Have gotten some heartening e-mails like this, in response to today’s column:
“Mr. Lowry –
I am a member of AARP. I reluctantly joined so that I could get some member benefits (lower hotel rates, etc., etc.). I say reluctantly, because, like you, I feel the AARP is a total ‘rip-off organization’ that is nothing more than a ‘geezers’ special interest group. I am 62 years old, and my wife is 63. We do not have any children, so therefore you might expect us to get all that we can get our hands on. However, first and foremost, we are citizens of the United States, and we do not like ’sticking’ it to our fellow citizens. I will venture to say that if you were able to survey many AARP members, that they would feel the same way. The leadership of the AARP is like the leadership of any major union. They have the misguided notion that all they exist for is to enhance our benefits. Many of us believe in our country first. Please take this to heart, and keep digging in to the AARP ranks for further information. We are not all heartless.
As for myself, I plan to speak out within AARP (I am a new member) if this kind of mindless demagoguery keeps up, or I will quit any organization that puts their personal gain over the good of the nation.”