How can we reach out to the elderly/senior citizens/mature Americans?

[realtonygoodwin]

What message will be the most effective in reaching older people. They vote in huge numbers, and they tend to not vote for Ron Paul...we need to change this.

Any ideas?

[gls]

You're absolutely correct. These are the people that show up to vote Republican on primary day. If Ron Paul is to have any chance of winning, he needs to dramatically increase his numbers among the 65+ age group. There is no reason why this cannot be done. First of all, he is a member of the targeted generation. He was in the military. He has been married to the same woman for 50+ years and has many kids and grandkids. He is a gynecologist who has delivered thousands of babies. He is a 14th-term Congressman who is known as “The Champion of the Constitution” for his decades of fighting against corruption and wasteful government spending.

Most importantly, we need to immediately and completely allay any fears that a Ron Paul presidency would mean deep cuts to (or elimination of) government subsidies that many older people depend on to live (such as Medicare and social security). Ron Paul has stated many times that these people would continue to be taken care of. Nevertheless the media will hammer him relentlessly with this smear, because they understand how essential this voting block is. We need to find a way to gently explain that without the kind of major reforms Ron is proposing, and soon, this country will be in such dire financial straights that even the people currently dependent won't be able to continue to be provided with assistance. Basically we need to turn the smear around on the media, and do it effectively.

Solutions? I don't know, maybe a concerted effort to distribute targeted material to thousands of nursing homes and retirement communities across the country? Commercials that run during syndicated episodes of "Golden Girls"? We're not going to reach them on the internet, that's for sure.

[realtonygoodwin]

Agree with everything you posted.

[Bryan]

We actually have an entire sub-forum dedicated to this: :)
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?96-Senior-Outreach

Check out some of the posts.

[realtonygoodwin]

Last post there was nearly 2 years ago :o
Thanks, I will check it out.

[CaliforniaMom]

Well, I convinced my grandma to like Ron Paul... mainly by discussing his economic policy, the devaluing of the dollar by the Fed, and his support of local government decisions rather than having the federal government decide everything.

[notsure]

I think televised infomercials would make a good medium. Maybe something really early in the morning.
I don't know if everybody gets this show, 700 club, but maybe sometime before that. Maybe also, after Letterman.?

[notsure]

You can also talk about how Ron Paul wants to protect Social Security; and allow recipients to earn additional income.
I'll look for the Bills Ron introduced concerning this.

[realtonygoodwin]

I think they are asleep after Letterman.

[Southron]

Seniors are the voting block during primaries. Some are very influenced by television so that is definitely a good place to start.

Talk about not leaving debt to "our grandchildren".

[notsure]

You can also talk about how Ron Paul wants to protect Social Security; and allow recipients to earn additional income.
I'll look for the Bills Ron introduced concerning this.

Pillars of Prosperity
FREE MARKETS, HONEST MONEY, PRIVATE PROPERTY
Ron Paul
http://mises.org/books/prosperity.pdf

Pg. 69



Reforming Social Security
Everyone concedes that Social Security needs to be reformed or it will
soon be insolvent. However, what analysts often omit is that the so-called
“trust fund” consists of IOUs from the government. Right now when the
federal government takes in more money from Social Security withholding
than it pays out to current beneficiaries, it still spends the difference,
and “sells” a government bond into the Social Security trust fund. All
this smoke-and-mirrors doesn’t evade the fact that the government has
made trillions of dollars of promises that it can’t keep. In this section I
outline some of my proposals to restore sanity to Social Security.


Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work
Act of 1999
Congressional Record—U.S. House of Representatives
March 1, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my support to the Senior Citizens’
Freedom to Work Act (H.R. 5), which repeals the Social
Security “earnings limitations.” During a time when an increasing
number of senior citizens are able to enjoy productive lives well
past retirement age and businesses are in desperate need of experienced
workers, it makes no sense to punish seniors for working.
Yet the federal government does just that by deducting a portion
of seniors’ monthly Social Security check should they continue to
work and earn income above an arbitrary government-set level.
When the government takes money every month from people’s
paychecks for the Social Security Trust Fund, it promises retirees
that the money will be there for them when they retire. The government
should keep that promise and not reduce benefits simply
because a senior chooses to work.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, by providing a disincentive to
remaining in the workforce, the earnings limitation deprives the
American economy of the benefits of senior citizens who wish to
continue working but are discouraged from doing so by fear of losing
part of their Social Security benefits. The federal government
should not discourage any citizen from seeking or holding productive
employment.
The underlying issue of the earnings limitation goes back to the
fact that money from the trust fund is routinely spent for things
other than paying pensions to beneficiaries. This is why the first
bill I introduced in the 106th Congress was the Social Security
Preservation Act (H.R. 219), which forbids Congress from spending
Social Security funds on anything other than paying Social
Security pensions.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I wish to reiterate my strong support
for the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act. Repealing the
“earnings limitation” will help ensure that America’s seniors can
continue to enjoy fulfilling and productive lives in their “golden
years.” I also urge my colleagues to protect the integrity of the
Social Security Trust Fund by cosponsoring the Social Security
Preservation Act (H.R. 219).



