DOES THE AARP SPEAK FOR YOU?

By Bob Brewster

The AARP claims that it has over 40,000,000 middle aged to senior members. At the same time it claims to represent the best interests of its members and demonstrated this belief on November 6, 2009 by formally endorsing HR 3962, the proposed healthcare revision bill APPROVED by the U.S. House of Representatives at midnight on November 7, 2009.

Here at the Over60Exchange, we have had to make a decision. The AARP does NOT represent us and it does not represent what is best for our age group or for America as a country.

Here are some quotes taken from the AARP website November 6, 2009.

'AARP, the 40-million-member association of older Americans, today announced its endorsement of the sweeping House health care reform bill. The organization's backing is seen as a major boost for one of the bills that aims to overhaul the nation's health care system, and it comes as Democratic lawmakers are preparing to bring the measure to the floor for a vote.' (Note: the bill passed by a margin of three votes)

'The announcement came at a press briefing in AARP's Washington headquarters.'

'The organization's backing is seen as a major boost for one of the bills that aims to overhaul the nation's health care system, and it comes as Democratic lawmakers are preparing to bring the measure to the floor for a vote.'

'Today's endorsement marks the first time in this legislative battle that AARP has put its full weight behind a comprehensive health care reform package.'

'Bonnie Cramer, chair of AARP's volunteer advisory board, said one key factor in the organization's decision to support the House bill was that it won't add to the national deficit. 'Our members are worried about financial security for their children and grandchildren,' she said.'

'The measure would be paid for by a tax on the wealthy-individuals making $500,000 a year and couples with joint tax returns of $1 million, as well as by changes to Medicare and Medicaid worth billions in savings over 10 years, according to the CBO.'

We are showing you what the AARP is saying because we wanted you to be sure that this was not another 'I was for it before I was against it' or vice versa situation.

The AARP endorsement is not the only reason why I am writing to you today. The other reason is that over the past weekend, I started reading the almost 2,000 page Healthcare Bill proposal titled H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act as Introduced'.

Starting on the first page I discovered the following printed statement -

"To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes."

Truthfully, I have not heard anyone disagree with the need 'To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending'. This is not in dispute. But, I ask you, what about this last part…"and for other purposes'? What does this mean?

After page one, I started reading the proposed bill and I actually made it to page 100 before I had to stop. I had enough. Just in those first one hundred pages alone, which represent only five percent (5.0%) of the total pages, it was very clear that this is far more than a "Health Care" bill. It is in reality a complete plan for the restructuring of America. This is not a bill for 'the people by the people' but a massive plan to move the power of the people from the majority to the control of a few. Just in the proposed bill's Table of Contents any reader willing to see can find the beginnings of a new massive government infrastructure full of new bureaucratic agencies (111 is the latest count), tens of thousands of government jobs, massive government controls and an almost incomprehensible system of checks and balances giving credence to the potential of being the worst nightmare for anyone looking for speedy individualized healthcare assistance.

Let me ask you…Is the debate we see and hear today, about Healthcare or is it about restructuring American society into classes, which are then controlled by appointed 'rulers' who are themselves controlled by a small unseen and unreachable group? Where in the electoral process do 'we the people' pick these people? Nowhere is the answer!

This, my friends, is no longer about Health Care. If it was, the Ultra Left and Liberal Democrats would willingly compromise on all its major points with the Independents and Conservative Right. This is not about political parties. If it was there would be no Democrats against it instead of the group called 'Blue Democrats' who recognize and oppose much of what is happening. No this is not about Republicans, Wall Street greed or the babbling mouths who tell us that it's the 'evil' insurance companies creating all our problems.

This debate transcends political parties and it transcends the actual need for health care reform itself. The debate centers around the need for one group to gain complete political and economic power over another. To do this, this group must gain control over the one thing that all people cannot avoid and must confront through life - personal well being and health. With healthcare equal to one fifth of the entire U.S. economy, this effort for health care reform has but one purpose and one goal; to neutralize the United States Constitution into a document of historical yesterdays while simultaneously introducing a new form of government controlled by a small group that will dictate and control what all people will receive and what they must contribute.

The AARP endorsement is choosing sides. They have made their choice and it is for massive government spending, debt and ultimately the sacrifice of all individual freedom for choice, the very freedom that has made America the world's strongest and most successful country. The AARP has picked the side that it believes will give it the most power and financial reward when reform takes hold. Now, we must take sides and decide where we stand on America's future.

Here's my question to you. Does the AARP represent you? Are you one of the 40,000,000 they claim as members? Are you one of 1.5 million signatures on petitions that they claim to represent? Are you supporting a complete restructuring of the United States government and a consolidation of power into the hands of a few who then make decisions for us all? Are you supporting the relegation of our United States Constitution, the very foundation of America, into a document that no longer has relevance? Are you willing to risk everything that America has built throughout its history because one small group covets power and control? Are you willing to allow Washington lawmakers the power to create laws controlling every facet of your life because they can hold your personal healthcare hostage unless you cooperate?

