Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

Happy Birthday Social Security!

Social Security celebrates its 75th birthday today and Alliance activists and Americans nationwide continue celebratory parties and events.

The week of August 1st, Alliance members held several events in Arizona, Iowa, Ohio and South Carolina in advance of the birthday.

Last week, over 50 Alliance events took place in communities across the states, and festivities continue next week.

Social Security is a true American success story, one that has kept generations of seniors out of poverty, and allowed millions to retire with dignity and peace of mind. Because this landmark anniversary is tainted by the deficit commission's calls to cut Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age, Alliance activists are busier than ever staging events to celebrate and educate across the country. Check out very personal accounts from Alliance members about how Social Security has impacted their lives here.

Festivities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa recently helped spread the word that Social Security puts $7.2 billion into the Iowa economy by releases on Social Security matters coinciding with birthday celebrations. The Social Security Works for Iowa report adds, "Without Social Security, half (50.8) percent of Iowa women aged 65 or older would have incomes below the poverty line." U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) joined the celebration in Cedar Rapids and added his personal story about Social Security survivor benefits. The Congressman told attendees that without Social Security survivor benefits, he would not have made it through college. Other state reports here.

Yesterday, seniors in Omaha, Nebraska gathered to join the month-long, national commemoration of Social Security and the people it serves. ‘With more than 50 million people receiving Social Security benefits today, the program helps virtually every American family,” Donna M. McGrath, Secretary of the Nebraska Alliance said. “Beyond the candles and the cake, we have a more serious message – Social Security must be remain strong for current and future retirees.”

Members nationwide speak out on the issue. Here is Don Thacker from South Carolina:

Jo Price from Florida also shares her thoughts on Social Security:

Check out some news clips including interviews with Alliance members here:

Wisconsin

• 'Social Security celebrates 75 years' - Wisconsin Radio Network
  Billy Feitlinger is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans. “We feel very strongly, if it is not the greatest program that the federal government has done, it’s clearly one of the most successful programs. And we feel very strongly right now that it’s under attack.
• Seniors celebrate the 75th anniversary of social security - WEAU Channel 13 Eau Claire
  Social security provides benefits to more than one million Wisconsinites. Besides sharing a cake, speakers discussed the importance of social security and the adjustments needed to have it for future generations.

North Carolina

• Etheridge visits Louisburg Senior Center to celebrate Social Securit's 75th anniversary - The Franklin Times
  With a 75-year-old as the guest of honor, the Louisburg Senior Center was the appropriate place for a birthday party.

Connecticut

• 75 years of Social Security celebrated (video) - The New Haven Register
  NEW HAVEN — A 75th birthday party was held Wednesday for the nation’s Social Security Act, and guests, including U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, wished for many, many more.

California

• Senior Group Plans SF Social Security Rally - KPIX CBS Channel 5 San Francisco
  ... several organizations in San Francisco are warning against suggestions by some in Washington, D.C. to cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age in order to fix the federal government's deficit woes.

Alliance leaders speak out:

• 'A federal plan that works' - Toledo Blade letter from Sam Burnett
  Social Security has been the lifeblood of people age 65 and older. Without monthly Social Security payments, nearly half of Americans over 65 would live in poverty.
  Help us celebrate this successful government program, which is run by fine people who care about senior citizens.

• Alliance President Barbara Easterling's column on Huffington Post commemorates Social Security's 75th birthday.

Happy birthday Social Security... and many more!

Alliance's National Convention

The Alliance's National 2010 Convention will kick-off our efforts to build the grassroots organizing power of retirees for the 2010 elections. Voters across the country will decide who will represent them in Congress and state capitols, and the retiree voice must amount to a mighty roar on Election Day.

Please join us for workshops and training sessions to strengthen our organizing and advocacy skills. We will hear from leading experts in public policy, health care, aging, and the media.

For more information, please use the following links:

2010 Convention Call - to learn additional details

2010 Registration Form - to send us a hard copy of your registration form

2010 National Conference Online Registration - to register now!

Nebraska Retirees Convene on Health Insurance Reform

Urge Representatives to Act on Reform, Reconsider Medicare Advantage

On Friday, September 25th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, Nebraska retirees will gather at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Kearney to discuss their views on health insurance reform and to urge action from their elected officials.

Seniors in Nebraska and across the nation have waited for the chance at significant health insurance reform for many years. Now at meetings like this, they are speaking out and mobilizing around issues such as closing the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D and allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Nebraska seniors at the meeting will also discuss their disappointment with Senator Ben Nelson and the Nebraska Congressional delegation for opposing cuts to Medicare Advantage overpayments and failing to advocate for a public option.

Dani Pere, Field Mobilization Director for the national Alliance for Retired Americans, will update retirees on the progress of health insurance reform and discuss other issues affecting seniors.

Donna McGrath, Secretary of the Nebraska Alliance for Retired Americans, said, “Seniors have been
told things about health insurance reform that are simply not true. Our task is to educate retirees on the facts of health insurance reform and to empower them to take action.” McGrath also said, “Now is the time for strong leadership and strong action. Our Congressional Representatives’ opposition to cutting Medicare Advantage overpayments and providing a public option is devastating for many Nebraskans. We are committed to staying active until reasonable reform is passed.”