|
Retirees Gather and Vow to Mobilize for Election by John Guevarra, 751 Retiree George Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans, opened the convention. Nearly 600 Alliance activists from across the country gathered in our nation’s capitol to map out a strategy to educate and mobilize seniors for the November election. At the convention, delegates heard from leading policy makers and political strategists, attended workshops on building grassroots power in their local communities, and visited Capitol Hill to share their concerns with their elected officials. Delegates to the convention also adopted policy resolutions in support of national health care coverage; and strengthening the Supplemental Security Income program serving those with low incomes and with disabilities. Noting seniors’ mounting frustration with many of their elected officials, Alliance President George Kourpias said, “America’s seniors say enough is enough. To us, November 7 is not just Election Day, it’s Judgment Day.” Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks added, “We want to protect Social Security from being destroyed through privatization. And we want to make Medicare work for the people it’s supposed to work for – America’s seniors – instead of the CEOs of the big drug and insurance companies.” One of the focuses was fighting for retirement security! Our government schemes to convert our Social Security benefits into risky private accounts. Their plan is to cut benefits for retirees with big profits for wealthy corporate interests, leaving unpaid deficits for our grandchildren to pay. Our grandchildren will risk their future retirement and very possibly have less than today’s retirees are guaranteed! Privatization means profit to the big boys. The non-profit program is less expensive. The government administers Social Security at a cost of 1-2%. The proposed privatized plan will cost close to 30%– sounds like a real crisis! Donuts Delivered to Capitol Hill Social Security Rally Draws Crowd |