ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

With so many comments from AARP members and even Congresswoman Bachman from Minnesota, how can you write positive stuff about health care myths being debunked when all appear to be saying a lot of concerning stuff is going to happen. Like the death choice for seniors. And that the President intends to eliminate all private insurers one way or another, even by just penalizing them for not provising government comparable. Why don't the Congress people want this government offering?

I am sorry but this is totally falst. I have read the bill --yes we geezers can read wonky babble too.

This bill will lead to rationing for the simple reason that 40 million more people will be covered --many of them who will get free care like illegal immigrants. And they will use the care. This will create a massive shortage of doctors and other medical facilites.

As for studying the outcomes of procedures whats the point if they don't enforce it. Obama has admitted this bill is nothing more than a stalking horse for single payer -why won't people believe him?

I want to cancel my AARP RIGHT NOW!!!! I am over them trying to push HEALTH CARE REFORM on me. I WON"T take it anymore.

Stand up you people and FIGHT for what's right in God name sake.

If AARP can't do right for us no one can!!!!

I have been a member of AARP for 40 years, but not any more, I just witnessed the the dunb person who represents AARP on the Glenn Beck show who dosen't know whats going on. Please cancel my membership to AARP as of now and notify me of this action.

How can your organization, which purportedly represents the seniors of this country, support government control of all health coverage from a government which is and has been in charge of Medicare, a health plan for seniors, which is historically inefficient, rife with continuallty ignored fraud, and constantly on the brink of bankruptcy?

All countries which have government controlled health care, prioritize services based on age. The elderly are allways considered expendable.

How totally and obviously can your organization ignore the welfare of its members. Is it political gain or just plain stupidity on your part?

Has anyone at AARP read the bill? Somehow I doubt it. I have read the bill - thousands of pages of exclusions. Look at the section re: Cancer Hospitals. You know that Senator Dodd is having prostate cancer surgery at Sloan Kettering - one of the most highly rated and expensive cancer hospitals in the U.S. Under this bill, anyone wishing to utilize a cancer hospital of this caliber will not be covered for any amount in excess of what a non-cancer specialty hospital would charge for treatment. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the patient would be prevented from obtaining the best, most effective and advanced treatment. Instead, the patient would be forced to use a provider that submitted the lowest bid for their services contract with the government. That means patients will have their treatment prescribed and dictated according to the government's plan, not the oncologist of their choice. Patients may have to drive hundreds of miles and wait weeks or months for treatment with a substandard provider in a substandard setting. Congress wants to cram this crappy plan down our throats, but they have underestimated the power of the people - especially those of us with gray hair. AARP needs to back off supporting this disasterous plan.

This WILL end up as a single payer system. Mr. Obama has said that he wants single payer (as long as he doesn't have to be on it) in 2003, and 2007. (go to youtube.com search obama/single payer) Last Thursday Barney Frank said "we don't have the votes for single payer" "I think the public option is the best way to get to single payer" We need to be asking AARP why it is selling seniors out.

Yes lets put the government in charge of something else, they have done a swell job of running our country!!! What a joke, come on AARP your supposed to represent your members. Please poll us and post the results. I know I don't want my tax dollars paying for the murder of babies!!!!!!! Or for that matter the elderly!

AARP doesn't represent my views and I discontinued my membership with them when I realized they were so radically left.

Your proposed health care system legislation costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money.

Skyrocketing health taxes will force millions of Americans out of work. In fact, millions of Americans will be denied adequate heathcare under the AARP/ Democrat plan.

With so many people looking at their health care taxes nearly quadrupleing in the next 10 years, it's time to STOP action on health reform and research a better plan than the ones currently proposed.

America needs you to take action to ensure that all current heathcare legislation is STOPPED. I urge you to commit to working on a bipartisan basis to pass legislation that will continued the current excellent health care choices we enjoy.

The way AARP is misrepresenting the current healthcare plans considered by Congess, it's apperant that they haven't read any of the bills, but are only passing along talking points from members of their political party. Please start reading the bills before voting blindly for everything Obama puts in front of you.

Single payer NO . The groverment has not proved it could run anything larger that a postage stamp without breaking the bank , and /or crashing the economy. Frankly I don't trust Obama or the Legislature.

Why on earth would AARP support the healthcare reform in ANY way...this is a death sentence, literally, to any older person with serious health issues. As a cancer patient I see how many of our elderly are surviving due to the decent health care that we have NOW....which, will NOT be there if this reform passes.

This man has been in the whitehouse for 8 months and this country has never been in such bad shape in my entire lifetime. The cash for clunkers is a joke and failure (out with the old, buy into the new...sound familiar, like the healthcare reform bill--I've read it!!!), how do you think the gov will deal with YOUR healthcare.

I will never re-join AARP.

To those of you who make political policy for this organization, get a clue! The House version of Obamacare will lead to cuts in current programs, will increase the National defict, will eventually result in rationing, will lead to diminished quality and will require end of life counseling for those 65 and up.

Further, contrary to what Obama is CURRENTLY stating he has gone on record beginning in 2003 as a proponent of "single payer" To argue that this is not his ultimate intent now is disingenous.

Also, New York representative Frank acknowledges the House bill WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO SINGLE PAYER. That is what the Dems want.

I also note that no one has blogged here in favor of Nationalizing our healthcare. Anyone at AARP wonder why?

Thank you, AARP, for advocating for healthcare that will serve all people. It is unfortunate that many vocal people are rising up to create mass hysteria. What a bunch of "I want it but I don't care if anyone else has it" they are! The US will get the kind of healthcare its citizens deserve. I just hope that these ugly naysayers aren't the measure of that.

I'm surprised AARP still has a site! People have canceled their memberships in droves. Me for one! They're changing their tune, trying to appear by partisan...but everybody knows better! Everybody get out and protest Health Care Reform. While it's a lovely thought, it's not worked anywhere, and will be the final straw in destroying this nations ecconomy.I'm in TX and there's lots of people getting out and making sure these left wing nuts can't get their messages heard. Obama may dictate to some...but neverrrrr to me!

I watched one of Obama's meetings when a senior on the phone asked if the time came that she needed a hip raplacement, would she be able to get it. He beat around the bush and talked about everything but what she asked. I could have gotten a better answer from my 5 year old niece. He never did come out and say yes, or answer the question, so I'm guessing the answer was no. I'm thinking this is a very bad thing. I'd hate to think that some of my elderly relatives or myself would be denied services such as this because of age.

