Ron Sider and the AARP

Ron Sider is the President of Evangelicals for Social Action, though I believe he is retiring from that office. He made news a little over a week ago saying, “I’m a senior. And I’m mad. In fact, I’m resigning from the AARP.” His reasoning has to do with AARP opposing changes to Social Security and Medicare than would ask more from wealthier seniors.

He has some good points. These programs are effective and help lift many seniors out of poverty and shouldn’t be privatized much less abolished. Spending on health care and Soc. Sec. is increasing thus forcing us to face certain priorities. These programs need new revenue spending reductions. But you don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water or cut programs the increase poverty.

Sider said of AARP, “selfish and guilty of intergenerational injustice; he cited Fareed Zakaria in Time magazine saying the government spends about $4 for every senior over 65 and only $1 for a child under 18. Or, Sider gives us the idea that most seniors are “greedy geezers” living high on the hog at the expense of young folk. [I’m not sure how Zakaria, who I greatly respect deals with the Soc. Sec. amounts seniors have earned in these figures.]

What seems wrong about this is to pit the old against the young rather than seeking solutions for both who are suffering in our country.  I agree wealthier seniors should pay more but the health care costs for those in poverty are crippling. If he worked for a single payer health system both groups would benefit immensely. Or address the inequities in how the government treats corporations and the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

Pitting groups against each other rather than looking at helpful solutions is no help at all. It seems that is his job and this rhetoric is not helpful but hurtful.

With all the lobbyists that are aiding and abetting the interests of the wealthy, AARP is a significant lobbying force for seniors; that does not make them anti child.