What to do about the AARP and are seniors too dependent on the government ourselves?

Two topics that seem to go together:

One, as a group, Americans 50 and over are more conservative than those under 50.  Yet our primary lobbying group is the AARP, which is run by leftists.  How do the Bookwormroom readers feel about this?  Are there any moves afoot to replace the AARP leadership?  Alternatively, has anyone tried to create a serious, conservative alternative to the AARP?  What alternatives do we have?

Two, are we over 50s really such a conservative group, or have we been corrupted by government hand-outs as well?  Are we against Obamacare for example, but in favor of Medicare?  If so, on what basis?  Also, on average we get far more out of Social Security than we ever put into it.  Millions of us are quite dependent on Social Security, even though that is not the way the system is suppose to work.  What does this dependence on the government do to our conservative resolve?

I have an email exchange with my 82 year old father recently which began when he sent me an e-mail about the high percentage of all Americans who depend on the government for their support.  I wrote back, pointing out that he was one of those Americans.  He was incensed, until I reminded him that his fixed income securities are paying next to nothing in interest right now, he’s not working for a wage, he is receiving Social Security and Medicare and needs them to make ends meet.  He had to agree, especially in light of the fact that he has just spent a month in the hospital for major surgery, much of the cost of which I’m sure was borne by the government.  So, how conservative and independent from government are we seniors?

Earl has the answer to the first question:  The Association of Mature American Citizens.  I joined last night and suggest you have a look at it.