Or, are you against what the AARP is endorsing? Are you against massive government spending and gigantic bureaucratic organizations run by small groups controlling every decision you make? Are you against destroying the United States Constitution and diluting the spirit and power of taking personal responsibility for life's successes that come from individual achievement?

Let me share with you that the AARP does not speak for me! I am taking the side that America's future is not for sale for any reason! That the Free Enterprise System, when allowed to work without manipulation by politicians, is the best way to protect our individual freedoms and rights.

Today, the Over60Exchange is speaking out on behalf of everyone who desires America to be the country that has made us great; where personal efforts bring personal reward. Where personal responsibility includes earning benefits based on one's efforts not from the efforts of others. Where we have a country comprised of everyone contributing their fair share not just the relying on a few who are asked to carry the burden for everyone else. The term "redistribution of wealth" should make everyone sick to their stomach who has taken a risk on starting a new business, invested in an idea, joined a startup or who has dreamed of being financially independent with an idea, invention or process they created.

If you believe like me that we are on the precipice of losing America by going down a very dangerous path toward socialism leading to high taxes and high unemployment and that our children, our grandchildren and their children may not see the full potential of their lives as this country has allowed for the past 233 years, then you must act with me through the Over60Exchange to help stop what is happening. Let's work together to educate others like ourselves to the dangers confronting Americans and our age group in particular.

Let the Over60Exchange give you a growing voice toward making sure we all have a bright future. Ensure that opportunities for future generations of Americans can be preserved so that anyone who wants to work by taking personal responsibility for success or failure can still thrive and grow to their fullest potential.

In summary, it's your choice, we need your help. None of us can afford to wait while we learn what the definition of the healthcare bill's words "for other purposes" really means. If we wait it will be too late!

Today, we need your ideas, your support and your donation. We are not a non-profit. We are a for-profit business and your monetary donation is not tax deductible but so what? Give as much as you can today and I can assure you that your donation will go toward the sharing of our message and for building the Over60Exchange into a powerful tool for everyone in our age group to use for a better life today and tomorrow.

Click the link below to give us whatever financial support you can. Together we can do something to save America while at the same time saving ourselves.

Thank you!

Bob Brewster

Founder

Please DONATEtoday! (Unlike politicians that ask for your money, we guarantee that we will spend your donation on what is important to you because, we are all in this together! Plus, your donation will help us improve the Over60Exchange with many new features such as the ability to network socially with other members around the world in a secure and confidential manner.) Click Here to Make Donation

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doestheaarpspeakforyou.pdf

By Bob Brewster

Yesterday I met an old friend for coffee. He had taken early retirement at age fifty six and is now sixty two. He told me the past six years were very good for him and his family but now he needed to start working again. There were several reasons given for this and they were not all financial. It seems that he still had a real need to feel productive and liked the idea of contributing toward helping a new idea or business become successful. The money was also important because he found that he still wanted to do things with his family that required more money than what he could afford to take from his retirement savings.

Our conversation jumped around on various ideas for what he could do to get back into the workforce. One subject was his resume. It seems that there is a lot of opinion today regarding whether a person with a lot of experience really needs to complete resume or just a brief summary. One expert,Jill Konrath, has found resumes to be detrimental and after reading her book "Get Back to Work Faster", I had to agree with her in advising my friend. However, even though my friend agreed that his resume needed to be a lot shorter, he could not come to the conclusion that he did not need one at all. So we compromised and agreed that he would create a 'summary' in lieu of a resume.

Here are some rules we decided to follow for his resume "summary".

Updating your resume or creating a Resume Summary

As an older experienced worker, you have a lot to share from your background. The problem is that even though this is very important to you, it is probably not important, at least not at first, to an employer or business owner. The challenge is how to select what in your background you need to take out and what to leave in.

Since a resume is a reflection of you, it is also your chance to make an impression in a few short seconds that you will be allowed. Yes, that's correct. Even with all your experience and education, you will have maybe 10-15 seconds to make an impact statement about yourself before your resume hits the proverbial "circular file." This is a big challenge and if not carefully handled, it will result in a lot of frustration for you.

This 'screening' process is unfair at best but that is the way things are handled today. Unless you can personally hand your resume to the hiring decision maker while looking them in the eye as you state your reasons why they need to hire you, you are just a another name flashing before the screener's eyes.

Your resume summary by choice needs to be short, to the point and well written. It must be carefully proofread for even the slightest error in grammar or spelling will destroy its effectiveness. Additionally, you may need to create several versions of your resume summary with each version geared specifically toward the industry, job or employer you are approaching. Having a "one size fits all" resume is no longer an option for it requires too much reading and digging from the screener.

