Divided We Fail Launches Next Phase to Fix America's Health and Economic Crises

By: State: South Dakota

Leaders of AARP South Dakota have launched the next phase of Divided We Fail, a national movement to bring health and financial security to every American. Jan. 13 AARP South Dakota presented the state's Congressional delegation with more than 3300 pledges signed by Divided We Fail supporters in South Dakota. These pledges represent just a sliver of the more than 1.6 million signed nationwide.

"Partisan gridlock won't do anything to end the health and economic problems our country faces," said state director for AARP South Dakota, Sarah Jennings. "The cost of inaction is too great. We want Divided We Fail to be the catalyst for real health and economic reform. AARP is here to make it happen with the support of our 107,200 members in South Dakota."

Since its formation in 2007, Divided We Fail has organized nearly 1,000 local events including 500 "Community Conversations"—with several held right here in South Dakota—to inform Americans about the options to address health care and financial security and gather new ideas from the public. Volunteers in their red Divided We Fail shirts became a fixture on the campaign trail, showing their support from the early primary states to the last primary states and through Election Day.

AARP South Dakota is pleased the state's entire congressional delegation are among the 360 members of the 111th Congress who have signed the pledge or written a letter of support for Divided We Fail. In additional to AARP, Business Roundtable, NFIB and SEIU, more than 100 independent groups have pledged their support. To learn more and sign the pledge, visit DividedWeFail.org.

Following the presentation of pledges, AARP South Dakota hosted a town hall meeting via telephone to help South Dakota members connect with their lawmakers and discuss how the health care crisis and economic crisis are affecting them.

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