Drug industry backs conservative USA Next in its challenge to liberal AARP

USA Next is USA Seniors’ lobbying arm in the conservative organization’s battles with the liberal AARP over Medicare and Social Security. USA Next is funded in part by the drug industry and other large employers who support Republicans against the AARP, which has huge clout with Democrats. What’s interesting about this Chicago Tribune story by Michael Tackett is that politicians seem to give great credit to the organizations that support their policies, but neither USA Next nor AARP can be called an honest representatives of their purported seniors constituents (USA Next) or members (AARP). USA Next is dominated by GOP politiciians and lobbyists, while AARP’s hard left positions hardly reflect the true values and needs of the millions of conservative seniors who sign up as members to obtain non-political benefits. So, apparently, we have to count on politicians to represent our seniors, which in this partisan and big money political environment is scary for all seniors as well as for providers. Bottom line, the hard right USA Next has to be seen as a welcome counterpoint to AARP, which needs to be taken down a notch or two. Meanwhile, can anyone claim to speak for seniors?

USA Next is USA Seniors’ lobbying arm in the conservative organization’s battles with the liberal AARP over Medicare and Social Security. USA Next is funded in part by the drug industry and other large employers who support Republicans against the AARP, which has huge clout with Democrats. What’s interesting about this Chicago Tribune story by Michael Tackett is that politicians seem to give great credit to the organizations that support their policies, but neither USA Next nor AARP can be called an honest representatives of their purported seniors constituents (USA Next) or members (AARP). USA Next is dominated by GOP politiciians and lobbyists, while AARP’s hard left positions hardly reflect the true values and needs of the millions of conservative seniors who sign up as members to obtain non-political benefits. So, apparently, we have to count on politicians to represent our seniors, which in this partisan and big money political environment is scary for all seniors as well as for providers. Bottom line, the hard right USA Next has to be seen as a welcome counterpoint to AARP, which needs to be taken down a notch or two. Meanwhile, can anyone claim to speak for seniors?

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