ABOUT THE TIME i turned forty nine, some years ago, i started getting offers to join the american Association of Retired People, which must have something like fifty million members, and is as powerful a political lobby as there be anywhere.
The terms of joining were/are great. Low entry fee and annual dues, many benefits, particularly concerning discounted insurance, restaurants, and travel. I'm not sure, but I think most of my friends and family over fifty have joined, and that's the only requirement, being fifty or over.
I decided not to join, yet, because i am not retired, and, after all, it calls itself an organization of retired people. As soon as i either retire, or stey start calling the club the "NOFO" (national over fifty organization", i'll join right up. forgive me for being honest, and taking words at face value.
as far as I'm concerned, by inviting me to join, AARP is breaking its own rules. but give credit where credit is due; they don't give up. i still get letters from them all the time, and maybe will until i join, invinting me in, reminding me how valuable membership is, how important it is to my own kind, and treating me as if i were already actually a member.
i recall hearing that there is another fledgling organization of retired people, conservative retired people, forming to offer an alternative to the AARP, which often comes across as being liberal, though i don't think they describe themselves in that fashion.
more power to freedom of choice, its the american way, and may the best retirement club win.
also give credit where credit is due for effectiveness is achieving stated purpose; that of promoting the welfare of older, retired americans. older retired americans are doing better than ever these days, at least, those with money.
a high percentage of older retired americans have little wealth, money, or income, and AARP, at least to this point, hasn't been very effecitve in remedying that; its hard to reverse the effect of a long life lived without good financial planning , luck, or health.
AARP does a great job of advocating for its huge membership. Does it do anything for the rest of us, for america? Undoubtedly it does, if only by helping its members. But ultimately all advocacy must be advocacy for us all, for life, for earth. I have learned this by working in the education and jhuman disability profession.
If JFK were alive ltoday, he would be fixin' to turn ninety six, and unthinkable age for a man who was so very unhealthy. He would probably be an AARP member, and he would probably still say, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
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