Lots of people scared about changes are making very emotional comments. No, there's nothing about "rationing" in the bill. Yes, common sense says that the system may bet overloaded in some places, just because there will be a lot of new patients. However, doctors and hospitals already quit taking new patients when they feel that they can't do a good job if they take on too many. What's different??? Do any of you think you can just walk into Sloan Kettering now and force them to take you in? I see nothing in the bill that even suggests that any doctor or hospital will suddenly be forced to become overloaded. Again, what's different???
I have read the portions of the bills concerning advance directives/end of life counseling and find them very appropriate. Does it make sense to insist on every expensive treatment available to extend the time a person is breathing, even if the person is no longer there? I don't want my empty body to be kept "alive" if my "essence" has departed. If that's what you want, though, pay for it yourself, folks.
I have also read the portions of the bills concerning comparative effectiveness. Research in that area is much overdue. Does it really make any sense to REQUIRE a doctor to use the most expensive treatment available even if the patient gains very little from it? That is exactly what some of the other commenters seem to be saying (and apparently they are assuming that someone else will be paying for it...). We patients really need information like this to make our personal decisions on what makes sense to do. There is so much that we are not told about. Even CPR can have significant negative side effects for some people that most of us are not aware of. At some point in my life, I expect that I will decide to forgo even that - and DON'T call that suicide. Even the Church doesn't go that far, folks!

What you are supporting is ludicrous. Have you read the 1000+ pages? And why would anyone believe anything Obama has to say after all the deceit and hocus pocus he has practiced. He obviously just wants America to have the same lousy health care that Castro and other communist South American countries have. Little to none! I too am about to cancel my AARP membership.

I wonder if anyone at AARP is reading these comments. Not one supports AARP supporting this health care reform, yet, I received an email from AARP referencing this link in support of their opinion. Please..... Like so many above have mentioned, this bill is so wrong! I too have spent many hours going through line by line and there are just to many loopholes that I can get strangled with. If the government takes over our health care choices, it will put an end to new innovations, research for cures, our choices in care and payment options, etc., because it will be to busy trying to cut costs. I too am cancelling my AARP membership. I will not support an organization that supports this health care reform.

I have read enough of the bills now being considered to recognize a very bad deal for all Americans. The federal government has NEVER managed anything as well as private industry can, with the possible exception of the military. We have the best health-care system in the world, as evidenced by the statistics on survival rates for the most common serious illnesses, compared to the survival rates in countries with government control of health care. The problem is the cost of access to health insurance. If the government really wants to help, it should focus on insuring for catastrophic situations. If the insurance companies were required to insure everybody, but only had to insure normal health situations, they could give an affordable price to everybody.

I do not understand why AARP is in favor of a total government takeover of our health-care system. AARP certainly does not speak for me on this issue, and I do not know even ONE PERSON who thinks it is a good idea. Our system may not be perfect, but government take-over is not the answer.

THIS IS A LIE. THE FINE PRINT OF THE BILL SAYS DIFFERENTLY!! I don't appreciate the lies you are speading! Since you are an Obama supporter, I could only expect you to LIE about the fine print of the Health Care Reform. You may want socialized medicine so that the government can kill you by NOT supplying ALL the medical needs, services, medications etc. that you will need as you get older. Even Obama said if there were a lady who was 100 in good over all health, but needed a pace maker to help her old heart, SHE WOULD NOT RECEIVE IT. THAT IS EUTHENASIA.... so the GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES... NOT SO... ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT!!! So, as far as I am concerned this is a leftist, socialistic association and I want NO PART OF THIS... give me a refund for my membership and cancel it immediately. I'll fight you tooth and nail to end to defeat this socialized medicine!

IS AARP SELLING OUT SENIORS TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTHCARE PLAN ?

In what appears to be an act of desperation the AARP seems to be engaging in a "throw out the baby with the bath water" mentality in its actions to lobby Congress for a more effective national healthcare program.

Unfortunately, AARP may have forgotten its primary mission, namely to act in the best interests of senior citizens. Now, they want their members to sign petitions and send letters to Congress and others to support healthcare reform. But what kind of “reform”? They don’t say. While this may be a commendable vision, what the AARP fails to recognize is that the Obama administration comprises some of the most politically radical individuals ever to run the central government in the history of this nation; and his healthcare plan is destine to fail, but not before it destroys the medical services and medical insurance industry in this country.

The latest AARP Policy Book (2009-2010), Chapter 7 is devoted to healthcare issues. Many of the policy statements on health care in this chapter are meaningful and well stated, but it may represent nothing more than pure rhetoric, unless AARP uses it "political might" to tell the President and the members of Congress what they, AARP, demand for all Americans, especially its 40 million members, who demand protection of the existing Medicare benefits and program.

The only thing the Congress knows and understands is the full force of hard ball political action. In depth stories on the future of healthcare in America in the AARP Bulletin, like all of the other "get nothing done" rhetoric one hears daily on the FOX News Network, or by the numerous conservative talk show hosts, that results in distracting the people from direct involvement. All that rhetoric is symbolic of a "Nero fiddling while Rome burns" philosophy. Some of us believe that the Obama administration encourages all of the rhetoric to keep the people occupied while Congress jams down the throats of the American people a healthcare plan designed to destroy the private insurance market at astronomical costs to the taxpayers-mainly the 1% of the taxpayers who are carrying 50% of the tax burden.

AARP must play political hard ball with members of Congress who will be designing and voting on a comprehensive healthcare bill, crafted in secret that will prove to be contrary to the best interests of all seniors, let alone the nation as a whole. AARP must declare publically, via all available media outlets, exactly what it is doing and who they are targeting in Congress to protect its 40 million member senior citizens. The AARP silence is deafening!

President Obama said something at his White House healthcare briefing in June that offers a disturbing hint of our future under his vision of health reform that should have invoked an immediate and loud public response from AARP. He suggested one way to save costs is not to spend on procedures that evidence show is not necessarily going to improve care for the sick and dying. "Maybe you're better off not have surgery, but taking a painkiller" the President said. Maybe. But the question is, who decides? Now the latest declaration by President Obama is that seriously ill persons should seek Hospice as an alternative to surgery or hospitalization. This is “geriatric genocide” within every meaning of that term.

