Fwd: Friday Alert - October 22, 2004

[Guest guest]

Dear Reader, here is your October 22, 2004 issue of the Friday Alert

 

" Who You Vote for Matters, " Warns Kourpias

George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans, reminds

older Americans, " The person you vote for on November 2 for President will have

tremendous influence on your lives and those of your children and grandchildren

for years to come so who you vote for matters. The race is between two men --

President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) -- who have diametrically

opposite positions on the two most important issues affecting retirees -- Social

Security and Medicare. While no one, especially seniors, questions the

importance of national security, " says Kourpias, " the candidates' positions on

these two issues must be of primary concern when we enter the voting booth. Bush

supports 'privatizing' Social Security, while Kerry opposes any form of

privatization. On the issue of Medicare, Bush is opposed to allowing the

government to negotiate for lower-priced prescription drugs and allowing the

importation of safe, FDA-approved drugs from Canada. Kerry supports

both. " Kourpias urges all voters -- not just seniors -- to " look carefully at

the records of both candidates before casting your ballots because who wins will

determine the kind of America we will have in the future. "

 

Coyle Calls Election " A Referendum on Bush "

" George W. Bush is the incumbent so it is fair to make the presidential election

a referendum on his stewardship, " says Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of

the Alliance for Retired Americans. Here's an brief analysis of how Bush has

handled the job:

 

Depleted funds intended to shore up the Social Security Trust Funds by

enacting still more tax cuts

Rammed a costly Medicare overhaul bill through Congress that does little to

provide most seniors with affordable and accessible drugs

Took no steps to avert or diminish a shortage of flu vaccine despite warnings

by the Government Accountability Office in 2001, and again in 2004, of a

possible flu vaccine supply shortage

Championed tax cuts for the wealthy with millions of Americans out of work

Justified a costly war without an " exit " plan based on inaccurate information

Appointed cabinet members and judges with proven records of insensitivity to

civil liberties, affirmative action, a woman's right to choose and environmental

regulatory safeguards

Failed to provide sufficient funds to make it possible to meet the " No Child

Left Behind " standards

 

What Alliance Activists Can Do

With the election less than two weeks away, it is essential that activist

members of the Alliance for Retired Americans increase their efforts to get out

the vote. Here are three things activists can still do:

 

Make Phone Calls. Call family members, friends and neighbors and remind them

to vote.

Take a Senior to Vote. Call the senior housing complexes in your area and

offer to drive residents to the polls on November 2.

Canvass the Streets. On Election Day, go door-to-door and encourage people

to vote.

 

For information on how you can make a difference in key states, visit

www.retiredamericans.org/keystates.

 

Social Security Benefits to Increase 2.7 Percent

Approximately 47 million older men and women, children and disabled people will

receive a 2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security

benefits in January, 2005. According to the Social Security Administration

(SSA), the average monthly benefit for a retired worker will increase $25 to

$955. " Unfortunately, the increase in their Medicare premium will consume nearly

half of the raise, " says Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance for

Retired Americans. The premiums, which are deducted from Social Security

checks, will rise 17.4 percent in 2005, an average of $11.60 per month. " This

means the average retiree will see a net gain of $13.40 per month. But for

millions of older Americans who receive less than the average benefit, the

entire increase will be wiped out by the Medicare premium increase, " notes

Burks.

 

So-called " Seniors " Groups At It Again

The Seniors Coalition, which has been identified as a conduit for the

pharmaceutical industry, is back at it again. Alliance members have spotted

newspaper ads extolling the " virtues " of the 2003 Medicare law and urging people

to call their local member of Congress to oppose H.R. 3767, which is the bill

that provides a guaranteed Medicare drug program, allows Medicare to negotiate

for lower prices, and creates a standard premium. The ads misleadingly claim

that a few Members of Congress want to change the 2003 law, when in fact 184

Members of the House of Representatives have signed a discharge petition to

bring H.R. 3767 up for a vote on the floor. In addition, the group is spreading

this false message by automatic telephone calls. Please let Friday Alert know

should you see ads or get a call.

 

New Online Tool Features Alliance

Presidential Guidester (www.presidentialguidester.com), a recently launched

online tool is helping Americans across the country decide how to vote in the

upcoming Presidential election. Produced by Decidia, an Internet firm, and

Zogby International, the leading polling company, Presidential Guidester

features the Alliance for Retired Americans as one of a few trusted

organizations from American life, and the only one representing older and

retired persons. Using Presidential Guidester is fun and educational, so give it

a try and be sure to select " Alliance for Retired Americans " in the " Based on

Viewpoints from " section of the decision tool then post your results on the

" Alliance for Retired Americans " board after you're done. Or create your own

board and send.

 

 

__________________

 

Alliance for Retired Americans 888 16th St, NW Washington, DC 20008

www.retiredamericans.org

 

 

http://pets.care2.com/

 

" The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. " --

Plato

" Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing

health care to all Americans is socialism. " -- anon