Additional tips for the Resume Summary

1. Have your name, address and telephone number at the top of the page. Include your e-mail address if you have one.

2. Do not include career objectives. They can be given in your cover letter or an email where your resume is attached. Always use a cover letter of some type that is very brief about your professional history and accomplishments.

3. Your resume summary must be positive and to the point. Use as few words as possible and never exceed one page. You are not writing a book or novel. This is not an autobiography about your self. Do use the word 'I' and keep all paragraphs short.

4. Leave out all personal information such as height, weight, medical condition, marital status, date of birth, hobbies, etc. These are irrelevant to the screening process and may even cause you to get "kicked" out.

5. Only use experience from your past 10-15 years or 3-4 employers. Avoid using dates. These again will be used against you in the screening process and are not necessary at this point.

6. List educational institutions in reverse chronological order. It is not necessary to list date of attendance or graduation.

7. Your resume summary does not need a list references or even the statement "References Available Upon Request."

8. Leave out any statement for leaving past positions or statements that could have a negative inference.

9. Leave out salary history or requirements. Your cover letter can address this by stating that you would be glad to discuss it at an interview.

10.Proofread your resume for spelling or grammatical errors. Ask someone else to proofread to too. Most mistakes are not obvious to the writer and usually stick out like a huge 'smudge mark' on the paper to an employer.

Making you Resume Summary one page in length is extremely important. Using bullet paragraphs will help you accomplish this. Also, you can break your summary into parts. Here are four parts as a suggestion -

1. Heading - Your name and contact information and a brief statement of what you want to accomplish, if hired.

2. Industries - A bullet list of industries or company names where you gained your experience. (This is a list not a paragraph on each, only a line.)

3. Professional Skills- You bullet list what you do best and what special skills you have as assets to accomplish them. (Writing, speaking, computer programs, presentation, leadership, CDL driver, RN, MD, etc.) Thinks about those things that are assets in any employment position.

4. Past Significant Accomplishments- You bullet list your education, past positions where you had significant accomplishment, like "helped take program from $10 million to over $100 million in five years", or 'helped launch new division that successfully resulted in 100 new employees and profitability' or any recognition you may have received from industry, community or civic organizations. Do you hold a record for something? Received a special award? Remember, these are bullet lines so you must hit your target each time without "fluff" or extra words.

That's it!

In summary, the days of resumes with your entire life condensed to several pages of tiny hard to read print are over. Today's employment seeker must be brief, to the point and able to communicate in only a few words the benefit he or she is bringing to the employer or business. Do not worry about the rest of details. They will come out as you progress through the screening process. Good luck!

The title above is the front page headline in the September 21, 2009 USA Today newspaper. The article goes on to state that "more skilled immigrants are giving up their American dreams to pursue careers back home, raising concerns that the U.S. may lose its competitive edge in science, technology and other fields." This process is being called "reverse immigration."

The article also states that "what was a trickle has become a flood" and that "in the next five years 100,000 immigrants will go back to India and 100,000 to China…for the first time in America history, we (U.S.) are experiencing the brain drain that other countries experience."

What does this news mean to you, if you are one of those older workers wanting to stay active in the work force or if you are someone who may have retired early but now needs to return to work? It is another strong indicator that there is a growing opportunity for you to still use your skills, talents and abilities. It means that your experience and education still has application to helping the country's economy recover and grow.

This also means that the opportunity to launch your own business becomes a stronger option. Tough economic times always drive the entrepreneurial instincts. Whether it is a franchise with established systems and support or it is something brand new and perhaps revolutionary, your opportunity is always better when economic times are more challenging.

When looking out the window at the world around you, it may be easier to see the faults and negatives of high employment, business failures and reduced opportunity versus the hints of opportunity. The above fact that we are losing talented people to reverse immigration is one of those negatives. But, when you put this fact in its proper perspective, it is really an indicator of opportunities.

In summary, do not look for opportunities where there is already a crowd. Use your age, experience and education as assets to help a company or business grow, This can also separate you from lesser experienced people. Look for indicators in less obvious places where there are fewer people, where people are leaving and where your experience and education could be more appreciated and needed. If working for someone else or going out on your own, focus on finding creative ways to fill a need by offering to be innovative and open to new ideas. Then as people leave positions or move out of the country, you will still have many options for continued income.

By Bob Brewster

In 1998, I published a book titled "Income Surfing" which provided a formula for developing income over a broad base of different sources.

Now, here it is eleven years later. I am bringing up this fact because in the book we referenced a chart called the "Social Adjustment Rating Scale." This chart was the result of research conducted in 1967 by two psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe who examined the medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses. In 1970, Rahe carried out another study on 2,500 sailors to verify the first stress study as a predictor of illness. This second study confirmed that the stress table was indeed correct and it is still just as true today.