AARP should use all of its financial and political resources to demand that the Congress protect the interests of senior citizens who are enrolled in the Medicare Program, the Medicare drug prescription program, with supplemental insurance through a private insurance carrier such as that offered by AARP.

If the evidence begins to show any effort on the part of AARP to sell out current and future senior citizens in support of an Obama national healthcare program, seniors need to make their voices heard loud and clear to that organization, as well as, their Congressional representatives.

It is well known that "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". President Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in both Houses of Congress believe they have absolute power to do whatever they want, and the "people be damned".

Now is the time for everyone, especially senior citizens and “baby boomers” to let AARP know how they feel.

Paul J. Marino, Esq.
Belleair Beach, Florida

I commend AARP for their efforts to get healthcare reform done. I would bet my SS check that 95 % of the emails I have been reading are from paid Republican volunteers. You can even see where some of them are repeating identical phrases and sentences as though they are reading off a sheet of paper.
I personaly have had trouble getting healthcare until I turned 65. Since being on SS and Medicare, I have been treated as I would think even a poitician would like. No complaints here !!
I can understand how there can be waste in any large undertaking such as Medicare ,so lets fix it if we can. A couple of things I have heard friends complain about for many years ( including republicans ) is not being able to be covered for pre existing conditions, the "donut hole", not being able to take insurance coverage with me when changing jobs, and the God Awful sinful prices that the drug companies charge. This is what we are trying to get changed.
You concervative fear mongerers out there just don't get it do you?? Your way of doing things got us in the mess we are in, and you got thrown out of the picture in the last election. Get over it and put your energy into trying to make this a better country instead of trying to wreck it as you are doing, thankyou.

AARP - you do NOT represent me on this. If you had read this bill, you would know how badly it will hurt all Americans. I don't want this plan for me or my children. I have read the bill - it is easy to find online. Pay special attention to pages 16 and 17 (and some before and after), and then try to tell me that there will still be private plans in existance after a year or so. Read the last 100 pages which deal with the creation of task force after task force - just what we need - more paper pushers who don't give a damn about our health and welfare. And it will be a cold day in hell before I allow anyone to give me mandatory death counseling. I intend to fight for my continued health, and I am going to start by voting the people who support this so called reform out of office in 2010. Join me. We can do it!

I have read your statement,and I just want to inform you
that I am dropping my membership to AARP because of your
supporting this program and Mr. Obama. You do not speak for
eveyone and do not want to be affiliated with such a liberal
organization.

DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ARE COVERING UP FOR OBAMA. HE HASN'T READ THE OBAMACARE, AND NEITHER HAVE THE SENATORS LET ALONG THE HOUSE MEMBERS. THEY ARE FAST DELETING ANY COPIES POSTED ON THE NET. I HAVE BEEN AN AARP MEMBER 20 YRS., AND JOINED YOUR FIRST HEALTHCARE PLAN, WHICH I PROMPTLY CHANGED THE NEXT YEAR! THEN YOU BUY OUT MY RX PLAN, AND NOW CHARGE ME MORE THAN TRIPLE AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR ONE RX I HAVE BEEN ON FOR 12 YRS. THE SUBSTITUTE PUT ME IN HOSPITAL IN 4 WEEKS! SOME INSURANCE! YOU ARE FAR TO BUSY SPREADING OUT YOUR BENEFICENCE! I WANT A COMPANY THAT DOES NOTHING BUT MY INSURANCE, NOT ALL THE OTHER GOODIES YOU OFFER. THERE ARE OTHER PLANS THAT SAVE MORE IN TRAVEL AND EVERYTHING ELSE! I'M SORRY I HAVE PAID MY SUBSCRIPTION TO ALL YOUR CORRESPONDENCE AND BULLETIN THAT I NEVER READ, BUT WILL NOT RENEW AGAIN. AND AS SOON AS I FIND ANOTHER RX INSURANCE I WILL CANCEL YOURS. TRY READING THE OBAMA CARE COMPLETELY THRU BEFORE IT IS DELETED BY ACORN THEN TELL ME THE POLITICIANS YOU TALKED TO DIDN'T LIE ABOUT EVERYTHING! THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL IS INCLUDED!

http://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/healthcare_overview_obama_072909.pdf

My fears are not reduced by the comments of Alejandra Owens however well intentioned the author's motives.

Where is the incentive for doctors or health care providers to increase numbers or absorb larger work loads?

Why are we adding millions of illegal aliens when our economy is struggling to maintain our current health care system funding?

Why are we in essence encouraging compainies to drop health care insurance for retirees by promising a "government solution" in health care when it hasn't worked anywhere else except for fairly routine care?

Too many questions. A simple one for AARP ... if the Health Care Reform provisions are so great ... does that mean AARP will no longer provide "supplemental" insurance?

AARP, please continue to disseminate intelligent conversation and information about long-overdue health care reform. I would like to remind some of these responders that they are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. The majority of die-hard conservatives do not want to be confused by the facts but fortunately they don't represent all seniors or Americans. Our current health care system is broken and needs to be fixed.

I am truly disappointed in your attempt to satisfy all of those members and others that can easily find fault with the proposed health bill and the Presidents extreamly storng push to make it effective. First not very many persons have read the entire proposal and even those that have interperate the sections differently. The langusge in which it is written is not clear in meaning so thereby leaving it to the beleif of each individual. You and AARP have given your decesion on what different areas mean, however others see the same areas completely differently. I feel that the AARP must on behalf of all of its members be completely factual not by reading the document, but by going to all representitives in both houses and see how they interperate the questioned sections for this is what and how they will base their votes upon.

Next and most important is how in the world will any government employee be in a position to determine what health care is best for any individual better that their personal physician. Even now there are untold numbers of situations where those working for present health insurance companies dissagree with both the insured and their doctors. This being the case how in this world will the government be in a better position to determine what is best for any one individual? How can the government handle the tremendous load of claims that will be entered on behalf of all of those new covered individuals.
I truly beleive that it is the meaning on the present bill to adversely select against the elderly. What those persons who are trusted with the decesion of how this bill will ultamately turn out must remember is that they also will become a member of the elderly population one day and how do they wish to be taken care of then?

