Abstract This paper discusses AARP's role in addressing the needs of older Americans and their work to influence the passage of beneficial legislation on the State and Federal level. The paper examines AARP's major issues such as prescription drugs, long-term care and predator lending and the methods AARP?S use to influence lawmakers. The author is critical of AARP's effectiveness and presents suggestions for improvement.
From the Paper "American Association of Retired People was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy and was originally called the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA). The purpose of this organization was to purchase group health insurance for retired school teachers. The AARP grew out of the NRTA with the goal of becoming a broader advocacy group. During their first two years 300,000 new members joined this new organization. Today, the AARP has over 35 million members in all 50 states. They now offer insurance packages and discounts from companies who use AARP as a means to market their product. In an effort to attract Baby Boomers as members they changed their name in 1999 to simply AARP and also lowered the age for membership from 55 to 50. The purpose of this was to encourage Baby Boomers to join, by redesigning themselves to accommodate the needs of this fast growing population over the age of 50."
Abstract This paper covers the much debated issue of the Medicare program's lack of prescription drug coverage for the elderly and disabled in the US. A brief history of the program itself, descriptions of and actions taken by the key players in the debate, including the Medicare recipients themselves, support/interest groups such as the AARP, the government, pharmaceutical agencies, and the American public are included.
From the paper:
"At the time of its establishment in 1965 through to the present, the U.S. Medicare program was designed to provide quality health care services for elderly and disabled Americans. The two-part program provides coverage for hospital visits as well as a limited amount of medical insurance to aid with doctors? bills and things of the like. Although it has always been one of the most popular federal programs among elderly and younger citizens alike, the Medicare program has been and remains to grow progressively ineffective in providing quality health care to its recipients. While issues such as the exclusion of certain medical procedures from Medicare's coverage realm have come and gone, the single most longstanding issue of debate is that of prescription drugs."
Abstract The paper examines how the American Association of Retired People (AARP) has made some definite inroads on improving the benefits, rights and privileges for the senior community. The paper highlights the flaws in the White House proposal to scrap traditional Social Security in favor of personal retirement accounts. The paper demonstrates how aging relatives are treated like burdens by many Americans. The paper compares the US and the UK that both have a blossoming elderly population from the baby boomer generation. The paper discusses how, in general, Europe and North America are leaning increasingly toward privatization. The paper explains that implications include a disenfranchised future elderly population and the inability of many citizens to afford health care services.
From the Paper "Unfortunately, however, the AARP fights an uphill battle to win back benefits, rights and privileges for the senior community and for all Americans. In particular, the AARP draws attention to H.R. 3997, a bill that would severely curtail consumer privacy by allowing only victims of identity theft to take proactive measures. Consumers would continue have restricted access or no access at all to their own information, even though powerful marketing firms have the opportunity to peruse consumers' personal data. All citizens should oppose HR 3997. Seniors, however, may be particularly at risk for identity theft because of the rapid developments in technology."
Abstract This paper examines how the growth of both life expectancy and the cost of medical care has resulted in a noticeable reduction of available Medicare funds for use in the near future. It looks at how this rapidly growing reduction of available Medicare funds has emerged as a significant concern for Medicare stakeholders such as the American Associationof Retire Persons (AARP), drug companies, insurance companies and healthcare providers alike. As a result, Medicare has often been a target for reformers in the past few years, as each of these stakeholders has a distinct role in the Medicare system from either a financial or funding standpoint.
Outline:
Introduction
Stakeholders
Conclusion
From the Paper "The AARP, formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons, is a U.S. based non-profit organization, with the mission of enhancing quality of life for people over age 50 by providing a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for members. The AARP operates as a non-profit advocate for its members, and sells life insurance, investment funds and other financial products. The organization claims over 35 million members and membership is expected to grow significantly as baby boomers age. The AARP plays a role in Medicare from a financial standpoint in that the organization offers products to its members. This is different from the past when social security and pension plans were devised at a time when relatively few people reached the age of sixty-five, and these plans covered their support. "
Abstract This paper explains that the Bush Plan states (1) "personal accounts" would be voluntary, (2) social security money would be invested in a "conservative mix of bond and stock funds" which would have the opportunity to earn a higher rate of return than what is being provided now and (3) this would supplement the worker's "traditional social security check". The author presents opponents of this plan including AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), the largest advocacy organization for senior citizens in America, which opposes creating accounts out of the contributions workers currently make into Social Security because such accounts actually worsen Social Security's long-term financial health, draining revenues out of Social Security at the very time boomers begin to retire. The paper concludes that it is important to remember that the Social Security trust fund is not a pile of cash but rather just a bookkeeping gimmick in which one part of the government promises money to another part of the government.