Why is this important to you?

In today's changing times, we are all experiencing pressures from a multitude of directions. The source of these pressures creates stress in our lives. Our actions or reactions to this stress will determine how we react in our relationships with other people.

As we age, stress affects us differently because of how we feel about ourselves. Our ability to overcome stress changes with our perception of our age. A major part of how we "feel" involves our health. Our health is our most precious resource. It needs to be protected to avoid creating a negative affect on the rest of our life. In this time where health care is at the forefront of the news, the best way to save money, now and tomorrow, is to not spend money on avoidable health care problems.

I have recreated the Social Adjustment Rating Scale Chart so that all of you can see exactly where you need to place emphasis for handling this stress and also what decisions you can make that will help you live a better and more controlled life. This is important because life moves in cycles. Sometimes things are perfect and sometimes things are falling apart. How we handle these cycles determines our ability to shorten the bad times and lengthen the good times.

To give you an example of how important your understanding needs to be for how stress affects your life, here's a little test. On a separate piece of paper answer the following questions (The answers will be found when you click on the chart link.)

(1) Are financial problems less or more stressful than a divorce?

(2) Is a home foreclosure less or more stressful than retiring from a job?

(3) Is getting fired or laid off from a job less or more stressful than being arrested for a minor violation of the law?

(4)Is bankruptcy more or less stressful than getting married?

(5) Is having an illness less or more stressful than a spouse that loses his or her job?

Social Adjustment Rating Scale Chart

Many of you will be startled at the answers, as well as where the other stress factors fall in the chart scale. I hope this helps you during these challenging times.

Right up front, here's the major point -

STAY WORKING...DO NOT RETIRE!!

We cannot afford to have our older workers stop working or leave the country's work force.

There are two key reasons for this -

1. The education and experience this group controls is invaluable to our country's economy and their contribution must not be lost.

2. This group must stay employed and productive for as long as possible to avoid placing demands on Medicare, Social Security and Healthcare that could force the collapse of each.

Using common sense and simple math, it is easy to conclude that having an average of five million new people per year start drawing social security and Medicare benefits under the present funding and management structure is impossible to support. But, many lawmakers would have you believe that reorganizing both Social Security and Healthcare into a massive government managed program will solve all issues. This violates common sense and a simple understanding of what motivates people to be productive and therefore able and willing to pay for programs like social security and Medicare.

Creating a massive program funded by cuts in services and much higher taxes on the very same people who can create the biggest momentum for an economic turnaround is both foolhardy and near sighted. People work best when there are no artificial ceilings on what they can earn. Creating taxes that progressively discourage people from being productive is not the answer and actually places a straightjacket on people by dramatically restricting their willingness to be creative. This is exactly the opposite of what has made America great.

America has been built on ingenuity and unfettered creativity. The vast majority of America's success has come from private enterprise done with little to no support from government. Government has greatly benefited from this private productivity through taxation but government on its own has done very little to be productive and creative. By fostering productivity and ingenuity in people we can solve our present economic woes. By keeping our older workers active and employed we are using this highly educated and experienced group of people to create and foster new innovation. By doing it this way, we harness a tremendously invaluable amount of experience and focus it on creating new businesses, which in turn creates new jobs. Seventy eight percent of all new jobs come from small businesses. Ninety seven percent of our country's GNP comes from small businesses.

In summary, creating incentives through lower taxes on businesses will also create incentives to keep older workers employed and productive. Employers know that they cannot afford to lose this huge pool of talent and experience at a time when they need it the most.

When there is real work that MUST be done, there is only one way to get it done. Jump in with both feet and ask others to do the same.

It has been tough but we here at the Over60Exchange have finally pulled ourselves up from the muck of political opinions fostered by special interests. The quicksand suction of political partisanship and truth bending is very strong and hard to overcome but we did it. This effort has not been easy but it is well worth it. Now, we are extending our hands to you to do the same. Here's why -

Our country's problems demand attention that transcends politics.The very survival of our country as a world leader in freedom and individual success is at great risk of being replaced with mediocrity and averageness. Anyone who has ever run in a race quickly learns that it is much better to be running in front of the crowd than to be in the middle or at the end. Only the front runners have a clear vision and steady pace, while everyone else is either sprinting or walking. As a country, we are in danger of losing our front runner position. If this is what you want please ignore what we are telling you. On the other hand, if you intuitively feel that what we are sharing with you is true, roll up your sleeves, we have a challenge for you.

The Over60Exchange has an opportunity to become a real honest alternative to the AARP. In meetings all across America , the AARP is demonstrating that it no longer effectively represents the grassroot issues of its members as it once did. The AARP is in the insurance business and unfortunately they are also too close to the ugly politics associated with special interests while trying to get their share of government dole outs. Now, there is nothing wrong with selling insurance but we do think there is something big time wrong with taking member money and using it for issues they do not support.