I beleive that the president should take a back seat on this issue and give those responsible of drawing up a healthcare program the needed time to come forth with a meaningful program and not one that is jamed down their throats so that the president can sit back with a smile and say," I did it!"

I also have quit AARP for obvious reasons. Check out www.amac.us (Association of Mature American Citizens). They are doing what AARP should.

If you have recieved an e-mail from AARP stating that rationing is a media hype and asking you to spread the AARP propaganda. I answered them as follows:

President Obama has made clear that the goal is to totally nationalize Health Care.
We don't need legislation to improve efficiency and reduce fraud, waste etc in Medicare. The reason that this is not done is because the government runs it.

How will we increase health benefits to ~ 50M uninsured w/o more medical personnel?
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that it will cost ~ a Trillion Dollars.
In countries that have introduced Govt health care, care is rationed and especially for seniors

How will AARP prevent rationing once government establishes a health rationing board , which must be done to afford this?
ARRP should be focusing solely on what is best for retired seniors and no one else like the ~12M illegal aliens.

Yes, your 4 stated goals are admirable and I support them, but therefore you should be encouraging people not to support the1000 page bill currently in Congress. You should be encouraging to start from scratch with a Bi-Partisan effort to develop your 4 goals.

Carlo

Obviously, a lot of you cannot read, as AARP says it is not endorsing any health care program. The information put out there was to dispell the information that is not true, so that you can base decisions on the facts, (see the footnotes). If you can't read a simple piece of information, how can you read and understand the Health Care bill? It is the alarmists out there that put out messages that are basically attemps at "brainwashing," as they don't care about what is right or wrong for information, they just want to sway the way people think and vote, and unfortunately the majority of our population is too LAZY to check out facts. They are sheep who follow, without using their brains, to check out whether what is being said is the truth. I get E-mails from people regarding things that have been circulating for 5 or 6 years and are nothing but rumors, and are no longer even pertinent, as the issues have long since been resolved, but everybody just keeps passing them on. I don't care which party you support, just state an opinion as an opinion, and a fact as a fact, and if you are calling it a fact, back it up with a source, so we can all be well informed. The dumbing down of America is very evident in some of these messages. Simple logic should tell you some of these things could not possible be true.

I was a monthly contributor and worker for the DNC and local Dems for many years, but I finally awoke in 2005 to the fact that the party had walked away from me, not I from them.. I DID NOT WALK OVER TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL REGISTRATION AS AN INDEPENDENT. Danel can send her SS check to my favorite charity as soon as she starts to read and listen to what is going on and maybe employ some critical thinking skills.
I have decided in my retirement to give up my part time job and work fervently for the rescue of the country and its Constitution so that my grandchildren have the opportunity to live in the USA that stands for liberty, freedom, and those rights guaranteed by the First Amendment which are under further attack by the current administration. I DID NOT RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP OF 20 YRS. with AARP and will never do so again.

I think, the truth be known is that what is scaring everybody is the speed with which healthcare reform is being pushed. I has taken how many years to get screwed up and we want to fix it in 3 months. That is wrong, wrong, wrong. Take the time to fix it but fix it right. Secondly, we don't have a bill as such to read. Why not get a bill nailed down and then give us a month to digest and discuss it. What is the hurry.

By inviting Obama to AARP headquarters to speak to the American people to tell his side of the story and having NO ONE from AARP speaking out about areas of concern with the current wording of the bill ,OR clarifying that AARP is not endorsing the bill, leaves the very distinct impression that all AARP members are in agreement!

I resent AARP's actions, including the statement, "I've had enough. Enough of the fear-mongering. Enough of the myths and unfounded rumors. Enough of the interest groups twisting the truth to stop health reform."

It appears that AARP may be guilty of twisting the truth!

READ THE BILL AND GET THE TRUTH TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

I will not be renewing my membership with AARP until you can assure me that all members will be represented with truth and common sense and not leave us feeling like dues paying Union members such as the Teamsters and UAW where a few top people play politics in granting endorsements!

Can't belive what i"m reading here wonder how much the ditto heads made off of their rants. Any sane person should see how much we need a change that won't benift the insurance companys and drug pushers. If their side has a better plan lets see it. This is the type of division that will cause this great nation to fail.

AARP you are absolutely done in my book. An earlier AARP message stated that AARP was totally in favor of president Obama's health care plan and wanted it passed. Now you state that you favor no plan at all - but you still want seniors to spread the word that the Obama plan is great!

What about bipartisan cooperation and insuring that sufficient time is taken to develop the best American healthcare solution. Your actions have been hijacked by activists liberals. What a joke.

No AARP membership renewal for me. Just who do you think you represent? It certainly isn't the seniors you scam membership dues from.

Judy,

We can read, we can deduce and we can judge actions.

We can read, hear and judge what President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and what Daschle (president's 1st choice for his Cabinet).

Once this law is enacted it will be out of our and AARP's control what happens next.

Sure, I have read AARP's statements etc. but I have not seen one iota to indicate in reality that they do not agree 100% with the President. This is very obvious. I judge actions above words.

Here are some facts for you:
How will we increase health benefits to ~ 50M uninsured w/o more medical personnel?
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that it will cost ~ a Trillion Dollars.
In countries that have introduced Govt health care, the cost is absorbed by rationing care, especially for seniors

As I stated in my previous note:
Yes, your 4 stated goals are admirable and I support them, but therefore you should be encouraging people not to support the 1000 page bill currently in Congress. You should be encouraging to start from scratch with a Bi-Partisan effort to develop your 4 goals

Don't just repeat the DMC talking points

Carlo

God Bless the AARP. You are a voice of reason amidst a hailstorm of negative, uninformed rhetoric about healthcare reform. Reading the diatribes from contributors to this site, I keep seeing the same phrases over and over again and realize that some conservative talk-show host or organization or Web site has told these people what to say, including that they are cancelling their membership. (I wonder how many of them are actually members?) The people who are misleading them are the same folks who concocted the Swiftboat campaign in 2004 and organized angry, loud protests in Florida after the 2000 election. It's not going to work this time. A minority of rude, loud voices will not drown out the majority of Americans who know we need significant reform of our healthcare system. Keep up the good work, AARP. I will not only renew my membership but will be giving you an extra contribution this year for your thoughtful, reasoned voice on this issue on behalf of millions of older Americans.

