The Economy on Center Stage
Some thoughts from AARP's Jim Dau:
It’s hard to find a silver lining in the news coming out of Wall Street and Washington, where global economic volatility is further threatening the financial security of millions of Americans. However, we’re at least grateful that the political media is finally spending more time discussing the economic plans of various candidates (for instance here and here), rather than breathlessly dissecting horse race numbers, photo-ops and slung mud.
The campaign press is waking up to what voters already knew – economic security is a critically important issue. In the Iowa caucuses three weeks ago, voters cited economic concerns as their top issue. Even back in November, both AARP polling and Washington Post polling showed big concern from voters on financial security issues.
Voters want impartial and substantive information on the candidates’ economic plans. It may be that an economic stimulus package is less sexy than decades-old allegations of wrong-doing, but hopefully reporters get that it’s more important.
Comments
Tom and Marion Twaites says:
We hope that AARP will make a strong case to congress, especially the Senate, concerning the fact that the economic stimulus rebate proposal apparently does not include retired seniors. It is surprising, since this group of citizens would be most likely to return tax rebates to the economy quite rapidly considering their marginal income status.
Please work to convince US officials to incorporate more than "the working poor!"
Thanks, Tom and Marion Twaites
01/25/08 6:22 PM
Bob Aliano says:
What is AARP doing to get retirees included in the stimulus package??
01/25/08 10:45 PM
Richard Riker says:
I am 74 years old, but I am still working full-time in my original occupation (by choice), so it appears that my wife and I will receive the couple level of stimulus package payment.
I was shocked to find that retired seniors living on Social Security alone are left out of the program. What is the conceivable rationale for this? Do our representatives feel that these lucky retirees will only stash such a payment in thier fat savings accounts or in their hefty mutual fund portfolios? Sure!
Am I missing something here? What is the logic of this incredible omission?
01/28/08 3:42 PM
Darlene Wilcox says:
Senior citizens on Social Security should be included in the rebate package. AARP and all senior citizens are an expremely large voting block and they could certainly use the help. The rebate is supposed to be a boost to those that need it the most. It would be cruel and insensitive to leave our senior citizens. They would spend their rebate immediately which would be a tremendous boost to the economny.
I hope the Senate has the courage to insist that senior citizens on Social Security be included in the rebates.
01/28/08 4:21 PM
rosmarie harrison says:
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE -- SHOULD INCLUDE ALL Seniors on Social Security checks; many living below poverty level -
It appears to me that Congress is ignoring one very large segment of our population: those of us who live on small Social Security disability checks and Social Security retirement checks and living below poverty. However, this very large "consumer" group of people are very politically active and vote. Rewarding a certain
group of "taxpayers" while ignoring other low-income consumers who have paid taxes all their lives and still pay high taxes on goods and services is inequitable! Excluding 20 million Americans who happen to be seniors whose grandchildren will be paying for this "relief" while deriving no benefits from it is politically incorrect; especially for those members of Congress that are running for election.
I had good jobs for 30 years and supported three children without child support or government subsidies but could save nothing for old age and now have to survive on Social Security disability/retirement income which is below poverty level. Now Congress is going to exclude this class of people from this stimulus package that my grand children will have to pay for -- I think that is unconscionable and inequitable.
Please contact your senators and Chairman Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee regarding this gross injustice!
01/29/08 8:15 AM
Anonymous says:
I am more than disgusted with the lack of support for seniors re this Stimulus package. Barely subsisting on poverty level social security is exactly the fate of many of us. Mr. Novelli And AARPs lack of concern for us is appalling. Write, call, do whatever you can to raise awareness of this huge injustice.
01/30/08 9:38 AM