NEWSLETTER # 31 FALL 2003
LOCAL SENIORS ATTACK AARP'S LOBBYISTS
SENIORS OPPOSE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
LETTER TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACTUARY
A BIG SUCCESS
We really went after AARP at the 9/14 Newark, DE Community Day. We prepared by commissioning an eye-catching poster designed by Director/Professional Artist Dick Reese. The wording: “Tell AARP to stop endangering our grandchildren”. Then we issued a news release about our plans for Community Day. (see page 3).
A second poster gave more information:
AARP’s DC LOBBYISTS PROMOTE POLICIES THAT:
Endanger the welfare of our children and grandchildren.
Promote costly big government.
Obstruct needed solutions to Social Security and Medicare.
Many passersby were interested and supportive. Each of the SAFE Directors participated and enjoyed the day.
Our big banner and the posters can be made available for use at other public functions.
Before the Newark, DE Community Day, we sent a news release to DE Media. As a result, several of us were interviewed by Community Publications. During our interview, Direct Bill Whipple said we’d be glad to debate AARP (we certainly would). The resulting article which will be distributed in Northern DE has not been published, as this is written. Other media may come to us later. Public Broadcasting TV Channel 12 interviewed Barry Dorsch and Bill Morris months after receiving a new release.
There is a new organization on Social Security Privatization – SocialSecurityChoice.org You can join for free. Also, Cato Institute has changed the name of the project on Social Security Privatization to the project on Social Security Choice. Their rationale is that emphasis on “choice” undermines opposition to privatization, a.k.a. Personal Retirement Accounts.
Our 1993 Annual Meeting will be Tuesday, November 4, at 1:00 p.m. We’ll meet at the Winterthur Museum cafeteria, Wilmington, Delaware. Call us if you need directions.
We’ll elect Directors for 2004-2006, review 2003 activities and make plans for 2004.
Feel free to join in – we’d be happy to receive your input. Winterthur is an interesting and pleasant location. Come as early as 11:30 if you like and enjoy lunch with the Directors.
ACTIONS, MOSTLY UNDER WAY
Barry Dorsch has sent a letter to Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, with copies to our Congressmen. Barry takes issue with a statement implying the Social Security problem doesn’t hit until 2042. (See page 6).
The Social Security Commissioner, Jo Anne B. Barnhart makes the same misleading statement. In an interview printed in the October American Legion Magazine, She states, "If no changes are made by 2042, the trust fund will be exhausted. We will than be forced to rely solely on taxes coming month to month to pay benefits".
Bill Morris has written a letter to the AARP President questioning their positions on prescription drugs and on Social Security.
We’ve issued a news release this month opposing the $400 billion prescription drug entitlement program being considered by Congress. (See page 5).
In our plans: Guest appearances on radio talk shows explaining our opposition to actions of AARP lobbyists.
LOCAL SENIORS ATTACK AARP’S LOBBYISTS
Seniors Against Federal Extravagance (SAFE) is criticizing AARP for the impact of AARP policies on the next generations.
The SAFE table at Newark Community Day, September 14, will feature a post, “Tell AARP to stop endangering our grandchildren”.
According to SAFE President, Barry Dorsch, “Those who run AARP endanger our children and grandchildren by pretending the Social Security problem doesn’t arrive until 2042, by opposing a solution to the problem and by promoting big government. A similar problem exists with respect to Medicare”.
SAFE was founded in 1997, and most of the 200 plus members live in Delaware.
Dorsch says he believes the Washington, D.C. office of AARP and its lobbyists work against the interests of most AARP members.
The hurricane season isn’t over, so you may want to add some protection to your freezer, as we’ve discussed before. This time we’ll be more precise. Add one cup of table salt to a 64 ounce plastic juice jar, then fill to about 90% with water. The mixture will freeze at about 7 degrees F. Your freezer is probably about zero degrees F. If your freezer is about 10 degrees F, then use only three-fourths of a cup of salt for a 15 degree F. freezing point.
Your frozen brine will absorb heat as it melts, and delay spoilage of your food. In case of power failure, if the power is off for any length of time you’ll definitely need some solid carbon dioxide. The frozen brine will help some – put it in the back of the freezer and forget about it.