I heard on a TV talk show that the reason AARP supports the government heathcare reform is because they will be one of the government health providers. This is why they are contacting the membership and telling them the support the bill.
I thought AARP was above this.

Thanks for your "informed" opinion on this issue. I will not be renewing my membership in AARP.

Thank you, AARP.
The lies and fear-mongering about health care reform are ridiculous and hateful. I have worked in healthcare for over 30 years. Our current system is based on personal greed and an uninformed public. Special interest groups wish to keep it that way with their propaganda. Our current system is UNSUSTAINABLE. There are plenty of European countries with health care that is effective for all their citizens. We spend more on health care than any European country and our health is worse......many more chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. This country needs to come out of the dark ages and start doing right by our citizens. Our future depends on it.

I am appauled at AARP, how can you deceive the seniors!
Wall Street Journal, dtd 7/23/09, by Betsy McCaughey
The assault began against seniors with the stimulus package in Feb. Slipped into the bill was substantial funding for comparative effectiveness research, which is generally code for limiting care based on the patient's age. Economists are familiar with the formula, where the cost of a treatment is divided by the number of years(called QALYs, or quality adjusted life years) that the patient is likely to benefit. In Britian, the formula leads to denying treatments for older patients who have fewer years to benefit from care than younger patients. When comparative effectiveness reasearch appeared in the STIMULUS bill, Rep Charles Boustany Jr.(R.La.) a heart surgeon, warned that it would lead to "denying seniors & the disabled lifesaving care.
He & Sen Jon Kyl (R. Ariz.) proposed amendments to no avail that would have barred the fed govt from using the research to eliminate treatments for the elderly or deny care based on age.

That's why you don't see this is the Health Care Bill, is was already put into the STIMULUS bill.

This is happenning already in universal care Canada, England, rationed care based on how much it costs, how old you are & how long your life expectancy is.

Lord please open their eyes to the truth.

We need some changes but not this one, and health care should be for USA citizens.....
cathy

Please check out the conservative alternative for Americans 50+ at www.amac.us. AMAC, For fiscal responsibility in Government.

Please check out the conservative alternative for Americans 50+ at www.amac.us. AMAC, For fiscal responsibility in Government.

AARP, you are short sighted and irresponsible to promote this health care plan. You are directly jeopardizing the lives of the seniors you claim to represent. Shame on you. What kind of kickback are you getting to do this? Surely you wouldn't do this otherwise, right? :(

Do commenters who argue that a new health care system will result in free medical care for illegal immigrants and others really think they are not getting that now and resulting in deferred care in our emergency rooms for those who are covered? Do they think that doing nothing as has been the case for the past couple of decades is not costing the system and all of us in it a fortune already? Or that continuation on this path won't lead go through the roof with the current huge annual increases already being experienced? Has anyone noticed that Medicare works pretty well for a government run operation? As for Sen. Dodd, he no doubt has coverage for Sloan Kettering in the platinum health care system that our Congress enjoys. Under the current proposals, access to S-K would still be accessible for anyone through private insurance or out of pocket. Same as now. As for Obama turning the plan into a single-payer system. Since when did he have the power to do that, even if he had the inclination. Does anyone believe that the Republicans or Democrats would have enough votes to pull that off if they wanted to, which there is no evidence that they do with the possible exception of the most liberal elements of the Party, and fortunately they and their equally out-of-touch most conservatives colleagues don't have enough votes to pass much of anything. I hope that the bipartisan Gang of 12 will prevail with a common sense balanced plan.

Let's try less heat and more light with some facts and specific alternatives. Maybe we should ask Congress to cost out its current plan as a national model. Maybe we should ask Congress to cost out its current plan as a national model. I think that AARP could provide a good service to outline in lay terms exactly what the current plan is and costs.

I dropped my AARP membership years ago when I found out that AARP had been hijacked. It really doesn't represent seniors it is representing insurance companies. I too saw an AARP representative on Glen Beck's show. He seemed pretty lame in his representation of AARP's policies. Any former public employee who is retired and has health care through their reti-
rement system should beware. The AARP president Novielli has testified in front of congressional hearings that public employee pensions ought to be done away with. According to this reasonig why not health care? We need government run health care but how will it be paid for and how will it not be rationed at some point? All of this socialized government health care winds up being limited eventually. The oldest are the biggest targets of cost saving ideas. That means no or low care for the elderly. Paul W.

If the government is so awful, turn in your Medicare cards and start sending your Social Security checks to me. As someone under 50 who's working, it's my money anyway. I hope these comments aren't from actual seniors. This is disgusting and I'm sorry I read it.

I am astonished at the amount of misinformation conveyed in the preceding emails. How about a few facts:

"Health care's big money wasters
More than $1.2 trillion spent on health care each year is a waste of money. Members of the medical community identify the leading causes"

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/10/news/economy/healthcare_money_wasters/index.htm

Check out some statistics, globally, before you start talking trash about government run healthcare. We are beat in just about every category, including senior care, infant mortality, quality of care, range of care, and life expectancy. No one is taking away anything from you. Get over it. I'm sick and tired of hearing people making statements like "Keep Government Out Of My Medicare". And whoever said that the Cash for Clunkers bill was a failure, how do you figure that out? Because it ran out of money so soon? THAT'S BECAUSE IT WORKED BETTER THAN THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD. The VA healthcare system is one of the best here in America, as a vet I know, I swear by it.

The FOR PROFIT insurance companies are the ones with death panels, they choose whether or not to pay for any surgery or treatment you are faced with. When they decide they're done paying, BAM, now you pay out of pocket or take your loved one home. The end-of-life counseling issue has been so dramatically blown out of proportion I'm ashamed of you all. The bill requires MEDICARE TO PAY FOR IT which it never had to in the past. It doesn't require you to attend. Before you all start running around like chickens with their damned heads cut off use some common sense.

If you don't like the way your insurance company is treating you, how do you handle it? Go complain to the CEO? Yeah right, that will get you far. Government run, you got an issue, they don't get re-elected. Lose the attitudes, use your heads. I doubt a single one of you actually understands the word "socialism" that you're throwing around. Listen to someone besides Rush and Hannity, go out, do some research and form your own opinions. And if you still don't like it, thats fine, thats your right as an American. But for godssake present your opinion as an adult, not as a whining screaming name-calling adolescent.

