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AARP loses 60,000 members in July-August 2009

8/18/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Parallel to the erosion of Pres. Barack Obama's approval rating, the Association of American Retired Persons (AARP) reported the withdrawal of 60,000 members from July to August 2009. Associated Press (AP,) disclosed USA's leading senior citizen organization attributes the attrition from the AARP’s position on the healthcare debate. Pres. Obama earlier said AARP supported some of the provisions of the reform bill, but was later debunked by AARP as inaccurate.

The organization of seniors supports the need for a healthcare revamp to rein on the expenses and make it more affordable. But its managers have not been keen in defending the sick nnd elderly from "rationing. high premiums, government intervetion, and “death panels”---things that worry the senior citizens. AARP instead helped the US president in claiming the association supports his proposed medical reform which mnny members rejected.

According to AARP, it is fighing for the following:

1.Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
2.Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
3.Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
4.Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices. Source: eCancerAwareness.com (08/06/09, Sacto, Eric )

A. Barry Rand, CEO of AARP underscored the need to stop the rise in healthcare expenses which accounts for 16% of the 2007 GDP. Deemed unsustainable, without healthcare reform, he said expenses is expected to climb to 25% and 49% of GDP in years 2025 and 2082 respectively. Yet, he didn't offer enough assurance that seniors will not be short-changed in medical services once the revamp is approved.

According to AARP spokesman Drew Nannis, with 40 million members, dropping from the AARP roll is expected. The group is watching how many members have opted to drop from the list because of their disapproval on how AARP represents them. (Photo Credit: boraeke) =0=

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Labels: 2009, AARP, debate, Health, healthcare reform, organization, senior citizen, Totie Mesia, universal healthcare

Heard From The Underbush

6/19/2008 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

"Gusto nilang maging commercial endorser, eh ang papangit naman nila, [They want to be commercial endorsers but they are so ugly],''

-Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago denounces politicians who endorse consumer products. She condemns this advertising as a form of early election campaign. PDI (06/17/08, Cabacungan, G.)

“We hope the government would undertake mitigating programs because there might be further rise in unemployment as a result of the rising power cost in the country.”

-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) spokesman Alex Aguilar reacting to the National Statistics Office (NSO) report which shows the rise of unemployment to 8% in April, 2008 from 7.4 of April last year. Philstar (06/18/08, Jaymalin, M)

"I assure [students] that in 2009 we will prioritize this (the construction of more comfort rooms in public schools.)"

-DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus tells the audience of a Manila morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda." how he'll solve the problem of filthy toilets in public schools. According to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (based on DepEd's records,) 51 elementary pupils share one toilet bowl. In high school, it's even worse -- 102 students share one toilet bowl. ABS-CBN Online (06/17/08)

"I appealed, I cajoled, I threatened by telephone…These people do not have an ideology. This is pure banditry."

-Sen Loren Legarda says on her role in gaining the release of reporter Ces Drilon et al who were held hostage by Islamic militants in Mindanao. ABS-CBN Online/AFP (06/18/08.)

“That will drain more our finances. Now at 20 percent, we are bothered financially,”

-Rustico Jimenez, M.D., president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, saying that it is too much to increase senior citizen hospital discount from 20% to 30%. Inquirer (06/17/08, Alave, KL.)

“Even if cases have been filed against some alleged perpetrators of summary executions, justice remains elusive and the possibility of getting genuine justice remains unsure. This is because forensic investigations of human rights violations are not done with due diligence, either because of unwillingness to do so, or because of incompetence to do good investigations,”

-Dr. Aurora Parong, Amnesty International (Philippine section director,) bewails the lack of justice in the Philippines. Manila Times (06/17/08, Apanay, IK.)

Labels: Accountability, government, human rights, Justice, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Philippines, public school, senior citizen

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AARP loses 60,000 members in July-August 2009

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