In a rather direct threat to members of Congress, AARP recently unveiled an ad opposing Medicare and Social Security cuts.  Here’s the problem:  if we’re even going to pretend to tackle the nation’s budget deficit in a meaningful way, everything must be on the table.  And guess what?  Medicare and Social Security comprise more than a third of the entire U.S. budget and that share is only going to increase over time.

The ad suggests that  50 million angry seniors will unseat incumbent legislators next November if any cuts are made to these programs.  And in a disingenuous act to appear constructive, AARP suggests that addressing waste and loopholes will bring us into fiscal balance.  Watch the video for yourself:

Nothing could be more symbolic of everything that’s wrong with our current political system.  AARP is spouting the same ‘us versus them’ rhetoric that’s preventing lawmakers from having the courage to put forth real solutions to our problems.

It’s fine for AARP to advocate on behalf of its members.  That’s exactly what you would expect from an interest group.  But this ad goes too far.  Not only does it draw a line in the sand and imply that members of Congress who cross that line will face serious consequences, but it perpetuates the myth that cutting waste, fraud, and abuse is the best way to addressing our fiscal challenges.

Our national debt not only threatens our future prosperity, but also our national security.  Everything needs to be on the table and AARP knows it.  Shame on them for stooping to such low levels.

We’re either in this together or we’re not and AARP seems to believe the latter.

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