And to whoever said that its not their right to decide who lives and who dies "that's God's job"...by getting that extra healthcare to extend your life you're just thwarting his will. Way to go.

Does everyone take advantage of seniors? Sure seems like AARP is using them and taking their money to support an agenda most wouldn't agree with. People are not saying no to health care reform. We just want to know what the F it is. Why does it have to be a secret? How can AARP support a bill that hasn't even got it's final draft yet? What kind of taxpayer money has AARP been promised by the Obama Administration? That seems to be the MO, scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Doesn't matter who gets hurt. Typical Illinois politician. Just like the IL governor. "this is golden"

I will not be renewing my membership either. My country is worth more to me than this crap!

I don't believe any of these protester here that get SS will be giving it up anytime soon. What you are covered so the heck with everyone else? The insurance companies give millions and millions in donations to politicians and are spending over a million a day to stop a government option, why do you think that is? People are dying and losing their homes because they either don't have insurance because it is too expensive, they lost their job or the coverage is cut off because they actually need to use it. President Obama said if you are happy with your insurance you can keep it If they can keep it what do the insurance companies have to worry about? A lot of lies are being spread to scare people it seems to be working for some even when presented with the truth. Calling President Obama a socialist, Nazi and communist is silly, he is none of these and they are three different types of governing, he's not even the anti-Christ. You need to get your news somewhere other than Fox and conservatives who feed on fear and miss-information.

Lots of right-wing operatives screaming the talking points here.

You lost, rightards, get over it. America wants health care reform; just because you're either too rich to care or too stupid to realize you're being duped, doesn't mean a fig to me. Lie all you like, nobody with a brain believes you.

Just writing to thank you, AARP, for your efforts to debunk the myths and outright lies. Case in point, this comment from the top:

"This bill will lead to rationing for the simple reason that 40 million more people will be covered --many of them who will get free care like illegal immigrants. And they will use the care. This will create a massive shortage of doctors and other medical facilites."

Although this person opposes health care reform, they are willing to admit that the current private health insurance scheme leaves millions of Americans uninsured. But it comes with a couple of lies: one, the recent Census Bureau figures -- yeah, you know, that radical leftist evil bureau -- says that number is 34.4 million;
two, that number is just the Americans, not any *documented* immigrant residents working and living and contributing to the economy of the U.S. (bringing us to a whopping 47 million uninsured people); three, 1 in 10 of those uninsured people are American children; and four, that doesn't even include he *underinsured* -- those with some but inadequate coverage.

The U.S. state with the worse number of uninsured residents is Republican-led Texas.

The Republicans have had 8 adminstrative years to show some will to reverse this sad trend of skyrocketing health costs, no coverage for so many, and little coverage for children but did NOTHING. The average American could talk at length about how they could not afford health care, so one has to believe that this argument is not about the plan but rather that this Democratic Administration has made it a priority.

Enough is enough; let's get this done!

To those who insist on quoting Betsy McCaughey: You should be aware that she is employed by a company that makes medical devices. Her "analysis" of the Health Care bill is predicated on the possibility that a rational health-care system which looks at such devices objectively could find that they simply don't work as well as less expensive treatments. She and her employer stand to lose money if we get the health-care reform we so desperately need.

Thank you, AARP, for attempting to add some light to a discussion which, as seen in the comments here, is mostly smoke. The inability of some people to even consider the facts is frightening to me. Perhaps what my younger friends say is true: Old people's brains really do atrophy with age.

this and other endorsments aarp has made is why i am no longer a member.

I wonder how many of these people are actual AARP members and how many are lobbyists just trying to throw ya...

I have heard that even most of the congressmen/women have not read this bill, but taking it at Obama's word? If this is so how are they capable of voting on any bill. Do any of them take the time to read what is before them? If this bill were good for us, there wouldn't be such a rush to get it passed. No one can read all of this bill without some time. It is time for those we voted into office (altho not all of them did I vote for) do the job they were hired to do and that is to represent the people who put them in office. That means reading every bill work for word and removing all the pork. How can pork be removed if no one is reading what is before them. If it is true the congress hasn't read this bill or any other for that matter, each and everyone read this bill word for word. They need to put off the vote and sit in their respective seats and read it together if thats what it takes to know what is in each and every bill before them.

I am a member of AARP, as is my husband. I pay for Medicare Supplemental Insurance through AARP. I am totally upset with AARP, as they are selling out their members (senior citizens). I am going to terminate my AARP membership as soon as I am able to switch my Medicare Supplemental Insurance at the end of this year. I am tied in to them until then. In the meantime I am going to contact United Healthcare Insurance and inform them that as long as they carry the name AARP along with their insurance product, I will not subscribe to it. Maybe others should do so also: let United Healthcare know they don't want to be associated with AARP (who seems, at least as of this time, to be on the side of Obamacare).

Does this bill include anything about HEALTH care? Obama has promised to repeal the FDA preemption. As far as I've been able to ascertain, this has not happened. How does this bill affect our right to redress from harm from the medical industry?
Obama has promised to help the disabled, in finding ways to get jobs. Has this happened? Does this bill address our pathetic system?
Obama has promised to get our young out of this insipid war. Has this happened?
Obama has promised to get rid of the waste, fraud and the lies from the government/medical industry cartel. Has this happened? Does this bill address this?
Obama has promised to "stimulus" jobs. Has this happened?
Personally, I have had my life stolen from me by the medical industry/government cartel. I really don't want more ugly, greedy, CEOs and graft taking politicians to continue to get more outrageous profits from my pain.
Say NO TO the "Health" Care plan.

It is as if you can not think on your own. Sure the goverment has done a job on our country, but I am certain it did not happen in the last 8 months. (Hint Hint) Either way it goes, at the end of the day we all are going to meet our maker whether you accept that or not. When it's your time stop trying to hold on. Yes, in with the new and out with the old it is the cycle of life. It is just how things progress, would you still want those asme clothes from years ago, or that sofa that is worn.(Not to trivialize it but........) You all should make room for change. You people are plainly arrogant and selfish. This man is trying to make a change for the better, will it be easy? Probably not, but something has to be done. Are any of you aware of the stats of who is issured and whom is not? Are any of you truly aware of what is truly being spent on health care and how and where it is being spent?
This reform seems to be a great chance to fix/mend/create a system that can work for all Americans. Those of you that are totally uninformed and act as cows to the fear button that has been used on for the past 8 years should either shut up and get out of the way, or find a way to make it work. Either you are part of the solution or part of the problem.

