Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Fight for health and financial security
From the RoundTable blog
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Warren Stewart
Stewart is the state president for the AARP Virginia.
There are nearly 1 million Virginians without health insurance coverage, according to the report of the Governor's Health Reform Commission. In Virginia, only 43 percent of those employed are covered by any type of employer-based retirement plan.
AARP research finds health care and long-term financial security are two of the most important domestic issues facing the country. It is especially true in Virginia.
In addition, Social Security retiree benefits are very important in the commonwealth. For 20 percent of the estimated 650,000 Virginians receiving Social Security retirement benefits, it is their only income.
These situations are found across the country.
AARP believes that the opportunity for access to health care and long-term financial security is a basic need that all Americans share.
Health care costs are out of control for both individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says she has skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured and middle-class families are the fastest growing segment of those uninsured.
Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. National saving is at an all-time low and pension plans are dwindling. Half of all private-sector workers are not signed up for a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. For many people, Social Security will be their only reliable, guaranteed retirement income source. But Social Security alone isn't enough.
If we don't act, and soon, the next generation will be the first in American history to be less well off than their parents. We can't let that happen and we won't.
AARP, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Service Employees International Union and the Business Roundtable have launched Divided We Fail to amplify the voices of Americans who want solutions. This initiative will compel our nation's leaders to develop common-sense, bipartisan solutions to ensure that all Americans can count on a lifetime of health and financial security.
We know that accomplishing our goal of finding solutions in health and financial security that benefit all generations will require the efforts of every single one of us, thus, the name, Divided We Fail.
Getting there is going to take the concerted efforts of business and government -- and individuals too. National sponsors as well as other supporting organizations are engaging our members and the public to press for change. We will put pressure on candidates to make health and financial security the top domestic issues in '08. We've joined forces with business and labor and will add in a broad spectrum of other groups to see this through.
Washington is stuck in gridlock and dominated by special interests. We need our leaders to address the financial and health security problems that so many Americans face. Lifetime financial and health security is at the core of the American dream -- giving people the freedom and opportunity to make a better life for their families. Divided We Fail is calling on Washington -- Republicans and Democrats, business and labor -- to do this.
We ask the American people to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas and to sign our pledge regarding health and financial security on our Web site, dividedwefail.org. By putting a personal face on these issues, we can demonstrate their urgency and drive our leaders to commit to bipartisan action. We're seeking action, answers and accountability from our elected officials. We've waited far too long for the solutions.
This will be an all-encompassing initiative to activate the American people as never before. We're building a public movement, demanding leadership and action on health and financial security. We must send this message to our elected officials -- stop the bickering and work together to address the health and financial security problems that so many Americans face.
The stakes are high. If we don't succeed, quality of life for present and future generations will suffer. America will have fallen short of its promise. We need your help to succeed. Please join us.
AARP Virginia is bringing Divided We Fail to the Roanoke Valley Friday through Sunday with a series of events combining community activities and important information on how citizens can make a difference. For more information on these local events please visit www.aarp.org/va or www.dividedwefail.org
Divided we fail, together we can do anything.
