📋 Key Moments When AARP Stood Up for Social Security (AARP Article/Advocacy)

[Winter2025VA]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

At These Key Moments, AARP Stood Up for Social Security.

Activating tens of millions of members has enabled the organization to tackle threats to benefits and services.

By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP.

*** There is 1 comment on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. ***

Published August 08, 2025.

In early 2005, fresh off reelection, President George W. Bush went all in on his proposal to “fix” Social Security by allowing workers to divert the payroll taxes that fund the program into “personal retirement accounts.”

In his State of the Union address that year, Bush said his plan would save Social Security for future generations by encouraging workers to invest that tax money in the stock market.

USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/times-aarp-fought-for-social-security.html

[GailL1]

The ONLY proposal that I have seen to address the benefits shortfall that is coming around 2034 or there about is the Cassidy/Kaine proposal.  Senators - Cassidy (Rep - LA) and Kaine (Dem - VA) - their proposal is a way to address filling in the benefits shortfall rather than cutting them as the law requires - and it involves investing in the market.  

Yes, fellow beneficiaries - a program to pay you your whole benefit rather than a portion of it might just be the result of investing in the market if these Senators are right in their forecast. 

Personally, I am past trusting government to do the right thing, the best thing; They have NOT been good stewards of the Social Security Trust Funds up to now, why would you think this will be any different now?

Do you think we are gonna have a come-together moment right at the last minute like Reagan and Tip O’Neill did in 1983?  IMO, we are already pass the point where benefits will be cut - government can’t make this happen as currently designed in that amount of time unless we perhaps could start tomorrow - and we know that isn’t gonna happen.

Start planning to live on about 20% less in your Social Security Benefits after about 2034 if their plan is shot down or doesn’t work.  

[RickS467730]

AARP was wrong and misleading about Bush’s partial privatization plan—it wasn’t about dismantling Social Security, it was about making it sustainable. If AARP truly wants to “stand up” for Social Security, it should also be standing up for solutions that secure its future, not just opposing anything that challenges the status quo.

[GailL1]

@RickS467730 

They certainly have been wrong about a lot of stuff surrounding the program of Social Security - “fighting” for expanding benefit but then not addressing the income of the program paying for the MORE.  

I believe AARP was on board with the elimination of the WEP and GPO when only a change in the formula was what was needed.  For the rest of us, it just shorted the remaining Trust Fund dollars more -

I guess they will be polling and doing all this research right up to the point that everybody’s benefits are cut by 19 % - 20 % - right around the corner - 2034 - and that is before we see what this extra $ 6000 in tax deductions are gonna do to the amount of taxes on benefits that have been going into the program to help pay benefits.  

Dear AARP - Thanks but NO Thanks - your efforts have gotten us to this point in time - You should have been crying for some fiscal responsibility in Congress to fix the program BEFORE it became an emergency especially if the AARP moto is not let the Trust Fund waiver.  Cause it is in bad shape now.

They should ask themselves HOW they think those of us who are NOT just relying on Social Security as our retirement got to this point in our lives and many of us did not have an employer to pay benefits and share in the cost of our retirement - WE INVESTED in the market.

How do they think we sustain ourselves in retirement when high inflation rears its ugly head.  WE keep investing in things that are still earning - like utilities, like products and services that everybody uses and in many cases can’t do without day to day.  Look for those that pay a good dividend and invest there.  Or we may pick up some government securities to invest in if they are paying good rates especially during the times of high inflation.

Wonder why so many FEDERAL government employees and military invest in the TSP program.  The Thrift Savings Program -

From the TSP.gov website:

Did you know that every $1 you invest in the TSP can grow to $10 in 35 years—without you needing to do anything else? And yes, every $1 your agency or service contributes to your account can grow to $10 in 35 years too. Grow with us.

But yet, AARP powers are against the concept of investing - 

Wonder where they are putting their retirement dollar?  

[Winter2025VA]

Thanks for stopping by Rick @RickS467730 and I agree!!! Take care, Nicole!

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➡️[*** RICK @RickS467730 wrote:

AARP was wrong and misleading about Bush’s partial privatization plan—it wasn’t about dismantling Social Security, it was about making it sustainable. If AARP truly wants to “stand up” for Social Security, it should also be standing up for solutions that secure its future, not just opposing anything that challenges the status quo.

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[Winter2025VA]

I have NEVER been part of any of AARP's Advocacy setup and often wonder IF anyone in the Government READS what AARP/members send them.  🙄

➡️[*** FROM THE ARTICLE.

Activating tens of millions of members has enabled the organization to tackle threats to benefits and services.

[GailL1]

@Winter2025VA 

Perhaps you need to watch some of the House and Senate Committee meeting when AARP has a representative there - or when their research is included in some proposal as a factual source.  

Just because they are strong in numbers makes then a force - a good force - that’s up for interpretation. 

[Winter2025VA]

Gail @GailL1 , nope!!! When I "step away" from THIS SITE, AARP is not welcome in my "real" life. As long as the folk I like "chatting" with are here, I will keep stopping by. If they leave, so will I. Take care, Nicole!

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➡️[*** GAIL @GailL1 wrote:

@Winter2025VA 

Perhaps you need to watch some of the House and Senate Committee meeting when AARP has a representative there - or when their research is including in some proposal as a factual source.  

Just because they are strong in numbers makes then a force - a good force - that’s up for interpretation. 

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