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Soaring health care costs, low retirement savings and Social Security. These are issues familiar to many of us—we discuss them at our kitchen tables and in our communities. Too many people can’t afford to get sick in our nation—many can’t afford to retire—and its time that our presidential candidates commit to change on health care and financial security.

Health care costs are out of control for both individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. More than half of all bankruptcies filed in the U.S. cited health care costs as the primary reason. The health care system is broken, people can’t keep up with the cost of staying healthy and they sure can’t afford the cost of getting sick.

Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. People are simply finding it more difficult to save for retirement, frequently relying on Social Security as a main source of retirement income. Nearly two-thirds of current retirees rely on Social Security for most of their income; however, Social Security only replaces about 40% of an individual’s pre-retirement income.

AARP and its 40 million members, the Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business, Service Employees International Union and the public throughout Illinois and across the nation have joined to change things. Our “Divided We Fail” initiative is aimed at breaking through the gridlock to get things done.

We’ve brought together community leaders, candidates, elected officials, and voters on the topics of health care and financial security with a focus on demanding action and answers from our nation’s leadership. The issues are simply too important, the cost of inaction is too high.

AARP is hosting community forums across Illinois—bringing community members together to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions on health care and financial security. Forums have already been held in Chicago, Peoria, Grayslake, Springfield, and Ottawa. Additional forums will be held at other sites across the state throughout the remainder of 2008. If communities across Illinois, and across the nation, can come together to discuss these issues, surely our elected leaders can as well.

Washington is stuck in gridlock and it is going to take the concerted effort of business, labor, and individuals to break that gridlock. The candidates must commit to change and Americans must hold them to their commitments. Americans must demand action on the part of those they elect to office—and elected officials must deliver solutions that will provide a brighter future for the next generation.

America has waited too long for quality health care and lifetime financial security.

Find out more about Divided We Fail at http://www.dividedwefail.org.