According to a story in today’s Wall Street Journal, AARP, the long time semi-official defender of seniors’ rights and perks, has now decided not to fight against some cuts in Social Security benefits. No. You haven’t misread that. They are reported to no longer oppose cuts in Social Security benefits. The reason, according to this story, is that they believe these cuts are inevitable, and wants a seat at the table “to minimize the pain.”
Let us forget, for the moment, that these cuts are not inevitable. That there are several sensible and doable alternatives to funding Social Security long into the foreseeable future. Let us focus instead on the matter of how to negotiate successfully anything, anything at all.
First, you don’t enter the negotiation grateful that you have been given a seat at the table. As if the others at the table have a right to determine who, in fact, has the right to sit there with them. Because it you do this, let others determine who qualifies to negotiate, then you’ve already conceded the outcome.
Next, and more important, you never, ever, ever, ever, admit in advance that the other party has a right to do what its wants to do (in this case cut Social Security benefits), and that all you want is to ability to moderate what they what to do — if only they feel generous enough to throw you a fig leaf to cover your weakness and shame.
This AARP approach to negotiation, of course, reflects the one adopted by our President. Which is doubtless why the AARP feels it has to do the same. Mr. Obama caves before arguments on fiscal policies have even begun. Why shouldn’t an organization that purports to defend older Americans’ rights and perks do the same?
Some policy mistakes can be repaired over time. Some can’t. For AARP, this pathetic effort to have a seat at the table instead of fighting like hell to preserve its members most basic government program is the end of the game for this organization.
It will certainly lumber along for a few more years selling various products and services to an ever diminishing membership. But its reason for being has now ended.
Bye-Bye AARP. Older Americans need defenders. Not seat-warmers at the Tea Party’s table. You have been judged and found woefully wanting.
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