RH Jones: The AARP stand on mandatory Social Security

From RH Jones, February 25, 2007
Subject: The AARP stand on Mandatory Soc. Sec.

To all:

In 1998, as a 26-yr. AARP member, I wrote a letter to the AARP CEO Bill Novelli and a different letter, but with the same subject, to the 1998 AARP Pres. Joe Perkins. Ironically, I received a letter back from Novelli that stated: "Since your membership has ended, AARP has added many new and improved member benefits." They were then listed and I made note of this one in particular: "You can count on AARP to speak up for your rights. AARP is your voice in Washington and your state capital, leading the battle to preserve your pension and retirement benefits, fighting against age discrimination, and more." It is quite obvious that they did not speak for the right of all educators in the 15-states that have state retirement systems.

And, even presently, the AARP web-site in "Open Letter to AARP Members" CEO Bill Novelli & the 2006 Pres. Marie F. Smith mentioned this: "Benefits based on contributions for all who pay into Social Security." This is their AARP stand yet today. Where is all of our Soc. Sec. earned benefits? The following is part of my letter to Novelli (Concerning the Windfall Elimination Provision[WEP] You may use any or part of it in your correspondence to the AARP or to your congressmen/women and your senators):

Re: Strongly object to your stand on mandatory Social Security for all employees.

Please be reminded that you represent all AARP members. You do not speak for me when you say that you are for mandatory Social Security (SS) for all public employees. This will substantially hurt me because it will make less monies available for my Ohio State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) to invest in our nation's stock and bond markets which is the main source of my income and health care insurance.

Wisely, public employees of 15 states set up a system that would be independent of the federal government. The Ohio STRS "grandfathers" SS by 15 years and by trying to make SS mandatory will only hurt both systems. Since 1920, we (educators) have enjoyed a fine retirement system and do not wish to be part of SS.

All public employee retirement systems will be in slow cancerous death. First, it will involve a long legal battle that will deny money for benefits to both SS and STRS. Second, the increased SS funding will only be for a couple of years at which time SS would then have to start paying out to many thousands of new beneficiaries. Third, the states that do have public worker retirement systems would not be supplying investment money into America's businesses severely cutting into their ability to raise funds for research and development; therefore, curtailing employment of those who pay into SS. Because of this, workers and the whole economy will suffer. Didn't we learn anything from the fall of Soviet Communism?

You may be "biting the hand that feeds you." The AARP stand on this issue has already resulted in many members tearing up their membership cards.

Sincerely,

Robert Hudson Jones, AARP "Valued Member" for 26-years.