AARP'S DEVIL'S BARGAIN

Not surprised that AARP sold Seniors out! Who CAN RESIST MIGHTY'MOUTH SANTA'OBAMA WHO BRIBES AND BUYS WHAT HE WANTS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS! THE RUTHLESS PRESIDENT COUNTS ON WEAK, SELFISH, POWER HUNGRY PEOPLE, TO GO ALONG WITH HIS SELF-SERVING DESIRES! IT'S THE CHICAGO WAY! GOD SAVE US FROM THE ENEMIES WITHIN! Ex Democrat

" . . . to seniors, i.e., AARP's members." "i.e." means "that is", so you're portraying "seniors" and "AARP members" as equivalents. Having been AARP-eligible for 18 years, I've never joined and take all of their junk mail and discard it unopened.

You claim that AARP is "greedy" and, I infer, consider "greedy" as a negative. A potato farmer is greedy. It's what has made America the most-prosperous nation and society in the history of humankind . . . and with the richest "poor" ever.

AARP is self-serving, as well it should be and as I would expect. The discussion in Washington about "healthcare" isn't about healthcare. It's about power, power to destroy the unalienable right to liberty in favor of liberal-fascist-statist tyranny. And President Obama is but the turtle atop the fencepost.

Among its millions of members, AARP is counting on there being very few Patrick Henrys, and a whole lot of ignorance. And I lay 9-to-5 that 2012 is too late.

Selling potatoes for the best price they can bring isn't greed. It's called free enterprise. A not-for-ptofit making a business alliance with a for-profit and a desperate politican in order to run the competition out of business? Now THAT'S greed!

didn't go to the highest bidder for construction. It went to the lowest. Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM) spreads lots of campaign contributions around congress, then gets about a 1,000% ROI in the form of government grants and subsidies for, e.g., ethanol. On whom do you place blame?

It has nothing to do with being a business enterprise or a not-for-profit. For them it's "greed", aka "enlightened self-interest" aka "free enterprise". For the government it's corruption.

Let's discuss the ethics of "enlightened self interest." If, for example, I decide that following course A will provide the best possible outcome for me, but will drive someone else out of business and betray others who depend on me to represent them honestly, is that just "free enterprise?" Not! And that's why there is an inherent conflict in being a not-for-profit advocacy organization and a ruthless business snterprise with bought endorsements and tawdry political ties. It has EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THAT, and it's a tossup as to whether Obama or AARP should be more ashamed.

discussion isn't discussable because you mixed one part liberty with another part liberty and a third part license, then insisted that I disavow the whole.

As to AARP and Obama, the former asks for my money while the latter demands my money, backed by force. For me that's not close to a tossup.

If we wish to change our language, and we wish to justify that based on current (mis)usage, okay. Madoff was greedy. Congressman William Jefferson was greedy. Al Gore is greedy. The potato farmer, AARP, and ADM are using appropriately self-serving, employing enlightened self-interest. The difference is whether one is employing liberty or employing license.

I think where our discussion is breaking down is around the legal and ethical requirements placed on a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. Such an organization declares in its charter, and semi-annually reaffirms to the IRS that their sole purpose is to advocate for what's best for their members. In practice that means they don't get to employ free enterprise for profit or strike political bargains that run other people out of business. That's the ethical issue involved here. If they were a for-profit entity declaring that their purpose id to make a profit, then God bless 'em. But they aren't and they didn't. Whether one admires their ingenuity, cleverbness and greedor not, they simply aren't entitled to it under the law.

our discussion based on AARP's 501(c)3 status, since it's a 501(c)4. As such, it may spend whatever it deems appropriate on lobbying and whatever it deems appropriate on political campaigns. AARP leadership is doing as necessary to survive. Where's the current power? It's with the current liberal-fascist-statist administration and congressional leadership.

Do I like AARP? As previously stated, no. Do I fear them? No. Do I fear the federal government? Heck yes.

I think we afre agreed on the central point that the leftist government has created the climate in which just about everyone is tempted to sell their soul for a piece of the action/ My error on the 501(c)3/501(c)4. AARP is entitle to do all the things you mentioned, just not for the purpose of showing a profit. I am not afraid of AARP. But I do fear collusive partnerships designed to limit choice and thereby limit my options and andanger my well-being.

the "leftist government", including the Bush (43) Administration's version. I recommend today's column here on TH by Dr. Thomas Sowell about "collusive partnerships".
http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/10/13/magi c_numbers_in_politics

I never miss a Sowell column. He is a thinker and an articulate patriot.

In case any of you need to be reminded, oh yeah – Obamacare will freakin get you killed early lol:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjhmOGU0MDdhM2Y5YmEyMz VmNjZhZWZiMTA3ZTQyOTA=

For 1 trillion more tax dollars = we get to die earlier, poorer, and in alot more pain

But hey, at least some impersonal techonocratic death pannel will decide for me so I dont have to worry myself with such tough choices

And they will still give me end of life counseling and a BLUE Pill too!

And I get to feel GOOD about myself since my illegal alien neighbors will continue to sponge off me for free care and the local teenagers abortion will be subsidized with my tax $$$$ !!!!

Wake up America!

Obamacare is a CORRUPT SCAM that benefits Big Government Politicians, Big Unions, Big Companies, Big Health Insurance/Pharma, and the Rich/Powerful/Politically connected!

The average citizen get to foot the bill for the party and we get to die earlier and in more pain too!

The young get fleeced by being forced to buy Mandated Insurnace they cant afford and dont need!

The Elderly get Medicare cuts and Rationing Boards!

The Small Business that employ 80% of us get bankrupted with taxes!

And the American taxpayer foots the whole BILL with much higher taxes and Health Insurance Premiums!

This is a BAD BAILOUT BILL and has ZERO to do with improving your Health or lowering costs!