Table of Contents
What is the Bush Plan?
Why is President George Bush Pushing Hard for his Plan
Opposition
Facts about Social Security
Business Week Reporter Paul Craig Roberts
The Bush Campaign
The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
What are Some Proposed Solutions to the Social Security System?
The Conservative Publication the National Review
From the Paper "The Democrats have countered with ads of their own, according to the Associated Press (Raum, 2005) on Sunday, March 13. The Democrats call Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security "a risky privatization scheme." The Democrats' Saturday radio broadcast on March 12 featured the grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (James Roosevelt Jr.). He said: "In 1935, my grandfather signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring that Americans retired with financial security." But "unfortunately," he continued, "President Bush and Washington Republicans" do not share the belief of "the guiding principle that America's workers deserve a secure retirement." Roosevelt and other Democrats complain that privatizing Social Security will punish workers "in times of long market downturns," because the investment Bush is talking about on the Wall Street market wouldn't deliver as high a return as it would in economic boom times, the AP story pointed out. The article also mentioned that the most recent AP poll shows the Bush Social Security reform proposals gaining only a 37% positive result from the public."
Abstract This paper traces the historical growth in power and political influence of organizations that advocate for senior citizens. The paper's analysis maintains that it is not seniors who have become too powerful or immune to government budget cuts, but rather the interests groups who often have an ulterior agenda in mind.
From the Paper "Senior citizens -- seniors hereafter -- are generally considered those aged sixty-five and older in the U S population. According to Day, this demographic has grown twice as fast as the rest of the population over the past two decades..."
Tags:AARP, Medicare, Congress, protest, activism, public administration, Pennsylvania, prescription drugs, lobbyists, legislators, law
Abstract This paper is a strategic business analysis of Home Depot, detailing its internal and external factors, its position with reference to its closest competitor (Lowe's) and the basis for its competitive advantage. Strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities (a SWOT analysis) are highlighted.
From the Paper "Home Depot is indisputably the world's largest home improvement retailer topping the list with stores compared with the stores of its nearest competitor Lowe's World's Largest Home Improvement Retailer..."
Tags: Home Depot, Lowe's, internal environment, external environment, competitive advantage, entrepreneurial, e-commerce, AARP, Olympic, DIY, do-it-yourself, urban development
Abstract This paper explains that the hiring practices of the majority of companies continue to be plagued by prejudice and segregation so that minorities including women and the elderly make much less money than white males and have a harder time finding work in professional sectors. The author points out the readily apparent existence of the glass ceiling in many companies, which may allow minorities to advance a certain degree but almost certainly cap their level of advancement to prevent minority employees from getting too powerful. The paper reviews several solutions such as telecommuting, workplace flexibility and educating children that the U.S. society means the same opportunities for all people, independent of their sex, race or age.
From the Paper "A popular non-government (special interest) group that promotes these days of workplace flexibility is the AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons. This organization is dedicated to the wellbeing of people over the age of 50 in the United States. This organization pushes for more flexibility in professional fields, leading to a wider range of people that are qualified to pursue professional positions. A large issue in this country is the decline of workplace security in later years - elderly people, especially those with minority backgrounds, have a much harder time getting jobs."
Tags: telecommuting, workplace, flexibility, aarp, society, power
Abstract This paper explains that, when downsizing in order to cut costs is considered necessary by a company's management, older employees and managers tend to be targeted for termination of employment in far greater percentages than younger employees and managers. The paper then points out that proving there is a connection between downsizing and age discrimination can be difficult to achieve in a court of law. The paper also explains that age discrimination can be concealed by offering other justifications for terminating employment. Examples of age discrimination law cases are cited with the paper.
From the Paper "It requires courage, but older workers have to stand up for themselves when they are discriminated against. The worst thing to do is to remain silent. Remaining silent just condones age discrimination and encourages employers to discriminate in the future against other older workers who deserve better than to be cast aside. Workers who believe they have lost their jobs because of age discrimination should get in touch with the nearest office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within one-hundred and eighty days."