I find it impossible to believe that AARP has SO sold out seniors by shamelessly promoting President Obama's and the democrat's health care takeover plan. Please don't try to tell us that their program will be cost neutral. I have 11 grandchildren and I don't want to have them remember me as the generation that stole their future. Do you think seniors are so selfish and self involved that they only care about their needs and wants and the hell with everybody else? Sure there are things that could be done to make this program better and fairer, but not the junk our democratic congressmen (and women) are trying to foist on us. You have lost your focus and mission when it seems to us that you're only trying to make money on your Part B, auto and life insurance programs. Have you asked the congressmen (and women) you're buttkissing if they will be put on the same program and, by the way, why have Vets been exempted from these bills? Since medicare, social security, the post office and amtrak are going broke--you think the government will do a better job on healhcare? Wake up AARP and shame on you.

About 13 years ago, I canceled my AARP membership and told them to stop sending me mail/magazines because of their liberal policies. It took me three letters; the 3rd letter stating I would contact my attorney if AARP correspondence continued. Hence, correspondence ceased.
Now, today, August 24, 2009, I received an AARP membership card and a $16.00 bill for a one-year membership.
I am returning the entire correspondence, stating refused.
I AM NOT sending anything to them via e-mail, Internet, etc. that uses my IP address.

cannot believe the new ceo chose to endorse the house puppet obama. My senior group will drop all insurance or anything we have to do with aarp and I will now never join. Now I see you are blowing money from people that have joined you on TV ad's for the house puppet boom. What a disgrace and low life organization. I will post on every blog to spread the word with your new so called ceo Rand you have really cut down the aarp from what it used to stand for seniors.

We will NOT be renewing our subscription to AARP nor will we volunteer under your AARP Volunteer Program in the Reno/Sparks NV are in the future. We believe, very strongly, the AARP is not taking it's members best interests at heart, by not telling the truth and supporting the Obama/Democrat Health Care program. if this bill passes, Medicare recipients will have their benefits CUT BY almost 50% !!! I don't see how AARP is trying to sweet-coat this Horrible bill. We DO KEEP INFORMED on a daily basis.
WE ARE AGAINST OBAMA/DEMOCRAT HEALTH CARE PLAN PROPOSAL. We feel the Congress and Senate should spend more time familiarizing themselves with what they're voting for.

AARP does a great job parroting the BO "Health Care" propaganda. AARP hopes to have a role in the new socialistic Amerika. They conveniently omit the government is out of money. The OB administration could not manage a cash for clunkers program. How will they manage your health care. OB and the Dems want to follow Europe's lead in law, economics, government and health care. We will end up with rationed medicine with the sad stories we read about non-US publications. Check out Pravda, the Toronto Sun, and the London Mail here is an example http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209034/The-babies-born-hospital-corridors-Bed-shortage-forces-4-000-mothers-birth-lifts-offices-hospital-toilets.html . We have a proven group of liars running this country. AARP cannot believe them but hey must have a reason. Open your eyes and figure it out for yourself.

I can't believe the load of hysteria and drivel that passes for thoughtful commentary on the part of some.

People who say they quit AARP 13 years ago but are commenting on the AARP webpage today; people who claim to have read 1,000 plus pages of compicated, intricate, legislative detail AND claim to understand what they have read; people who say that it was the government (not short-sighted, greedy, selfish Bankers) who brought the economy to the verge of collapse. What nonsense.

You all sound like members of SHEEP, not AARP, repeating the outright falsehoods that the special interests groups have fed to you during this "debate". How can you inform yourself when you deliberately disrupt townhall meeetings with the stated purpose of "making sure these left wing nuts can't get their messages heard". This is not democracy!

You are playing into the hands of those corrupt individuals or companies that make an obscenly profitable living out of the health care industry and only want to protect those profits by deliberately trying to keep you in the dark, so that they can go on reaping those wasteful profits.

America needs health care reform. Why does this country rank 37th on the UN's ranking of national health care systems performance (Cuba, by the way, ranks 39th).

The country now insures less of its population but pays 30% more of its GDP on health care than any other country - and with no better results.

American health care, whatever the outcome of this deep and long-overdue debate, will be made in America - not in Cuba, not in Canada, not in England, France or Germany - but in America.

Americans have always done things better, smarter, faster and cheaper than anyone else, and health care reform will be no different.

Health care is broken and it's time to fix this problem.

The latest AARP Policy Book (2009-2010), Chapter 7 is devoted to healthcare issues. Many of the policy statements on health care in this chapter are meaningful and well stated, but it may represent nothing more than pure rhetoric, unless AARP uses it "political might" to tell the President and the members of Congress what they, AARP, demand for all Americans, especially its 40 million members, who demand protection of the existing Medicare benefits and program.

The only thing the Congress knows and understands is the full force of hard ball political action. In depth stories on the future of healthcare in America in the AARP Bulletin, like all of the other "get nothing done" rhetoric one hears daily on the FOX News Network, or by the numerous conservative talk show hosts, that results in distracting the people from direct involvement. All that rhetoric is symbolic of a "Nero fiddling while Rome burns" philosophy. Some of us believe that the Obama administration encourages all of the rhetoric to keep the people occupied while Congress jams down the throats of the American people a healthcare plan designed to destroy the private insurance market at astronomical costs to the taxpayers-mainly the 1% of the taxpayers who are carrying 50% of the tax burden.

If you are concerned with AARP's position/in-action on the proposed healthcare bill...cancel your membership.

AARP is as dishonest as a 3 dollar bill. I will cancel my membership as soon as I can. During the presidental campaign. there were some promises made on health care. I contacted AARP and asked them about it and they said they do not and will not take a political stand on either side on any issue. Today was a good day to see how AARP doesn't tell the truth just like congress. Why would you join AARP and let them use your money for their political desires.