It is very simple. Here at the Over60Exchange we believe that older Americans need a place where they can go for information and tools that they can use to stay active, productive and earning income. We do not believe that a person should be turned into a 'vegetable' just because of age. We believe that people should be allowed to contribute at any age and to be fairly compensated for what they can do. Our country needs the experience and knowledge of people who have worked decades in productive employment. Further, we are not advocates of retirement in the sense of the word where one fully stops working or being productive. We believe staying active and productive for as long as possible, whether you need to earn money or not is very healthy both physically and mentally. This belief does not eliminate volunteerism. We believe that being a volunteer is just as important as ever but we also know that each person must have financial strength too. To this end, our goals are to support active, happy and rewarding lifestyles.

Since we first created the Over60Exchange, it has changed dramatically. Our vision is for something truly unique and powerful. Each day we are a little closer to this goal but we still have much to do to accomplish this. If we wait to have everything perfect, it will be too late to help you and others like you, so we are telling you to become a member now. It's no cost to join. We are constantly working on new content and technologies to give our members the ability and support needed to live active and productive lives for as long as they choose.

Here is the real danger and why taking action today is so important. There are forces at work in our country that do not want older people to remain active and productive. These forces would rather that we all just move aside and sit in a rocking chair or find a quiet place out of the way. If you still have something to share and give in terms of your experience, education, skills, talents and abilities, this 'step aside' attitude should greatly trouble you. For during this period, these same forces are working on ways to separate you from what you have earned whether it is through increased taxes, new fees, higher costs, reduced benefits or too many other ways to list here. This is the danger we are all facing as we age. If we sit back and 'vegetate' we will lose. On the other hand if we stay active, productive and remain a force in the workplace, we also remain a powerful force to protect ourselves while helping our country. This is the choice we are all facing today.

Pass the word to join the Over60Exchange, today. Forget that we do not have everything perfect. This will come with time and money. What we need now are numbers- tens of thousands or even millions of new members to join. With numbers we will become a powerful voice for helping each other and for helping America.

You are reading something written by a desperate person who is gravely concerned about where our country is headed.

Here's some background. Nowhere else in the world, even after adding all other countries together, will the creativity and inventiveness of the United States be equaled. At no time in human history, has so much progress been made than during the years since the United States constitution was enacted in 1776. During this relatively short period of time the amount of inventions and advances in mankind dwarf all previous history eras.

I am desperate today because we are facing an unprecedented decline in human productivity and creative thinking while at the same time we are facing serious global economic challenges. It is like the world is hell bent on reversing the advances made during the past 233 years, which have resulted from the unbridled thinking and creativity that comes from free enterprise and capitalist system economics. In the United States where free enterprise has shined like no other place in the world, government encroachment into free enterprise decision-making is threatening to dismantle the entire economic system.

I am desperate because free enterprise allows for real advances in technologies, manufacturing, and medicines based on people who recognize a great need and who are also desperate to find a solution to meet that need. These people become inspired to find success because this system allows significant reward for those who take the risks. The free enterprise system, like none other, allows this type of need and solution relationship to grow and prosper. I am desperate because this system appears to be faltering and losing its momentum based on all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, I am inspired to find ways of using this situation to promote ideas and innovation that are positive. I want to turn my desperation into inspiration.

Many of you will argue that I am over reacting to the current global recession and that like past recessions you think we will come out of it better than ever before. You will argue that the free enterprise system is too unregulated and needs more control. Some of you will even argue that people who use this system to reach real success must also share the rewards with others who do not contribute, and that somehow being successful is bad or in some people's eyes "evil". Some will accuse me of being negative or unrealistic and argue that changes for more control in an unfettered system are a natural evolution for insuring fairness to all. Baloney! One only needs to look at the former Soviet Union or the present day North Korea, Iran and Venezuela to see the folly of such thinking.

Look, I feel desperate because the economic engine that has driven America's unprecedented success for its entire history and, which has been the leading example for most developing nations to follow, is coasting to a halt. The economic engine behind America is small business. Small business creates seventy eight percent of all new jobs in the United States that collectively equals ninety seven percent of the country's Gross National product (GNP). I am naturally a positive minded person but I am finding it easier to be negative as we see the results of what happens when financial controls and government giveaways favor big corporations and labor unions over the needs of small business. Compounding my feeling is the government's creation of a new national debt burden unlike anything ever experienced. This debt burden on future generations will be crippling and force future generations to be born into a form of "pre-ordained servitude" to government.

Now, what I share with you next may surprise you. Even though I am finding it easier to be negative, I have made a conscious decision not to be negative. As a matter of fact, negativity is the last thing in my mind. On the contrary I feel very positive even at the same time I am also feeling extremely desperate.