SOCIAL SECURITY CHOICE BILL
The Social Security Savings Act of 2003 (HR 3177) has been introduced by Representative Jim DeMirit (R.S.C.). It would allow workers under 55 to contribute from 8% for lowest earners to 3% for highest earners to a personal savings account.
A phone call to your Representative wouldn’t hurt. For more information, see:
Pete DuPont is policy chairman of National Center For Policy Analysis:
They appear to be working very effectively for Social Security reform. NCPA is working with “For Our Grandchildren” which is linked to:
(www.socialsecuritychoice.org)
Fortunately, there is a large network of heavy hitters working in the right direction.
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds”.
Samuel Adams
President
Barry Dorsch, Wilmington, DE
(302) 478-0676
Email:
Treasurer
Ed Fasig, Wilmington, DE
(302) 999-0611
Email:
Director, 2003-2005
Jerry Martin, Wilmington, DE
(302) 478-5604
Email:
Bill Whipple, Wilmington, DE
(302) 376-7036
Email:
Director 2003-2004
John Boughton, Wilmington, DE
(302) 475-6718
Email:
Ed Fasig, Wilmington, DE
302-999-0611
Email:
Director 2003
Orville Wetmore, Wilmington, DE
(302) 652-0107
Dick Reese
(302) 478-4970
Lord, help me to always finish what I start.
Government regulations cost each American family about $8000.00 per year. This from Wendy Gramm’s regulatory studies team at George Mason University. Similar estimate comes from CATO’s “Ten thousand Commandments”. Cutting regulations would be a big help in paying off debt and helping in the transition to Personal Retirement Accounts. A good deal for the next generation.
“Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door”, maybe 100 years after that saying originated, somebody finally did. It’s called “The Better Mousetrap” by Intruder Inc. You put peanut butter on the trigger of the little plastic contraption, and as soon as the mouse disturbs the peanut butter, it clamps down strangling the mouse. No blood and you don’t touch the mouse – just release it over the trash.
SENIORS OPPOSE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
On behalf of the next generations, members of Seniors Against Federal Extravagance oppose the $400 billion prescription drug entitlement program.
According to Barry Dorsch, President of SAFE, “Addition of a prescription drug program on top of the burden we’re already leaving to the next generations is grossly unfair to our children and grandchildren”.
Dorsch was referring to the federal debt and the cost of Social Security and Medicare when the baby boomers retire.
Citizens Against Government Waste points out that 76% of seniors already have prescription drug coverage, and that the plan threatens to drive employers out of the retiree health market.
The proposed prescription drug program is universal for all seniors, and would include the wealthiest Americans who are already covered or can easily afford to pay for their drugs.
AARP has been promoting this one-size-fits all program. Barry Dorsch points out that: “this huge program has been pushed hard by the Washington, DC office of AARP. Their desire for a bigger federal government doesn’t reflect the wishes of most AARP members”.
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LETTER TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACTUARY
Dear Mr. Goss:
We are senior citizens who are concerned about the future welfare of the next generations. We are pleased that the Social Security Administration recognizes the risk to the next generations posed by the Social Security problem.
However, the importance of early action to solve the Social Security problem is minimized by a statement on www.ssa.gov attributed to you. The statement is: “If benefits were reduced to meet the shortfall in revenue for the combined program, the reduction would need to be 27 percent starting with the exhaustion of the trust fund in 2042 and would rise to 35 percent in 2077. -----”.
The above statement implies that the trust fund will take care of the problem until about 2042. However, as you and I know, there is no money in the trust fund. Benefits will start to exceed payroll taxes in approximately 2018, and other taxes or borrowing will be needed to pay full benefits.
We believe the above statement ignores the importance of early action to solve the Social Security problem, and that a statement such as the following would support the early action needed:
“If benefits were reduced to meet the shortfall in revenue for the combined program, the reduction would start in 2018 and increase steadily each year, reaching 27 percent in 2042, and 35 percent in 2077.”
We look forward to receiving your reaction to our concerns about this matter.
Sincerely,
Barry Dorsch,
President
