I admit I am perplexed about being a member of an organization that lobbies for me on one subject but acts against my interests in another.
One example is the AOPA, a group that lobbies on behalf of private pilots (so called “non-commercial aviation”). The AOPA has regularly argued against restrictions on low altitude flying over populated areas (the current minimum is 1,000 feet.) As a pilot I want to fly anywhere at any altitude, but as a citizen I sure as hell don’t want to increase the risk of a small plane crashing into my home.
I actually quit the AOPA over this issue.
The other example is the AARP, seniors sucking at the teats of Social
Security payments. The AARP is always lobbying (the most effective
lobbying organization in Washington, more effective than the NRA) for
more Social Security payments and against programs that would be
additional drains on Social Security. The AARP was ferocious in
lobbying against moving parts of Social Security into a private
insurance program for young contributors.
We all know that people under 35 believe that Social Security is totally non-functional and every effort to thwart young people will harm the long term interest of existing Social Security. My interests include the interests of my children and grandchildren who want an alternative system.
The AARP gets me more Social Security at the same time it makes Social Security less appealing to the generation that is paying for it.
What do we do with AARP?
Frankly, I am so often offended by the separate immoral behavior of the AARP that I refuse to join. AARP writes articles on how to chose life insurance, auto insurance, medical insurance and prescription drug insurance in their monthly magazine and NEVER mentions that they own insurance companies in those fields. The Wall St. Journal and BusinessWeek would never do something so immoral.