Now, that I have you scratching your head and thinking that Bob has lost it, let me eliminate the confusion and put your mind at ease. In today's challenging times it is very easy to start hand wringing, thinking "chicken little" thoughts about the sky falling and spouting "the end is near" words. Yet, it is exactly in these times that history has repeatedly shown that during periods of the greatest change comes the periods of the greatest opportunities. It is during these periods that innovation, inventiveness and creative thinking are at their highest intensity. There is an old saying that "from desperation comes inspiration." Well, I am desperate and I am very inspired!

Just research the majority of new ideas that created a new business or in many cases a whole new industry. They all came from a thinking process that was attempting to solve a key problem or fill a critical need. Thomas Edison made over 10,000 attempts at creating the light bulb before he succeeded. Henry Ford was desperate to create the automobile and was inspired to create the first real mass production assembly line. Desperation can come in many forms. It can be individual or it can be a group of people. It can be a population segment or it can be a whole country. When the United States entered World War II the entire country was desperate but then it became inspired and mobilized to win. Right now, we are living in desperate times. Right now, we are living in desperate times. People everywhere are looking for solutions to solve their personal challenges. Some in this process will think in broader terms than just for themselves; they will think about finding solutions that will have application on a wider scale which will affect many others seeking the same solutions. This type of thinking is what has given us new modern life altering devices and processes. This is the thinking that has advanced civilization and from which whole new economic engines and industries have evolved.

This is the thinking that we need, now! Call your government representative and demand that you want support for people with new ideas; you want support for people who start new businesses. You want support for creating new private sector jobs that historically come from small, not big business. Tell your government representative that it is a fairy tale to believe that big business can shape an economic upturn. Let your representative know that the answer is small business and that the process of fertilizing a new idea with free flowing credit, reduced government regulation, lower taxes and support for the free enterprise system is the solution to fixing the economy. Remember, all big business was at one time a small business. They all started from an idea in somebody's mind. Everything we can think of that was created by a human started from an idea in somebody's mind.

Now, you know why I am desperate and gravely concerned for finding ideas that can make a difference. I am inspired and I urge you all to become inspired to start your own search for that one idea, a positive life altering idea that can change your life and the world we live in. Now is the time!

Bob Brewster

Founder

Over60Exchange

Many of you have emailed or called us regarding the current situation where AARP Members are resigning their membership in record numbers. You want to know if we should be inviting AARP members to join the Over60Exchange. In addition, you are being asked what our position is in the key issue - a national government controlled healthcare plan.

First, the answer is absolutely YES! Please invite any and all AARP members to join the Over60Exchange. That includes members that are happy with the AARP not just those who are resigning. We will be offering many things that the AARP has ignored or has chosen not to offer.

Second, the Over60Exchange was launched to help people stay productive, active, employed and happy during the later years of life. We also decided to remain apolitical in positions that affected our membership and focus our energy on common sense decision-making in those areas that are best for ALL of America and the free enterprise system. So, here's our position on a government controlled healthcare plan.

The AARP made a mistake. The AARP acted prematurely in supporting a plan that was far from finished let alone understandable. Even lawmakers, who are responsible for making decisions on our behalf, do not know what is in the plan. This decision by the AARP does not take away from the good they have done in their long history but it does highlight a major weakness in support of their membership. They have become too political and have wandered away from the grassroots issues that concern most people.

The AARP support for the proposed plan told their membership that they were more interested in positioning the AARP for political and financial reasons versus reflecting on what their membership was feeling or thinking. Again, this was a tactical mistake on their part and although it only involves one major issue among other important issues, their decision highlights and brings out into the open the overall AARP political strategy for supporting more government involvement in decision making over people's lives. This is causing many people to rethink how their AARP membership is being used to influence lawmakers into decisions that are not in keeping with what they, as members, believe.

The Over60Exchange's position is that we must maintain individual responsibility for life's health care decisions for as long as we possibly can. Just as we should be responsible for other decisions we make as individuals. Creating a program under government control that burdens every citizen in the country, young and old, with expenditures that may be impossible to control or audit is in our opinion not good common sense. Therefore our position, which again is apolitical, is that a national healthcare plan run by the government, in lieu of or in competition with a private system, is not a viable option and will only lead to uncontrolled problems in the future.

We strongly believe that decisions and controls made by a government agency (local, state or federal), without individual option selection or responsibility, is not in the best interest of the individual or the country. We do, however, agree that healthcare costs must be brought down and individual care better managed by both the medical system and the patient. We believe that there is much fraud and waste in the existing system that needs to be eliminated. There is plenty of evidence that personal decisions that foster better eating and exercise habits can dramatically reduce health care expenses and personnel demands on the system. Further, people making these decisions to improve their health should be rewarded and not penalized by a system that averages everyone to one single program.

