sound until the year 2020.

Oh, I was planning to retire in 2020. I guess I’m screwed.

Answer 8

So you will have someone to speak for your special interest when you become an older person.