Staying Fit
For anyone who theorized that once the presidential election was over we’d experience a collective calm after the storm — i.e., a dialing down of the intensity of opinions flying around the online, broadcast and print media spaces — it looks like we’ll be waiting a little longer.
If anything, the “post-mortems” on the 2016 election — ranging from joyous to outraged and lots of points in-between — are even more pointed than what we heard throughout the campaign season.
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At AARP we viewed the race for the presidency the same way we view all elections: as a highly interested observer. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, AARP does not endorse candidates, make contributions or coordinate with PACs or campaigns.
Our work starts after an election is settled.
To that point, here’s a very abbreviated list of some of our key areas of focus as we look ahead:
Medicare
- AARP will fight to strengthen and improve Medicare by defending against inflated drug prices, working to improve patient care, supporting efforts to weed out fraud and abuse, and opposing moves to end guaranteed coverage by forcing people into private plans.
Social Security
- AARP opposes Social Security privatization. Americans pay into Social Security, and they deserve to get the guaranteed lifetime benefits they've earned.
Caregiving
- AARP will encourage Washington, D.C., to support America’s 40 million family caregivers who help make it possible for older parents, spouses, children and adults with disabilities and other loved ones to live independently at home and in their communities — where they want to be. Tax credits for family caregivers may be a good place to start.
Of course, our work on behalf of not just 38 million AARP members nationwide, but of all Americans 50 and older, means the list above is hardly all-inclusive but, certainly, these three critical issues are top of mind. We look forward to working collaboratively with the new administration and Congress to find solutions that reflect the needs of the more than 100 million Americans aged 50+.
So, while the calm after the storm may still be on its way, perhaps now is a good time to consider an old quote from Winston Churchill. He said: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” It’s hard to argue with that one.
Jo Ann Jenkins is CEO of AARP.
Thank you for commenting - it's really important to hear from our members, and we are listening. Rest assured we will do everything we can to protect your hard-earned Medicare and Social Security benefits.
For nearly 60 years, AARP has been fighting to ensure Americans get the benefits they’ve earned. In 2005, we successfully beat back Social Security privatization. In 2012 and 2013 we mobilized our members to fight against budget deals that would have cut your Medicare and Social Security benefits.
We need to strengthen these programs, not cut them. And we’ll keep fighting with the full power of our nearly 38 million members to protect your Medicare and Social Security benefits.
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