You can read more about the Over60Exchange position by going to a special page on the website ( Click here )

Pass this Newsletter on to others. It is important that the people understand that we are an alternative to the AARP, not for selling insurance but for providing the tools and information to stay active and involved in life regardless of age.

If you wish to comment on this message, you can contact me directly at my email below.

Have a great week!

Regards,

Bob Brewster
Founder
Over60Exchange

I recently had the privilege of hearing John C. Maxwell speak. He is the author of a book that I recommend to everyone titled "Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success". Mr. Maxwell is a former minister turned author and public speaker. His book is a must reading for anyone suffering any type of failure in life and puts into very understandable language why we need failure to succeed.

Many of us hitting our sixties in these trying times may be thinking about past events that did not go right in our life. For that matter, a person at any age may feel like a failure for many reasons but it seems to be easier to do as we age. This is especially true if we are part of the two thirds of the working population that has little to no retirement savings and are staring at social security plus (hopefully) a limited pension as our only income sources to live.

In looking at my personal situation, I for one could look back and fix blame on many different events and decisions that I experienced over the years for not achieving certain goals. I could find it very easy to feel sorry for myself on things I do not have or failed to achieve because of them. In reality, as I have aged, I have found it more difficult to rebound from a failure or mistake and easier to blame circumstances on things out of my control. I know this is wrong. This is where books like 'Falling Forward' bring me back to a more positive mindset. Consequently, now when I feel this way, it is for only a few minutes, not days, weeks or months. It's a choice and I choose to make it this way.

At one time or another, we are all victims of feeling sorry for ourselves because we do not have what we think we should have. We feel like a failure. The truth is, there are so many ways of measuring success in life, it is very difficult to determine what success is or what failure is. This makes measuring success and failure an unreliable science at best. For example, is having money in the bank but poor personal relationships a success or failure? Is having a great family and plenty of friends but no money a success or failure? Is having a good steady job and income doing something you really do not like to do a success or failure? Or, is doing something you love to do but not making a good income a success or failure? The scenarios for what could be a success or a failure are unlimited.

Here's the message I want to share with you. I have learned that feeling sorry for myself gains nothing. I have also learned that every time I think I have failed, it was only another door opening for me to step through. The choice has always been mine alone not somebody else's. Whether I step forward and go on to the next opportunity is an attitude and mindset that I choose. Dwelling on the reasons why I was in a particular negative situation, always seemed like such a waste of time to me. It was like having a flat tire on my car and looking around for someone to blame. Fix the tire and get going!

As we age, we put pressure on ourselves for what we have or do not have. This pressure is usually blaming ourselves or someone else. The fact that we may feel older or look older only compounds this feeling of blame. Looking in the mirror doesn't help when someone with wrinkles and thinning hair stares back. The only thing that really works is the understanding and acceptance that everything goes in cycles and that it is up to us to make sure that the down cycle is much shorter than the up cycle.

In summary, we can choose how we live life. If you are in your forties and fifties, do not look back in regret that you have left your youth behind and your better days are gone. Look forward and use the lessons of your past to establish the foundation for your future. If you are in your sixties, seventies or even older, the same rule applies. Do not look at yourself and feel that you have no time left to achieve or accomplish something. Instead look at all your assets that include education, experiences, contacts, friends and family. And above all else, do not focus on financial condition alone. Sure, money is an obvious requirement if you want to do anything you want but it is only a portion of what makes life rewarding. If you want to stay working, stay productive and remain a contributor helping someone else or some business to be successful, look at all your assets, your skills, talents and abilities. They are very valuable to somebody else. I have learned that regardless of what it is, if you have something to sell, there is somebody looking to buy. (This is where you can use the "Over60Exchange Skills Bank" to highlight personal skills, talents and abilities)

Remember, life is full of choices. You can choose to look at your failures as lessons or your lack of success as 'stepping stones'. It is up to you.

First, let me explain something so that there is no misunderstanding. The Over60Exchange is APOLITICAL. That means we are not ideologues on the right or left. We are on the ground of common sense and what is good for America. We are not for political correctness but we are for fairness and truth. If you disagree with our viewpoint, please feel free to respond with yours.

At this writing, I am very disturbed at the news coming out of Washington . Since January 2009 , there has been nothing but bad news upon bad news and it is not the kind of bad news you might expect.

We are so wrapped up in the economy and fighting two wars that we have completely ignored the signs of a "cancer" within our nationally elected representatives. For a lack of a better term, I will continue the use of the word "cancer" because I cannot think of anything better to describe something that can kill you, if ignored, yet if treated early; it can be stopped or dramatically slowed down.

The cancer I am referring to is how our government has overnight implemented or started the implementation of controlling what we think, do or say. None of this I might add is either constitutional or in the best interest of our country.

After the presidential election, I recognized that there were serious weaknesses in our political system with much of this weakness due to unlimited terms of our elected representatives on the federal level and a tax system so unfair that the overwhelming majority of our country's costs are borne by a small minority.

