Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (496446)	11/20/2003 8:27:07 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Respond to of 769667

Thanks Kenneth, You are a breath of fresh air on this thread. One of the few who actually has something to contribute other than empty-headed rhetoric. Cheerio! BTW, this is an interesting item: siliconinvestor.com

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (496446)	11/20/2003 8:47:40 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

MEDICARE FRAUD Kenneth, This just came in my email..... Dear MoveOn member, For years, Democratic lawmakers have been working to make sure that seniors have access to prescription drugs and reasonable healthcare. Now, in an attempt to score political points, the Republican Congressional leadership is pushing through a bill that appears to offer a solution. Actually, the bill undermines the entire Medicare program, pushing people into the very HMOs which contribute heavily to Republican lawmakers and barring the government from negotiating for lower drug prices. Given the danger to seniors, one might expect that the millions-strong American Association of Retired People (AARP) to be on the case. But after huge contributions from pharmaceutical companies and HMOs, and pressure from Republican lawmakers, the AARP is selling out its membership and backing the bill. In response, 85 members of Congress (so far) have canceled their AARP memberships, or announced that they will never join (if they're not yet old enough to be eligible). [1] Today, we urge you to do the same. If the AARP won't stand up for the elderly when it comes to health care, what good is it? You can reach the AARP at: OR Branch: 503-652-8855 National hotline: 1-800-424-3410 If you're a member, tell them you're quitting. If you're too young to be eligible, tell them you'll never join. You also may want to let your Representative and Senators know that you're keeping the AARP accountable. You could also tell them that you expect them to demand real health care reform -- not this industry-backed bill.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (496446)	11/20/2003 8:52:43 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769667

AARP: Traitor to its members More from MoveOn: Please let us know how you feel about this -- we're collecting individual comments to share with the media, at: moveon.org The AARP has endorsed a bill that would make two fundamental changes in Medicare: 1. First, it would force people to make a stark choice: either pay sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare, where they can choose their doctor; or be forced out, into an HMO. Newt Gingrich, the former House Republican leader, said in 1995 that he wanted to let Medicare to "wither on the vine." This change would lead to that result, with cost incentives driving people out. (Not coincidentally, AARP CEO William Novelli recently wrote the forward to Gingrich's book. [2]) 2. Second, it offers a prescription drug benefit, but requires people who want this coverage to buy it from private insurance plans. This part of the bill also bars the government from doing the one thing it could do to actually reduce the cost of these drugs -- negotiate for lower prices, using the size of the Medicare program as leverage. Drug prices are soaring now, and unless they're brought under control, they will eventually bankrupt Medicare. AARP itself sells insurance and also sells prescription drugs, so the group stands to reap huge financial gains from this change. The bill has been opposed by a host of liberal groups [3] as well as by major conservative groups, including the Club for Growth, The Heritage Foundation, the American Conservative Union, The Cato Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union. It's also been assailed by virtually every one of the Democratic presidential candidates. [4] In endorsing this bill, the AARP has broken faith with its members. In a recent poll, 65% of AARP members said they're opposed to it. [5] The group has also violated its own written principles. In July, CEO William Novelli wrote to Congress stating the requirements for AARP's support of a Medicare bill. [6] Yet the bill AARP has just endorsed fails to meet nine separate requirements stated in that letter. [7] We need to hold the AARP responsible for selling out its members. If the organization sees sufficient backlash from its members and prospective members, it could still change course and effect the outcome of this legislation. Please call your local AARP branch today. Sincerely, --Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack The MoveOn.org Team November 20th, 2003 ----- [1] 85 Representatives wrote to Novelli, canceling their memberships: moveon.org [2] From the foreword by Novelli to Gingrich's new book, "Saving Lives and Saving Dollars". [3] See moveon.org for a complete list of organizations. [4] See: washingtonpost.com [5] Poll: a majority of AARP members oppose the Medicare bill: moveon.org [6] AARP July letter on minimum acceptable standards aarp.org [7] How AARP goes back on its word house.gov [8] aarp.org