I can't believe you are supporting the new health care bill. I have just cut up my card and am urging other to also. I am glad the choice for 2nd coverage is coming up soon - as I am urging all I know to go to another company. You are lying about the current bill (you don't even know what's in it). They will cut medicare benifits for the elderly. I URGE ALL NOT TO JOIN AARP & NOT TO SUPPORT THE NEW 2,000 PAGE HEALTH CARE BILL. (NOTE - THIS BILL DOES NOT INCLUDE CONGRESS ETC - THEY WILL STILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE PLAN)

I wish to terminate my membership as aarp is not looking out for me by indorsing the goverment run health care(obamacare) e-mail me as to how i can do this

YES!YES!YES! I STOOD UP AND DID THE RIGHT THING FOR AMERICA TODAY...I CANCELED MY SOCIALIST AARP CARD. YES AARP SUPPORTS THE SOCIALIST HEALTH CARE PROGRAM, SO I DON'T SUPPORT THEM. I READ ALL ABOUT THE MYTHS...THEY WILL BE A MYTH ALONG WITH THEIR FRIEND IN WASH. IF ONE PERSON AT A TIME CANCELS THEIR MEMBERSHIP... OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST. ANYTIME A GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER PRIVATE INDUSTRY THAT IS SOCIALIST, JUST LIKE CANADA,FRANCE AND ENGLAND. AARP IS ALL ABOUT $$$$$...SO WHAT I SEE IS AARP WANTS PART OR ALL THE INSURANCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM TO BE HANDLED BY THEM. SO HERES TO YOU AARP $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

YES!YES!YES! I STOOD UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT TODAY AND I CANCELED MY SOCIALIST AARP CARD ....AND I TALK TO MY FRIENDS AND THEY AGREE AARP IS UN-AMERCAN AND SAY THEY WILL CANCEL ALSO. AARP YOU MAY BE BIG NOW BUT ONE PERSON AT A TIME WHO WILL CANCEL THEIR MEMBERSHIP WILL BRING YOU TO YOUR KNEES. FOR AARP TO BACK SUCH A PLAN BY OBAMA AND THE DEMS. TRYING TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY IN THE DIRECTION WITH HEALTHCARE AS TO THE LIKES OF CANADA, FRANCE,ENGLAND AND ANY OTHER SOCIALIST COUNTRY. AARP IS IN IT FOR THE MONEY, THEY SOME HOW SEEM TO THINK OR KNOW THEY WILL PLAY A BIG PART IN THIS SOCIALIST PROGRAM. I HOPE ANYONE WHO READS THIS WILL CANCEL THEIR MEMBER NOW. ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON AT A TIME AND AARP WILL BE A MYTH ALONG WITH THEIR SOCIALIST FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON.

TODAY I CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP TO THE AARP. I WILL TELL EVERY SENIOR I MEET FROM NOW ON HOW THE AARP SOLD OUT THE SENIORS OF THIS COUNTRY TO OBAMA, PELOSI, REID, DODD AND THEIR ENTIRE SOCIALIST CREW. SENIORS AS A GROUP ARE OPPOSED TO THE TAKEOVER OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND THE TURNING OF IT INTO A SOCIALIST RUN ENTITY. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE INTERESTS OF THE SENIORS AS A CONCERN OF THEIRS. SENIORS ARE GOING TO SEE 500 BILLION CUT FROM THE MEDICARE. THEY WILL SEE RATIONING OF CARE SIMILAR TO OTHER SOCIALIST RUN PLANS AROUND THE WORLD. TODAY I HAVE SPOKEN TO 67 AARP MEMBERS AND URGED THEM TO FOLLOW MY LEAD. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS EVERY DAY. I AM AN AMERICAN AND PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR. THIS GROUP IN WASHINGTON IS ONLY INTERESTED IN RUINING OUR ECOMOMY AND FREEDOM. I URGE EVERY AARP MEMBER TO FOLLOW MY LEAD AND CANCEL THEIR MEMBERSHIP.

Can someone tell me where I have to go on the AARP Site to tell them what I think? And to cancel my membership?

Thanks

I was greatly offended when AARP ask for support of
their stance on the Health Care Bill. There was no
opportunity to voice my opposition. Democracy at
work at AARP. Unless they changed it, you have to
call. Ask for a refund of your dues. I am looking
at AMAC as an alternative.

The way you sold us seniors out; Keep your junk. You lied to us when the Obama administration paid you off!!!!!

I cancelled my AARP Advantage on the first day of open enrollment. Note "AARP". I opened a new Advantage plan with a competator the same day. Get the message AARP...

I cancelled my AARP Advantage on the first day of open enrollment. Note "AARP". I opened a new Advantage plan with a competator the same day. Get the message AARP...

There is no doubt that when AARp was founded it was done for honorable reasons. However, over the years it has been taken over by Progressives and appears to have become a money making machine for a select number. You are into everything, and yes the organization stands to roll in money if they can help get the health bill passed. There was a time when, if we closed our eyes and ears, we may have believed that you were not one sided left wing radicals. We long ago got over that when everytime we turned around you were supporting the Progressives causes. Not all of your members are as stupid as you make them out to be. How can you look at yourselves in a mirror when you ask people to vote for the Obama, Reid, Pelossi, Dodd and Frank Healthy care bill? Where does it say that Tort reform will help to reduce frivolous law suits? That the loop hole has been closed to illegal aliens? That Unions and State workers will pay the same amount in taxes on health Ins.? By the way, Isn't it interesting that the unions are scheduled to begin paying the taxes after the next Presidential election? If you do not know why, allow me to enlighten you. After the election another bill will be introduced to exclude them permanently. Isn't that a surprise? No one can honestly say that we shouldn't help those who can't help themselves. Nor can they honestly say that we should tamper with the health care coverage of 75 or 80% who are satisfied with their present coverage. I personally feel that when a lid is put on what a person can receive in a malpractice law suit and go full speed ahead on combating fraud in the industry, Medicare can be fixed and assistance given to those who can't make it on their own. No, I am not going to cancel my membership because it helps me keep up with any other tricks you may have up your sleeve to further destroy our Republic.
P.S. Just so you know, when you ask me to write my congressman and vote for something, my inclination is to tell him to vote no. Cheers