It has been difficult to not speak out. I have wanted to be quiet in deference to the process but today's news has forced me to take action. What news, you ask? Let me tell you. It is the details starting to be revealed about the Healthcare bill presently being forced through congress for passage. It is the news about the over 1,000 pages of massive changes that very few people have read or truly understand. Fortunately, we have people in this country that have taken the time to read the entire 1,000 pages and now the news is seeping out. Just like a sewer pipe with a small leak. We can smell the leak but we cannot pinpoint where it is. This is what's happening with this healthcare bill.

This bill is not only a massive revision in the United States healthcare system; it is also a manifesto for the control and determination of how long people will be allowed to live. This is Hollywood fiction come to life or worse, this is history repeating itself under the premise that this is good for everyone and it must be done to save our way of life. My friends, these are lies!

Here are some examples of what is in the proposed Healthcare Plan - (Excerpts taken from article written byBetsy McCaughey, Betsy McCaughey is founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former lieutenant governor of New York. betsy@hospitalinfection.orgHer remarks are after she read the 1,000 page proposal from both the Senate and House). Sentences shown in Italics & underlined are my added clarifications.

#1 And as soon as anything changes in your (existing healthcare plan)contract -- such as a change in copays or deductibles, which many insurers change every year -- you'll have to move into a qualified plan instead (House bill, p. 16-17). This means that you will have no choice, even if you can afford your own insurance, you must buy into the government plan.
#2 - When you file your taxes, if you can't prove to the IRS that you are in a qualified plan, you'll be fined thousands of dollars -- as much as the average cost of a health plan for your family size -- and then automatically enrolled in a randomly selected plan (House bill, p. 167-168). This means that you will be FORCED under government threat to pay for health insurance by joining the government plan, whether you need it or not.
#3 - It's one thing to require that people getting government assistance tolerate managed care, but the legislation limits you to a managed-care plan even if you and your employer are footing the bill (Senate bill, p. 57-58). The goal is to reduce everyone's consumption of health care and to ensure that people have the same health-care experience, regardless of ability to pay. This means that if you have the financial means to pay for operations, procedures or special care on your own, you will not be allowed to do it under the pretense that this will be unfair to others who cannot afford that option.
#4 - Nowhere does the legislation say how much health plans will cost, but a family of four is eligible for some government assistance until their household income reaches $88,000 (House bill, p. 137). If you earn more than that, you'll have to pay the cost no matter how high it goes. This means that the cost, regardless of its level, will be borne by everyone but the more you earn the more you will pay leading to a system of government taxes without any limits or budgetary control.
#5 - The price tag for this legislation is a whopping $1.04 trillion to $1.6 trillion (Congressional Budget Office estimates). Half of the tab comes from tax increases on individuals earning $280,000 or more, and these new taxes will double in 2012 unless savings exceed predicted costs (House bill, p. 199). The rest of the cost is paid for by cutting seniors' health benefits under Medicare. This means that Seniors/Boomers, which are America 's fastest growing population segment, will have their healthcare coverage reduced to whatever level necessary to make up the costs for everyone else. And, this is the part that is beyond conscience, seniors will be counseled every five years or sooner , if sick, on the options for ending life early to avoid unnecessary medicines and treatments.

Even though there is a lot more, I will stop here because quite frankly our elected government officials have collectively lost their moral compass. This is not a Healthcare Plan, this is a massive population control plan. This is not a plan based on people and families taking personal responsibilities for their own well being and expenses, this is a plan that rewards bad personal healthcare decisions and tells people that personal responsibility is no longer a virtue in life.

No war could damage this country as much as the damage that is being done within. Whatever your political persuasion, forget about it. This is not politics. This is not common sense. This isn't even good business. This is about pure unadulterated power with the desire of one small group to gain power over the much larger group. This is more than the redistribution of wealth, this is the destruction of the very moral fiber and soul of America . With the passage of this Healthcare bill will come more controls that will force you to make decisions based on government need and not your own. Do not make the mistake in thinking that this is just Healthcare. It is not! It is much, much more than that.

Cancer can be treated, slowed or even stopped. But, all cancers left alone will grow and destroy the body. There is a cancer growing in Washington . Look, let me make my point even clearer. Have you ever walked down the hall way of an average nursing home? You will see lots of elderly people sitting in wheelchairs, regular chairs or on scooters. Many are there in the same spot day after day. Some cannot speak and some cannot see or hear. Nevertheless they are there and they are somebody's children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts or uncles. They are alive. Who in their right mind will advocate going down that hallway and selectively choosing who gets treatment or not? This is what the new government healthcare plan is advocating. If this plan passes and it becomes acceptable on a dictated government level, what's next? Where's the line? Ever hear the term "Final Solution'?