General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I have been an AARP member for 14 years, I'm done with them after this [View all]QueerDuck
(495 posts)They never have and they never will. They don't withhold praise or gratitude as "punishment" for some other unrelated policy matter. They are not an organization that is in the business of "hating republicans because they are republicans" and it's unrealistic for anyone to expect them to do so.
That kind of binary thinking serves no useful purpose. There is always going to be (or needs to be) middle ground, compromise, recognition, gratitude if there is to be any kind of PROGRESS made at all. The all or nothing, black or white, good or evil, us/them and tribal way of looking at things is a very simplistic view and only serves to perpetuate problems and divisions that could otherwise be resolved... or at least moved the needle a little closer to something that's better than before.
If anyone genuinely and actually expects AARP to behave like a partisan far-left organization, then they should not support the AARP... *and* at the same time, they should not be surprised or disappointed when the AARP does happen to praise or thank someone who has done something, said something, or supported some policy... and that they deserve recognition for doing so.
There's also a bit of greasing the wheels going on here to, I suspect. Creating goodwill and letting someone know in a public way when they've done something good is a way to encourage the same from them again, or to encourage others to follow suit.
I'm grateful that AARP's board is filled with reasonable and level-headed people so that they can continue their work and valuable services.