random rants and references

This Busines Week article notes that By Raising Its Voice, AARP Raises Questions about its own impartiality and its commercial business interests that may create a conflict with the social security reform postions it is taking. It notes that a substantial portion of AARP's income is derived from fees for selling health insurance, mutual funds and other financial services to its members. Seems like a fair article that points to potentials and does raise questions.

James Glassman at Tech Central Station goes further and thinks that AARP Invests in Hypocrisy in its ad campaign against social security personal accounts. He provides data that indicates AARP's mutual fund business does OK for AARP, but a lot worse for seniors than the proposed SSA personal accounts would do.

This organization seems to be the "Anti-AARP" alternative for seniors : USA Next - Building a Legacy of Freedom for America's Families . It offers a lot of senior services and discounts along with a much less liberal political agenda. Their website has a fair number of social security articles and arguments in favor of reform and personal accounts. I'm not a member of AARP or USA Next; and don't advocate either. I am rather disappointed in AARP's political bias on this issue as well as turned off by their endless junk mail campaign.