The Crimes of AARP

The Crimes of AARP

The following four paragraphs are adapted from a letter by
Dennis Kucinich:

On September 21st, the American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP) sponsored a Presidential forum in Iowa focused on health
care reform. Congressman/presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich 
was left out of the debate. 

He is the only candidate in this race proposing a national
not-for-profit, single-payer health insurance plan. His
plan would eliminate the obscene profit of 4.4 billion dollars
AARP alone stands to gain over the next 7 years at the expense
of the senior citizens they claim to represent.

AARP's strategic partnership with health care giants United
Health Care and Aetna are embraced by Senators Clinton, Obama,
and former Senator Edwards who are pushing plans to keep the
for-profit private insurers in business and in control of our
lives.

It is clear that AARP doesn't want to upset its multi-billion
dollar windfall. The health care plans of the invited candidates
preserve and promote the interests of for-profit insurance and
pharmaceutical companies at the expense of tens of millions of
everyday Americans while the corporate media keeps America
drugged with misinformation so we can't make an informed
decision.

There is nothing new here. In 2004, Ralph Nader had a well
thought out plan to eliminate for-profit insurers and HMOs
from our health care. His blueprint even included plans to
dismantle HMOs and train and find new employment for HMO
employees.

Last I heard, there were 47 million uninsured Americans.
What do we have to do here? The top five nations to live
in are The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway,
Denmark and Sweden, in no order. The US is way down
that list.

Why?

Because the United States does not take care of its people.
Those five nations have the best records in the world for
caring for their populations. Isn't that what nations are
supposed to do? Isn't that what our troops are fighting
for in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The Bush Administration right now is in the process of
fighting a proposal for paid health care for children.
What do we as average citizens have to do to make the
USA one of the better nations for its population to
reside in?

Are we going to have to follow the example of Samuel
Gompers and the American labor movement in the
late 1800s and take to the streets. Like the monks are
doing right now in Myanmar? Are we?--Walter Haan,
www.war-books.com