Social Security Tax Relief Act
Congressional Record—U.S. House of Representatives
September 6, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of the Social Security
Tax Relief Act (H.R. 4865). By repealing the 1993 tax increase
on Social Security benefits, Congress will take a good first step
toward eliminating one of the most unfair taxes imposed on seniors:
the tax on Social Security benefits.
Eliminating the 1993 tax on Social Security benefits has long been
one of my goals in Congress. In fact, I introduced legislation to repeal
this tax increase in 1997, and I am pleased to see Congress acting on
this issue. I would remind my colleagues that the justification for
increasing this tax in 1993 was to reduce the budget deficit. Now,
President Clinton, who first proposed the tax increase, and most
members of Congress say the deficit is gone. So, by the President’s
own reasoning, there is no need to keep this tax hike in place.
Because Social Security benefits are financed with tax dollars,
taxing these benefits is yet another incidence of “double taxation.”
Furthermore, “taxing” benefits paid by the government is merely an
accounting trick, a “shell game” which allows members of Congress
to reduce benefits by subterfuge. This allows Congress to continue
using the Social Security trust fund as a means of financing other
government programs and mask the true size of the federal deficit.
Mr. Speaker, the Social Security Tax Relief Act, combined with
our action earlier this year to repeal the earnings limitation, goes a
long way toward reducing the burden imposed by the federal government
on senior citizens. However, I hope my colleagues will
not stop at repealing the 1993 tax increase, but will work to repeal
all taxes on Social Security benefits. I am cosponsoring legislation
to achieve this goal, H.R. 761.
Congress should also act on my Social Security Preservation
Act (H.R. 219), which ensures that all money in the Social Security
Trust Fund is spent solely on Social Security. When the government
takes money for the Social Security Trust Fund, it promises
the American people that the money will be there for them when
they retire. Congress has a moral obligation to keep that promise.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help free
senior citizens from oppressive taxation by supporting the Social
Security Benefits Tax Relief Act (H.R. 4865). I also urge my colleagues
to join me in working to repeal all taxes on Social Security
benefits and ensuring that monies from the Social Security trust
fund are used solely for Social Security and not wasted on frivolous
government programs.



Social Security Preservation Act
Congressional Record—U.S. House of Representatives
January 8, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I rise to protect the integrity of the Social Security
trust fund by introducing the Social Security Preservation Act. The
Social Security Preservation Act is a rather simple bill which states
that all monies raised by the Social Security trust fund will be
spent in payments to beneficiaries, with excess receipts invested in
interest-bearing certificates of deposit. This will help keep Social
Security trust fund monies from being diverted to other programs,
as well as allow the fund to grow by providing for investment in
interest-bearing instruments.
The Social Security Preservation Act ensures that the government
will keep its promises to America’s seniors that taxes collected
for Social Security will be used for Social Security. When
the government taxes Americans to fund Social Security, it promises
the American people that the money will be there for them
when they retire. Congress has a moral obligation to keep that
promise.
The return of massive federal deficits, and the accompanying
pressure for massive new raids on the trust fund, make it more
important than ever that Congress protect the trust fund from big
spending, pork-barrel politics. I call upon all my colleagues,
regardless of which proposal for long-term Social Security reform
they support, to stand up for America’s seniors by cosponsoring
the Social Security Preservation Act


Social Security for American Citizens Only!
Congressional Record—U.S. House of Representatives
January 30, 2003
Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Social Security for American
Citizens Only Act. This act forbids the federal government from
providing Social Security benefits to noncitizens. It also ends the
practice of totalization. Totalization is where the Social Security
Administration takes into account the number of years an individual
worked abroad, and thus was not paying payroll taxes, in
determining that individual’s eligibility for Social Security benefits!
Hard as it may be to believe, the United States government
already provides Social Security benefits to citizens of 17 other
countries. Under current law, citizens of those countries covered
by these agreements may have an easier time getting Social Security
benefits than public school teachers or policemen!
Obviously, this program provides a threat to the already fragile
Social Security system, and the threat is looming larger. Just
before Christmas, the press reported on a pending deal between
the United States and the government of Mexico, which would
make hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens eligible for U.S.
Social Security benefits. Totalization is the centerpiece of this proposal,
so even if a Mexican citizen did not work in the United
States long enough to qualify for Social Security, the number of
years worked in Mexico would be added to bring up the total and
thus make the Mexican worker eligible for cash transfers from the
United States.
Mr. Speaker, press reports also indicate that thousands of foreigners
who would qualify for U.S. Social Security benefits actually
came to the United States and worked here illegally. That’s
right: The federal government may actually allow someone who
came to the United States illegally, worked less than the required
number of years to qualify for Social Security, and then returned
to Mexico for the rest of his working years, to collect full U.S. Social

[erowe1]

1) "Hey old people. Vote for one of your own. Vote for Ron Paul!"

2) Play up that he's a Vietnam veteran.

3) He needs to make an ad with the audio of that old Ronald Reagan endorsement.

4) Slogan: "Ron Paul. He's not your father's kind of Republican.... He's your grandfather's kind of Republican." Fade to pictures of Calvin Coolidge and Senator Robert Taft.

[TIMB0B]

Some are very influenced by television so that is definitely a good place to start.


We need to email-bomb Fox News to get them to cover Ron Paul "fairly and balanced"!

[georgiaboy]

for whom did this demographic vote in the 2008 primaries, and why?

[realtonygoodwin]

We need to email-bomb Fox News to get them to cover Ron Paul "fairly and balanced"!

I don't see how that would help our side...

Hmmm a search pulled this up:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/archive/index.php/t-6731201.html

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R

[outspoken]

Unless they have a close relationship with their grandkids, many 65+ folks are only concerned on preserving their entitlements rather than helping out the next generation. It is very hard to teach an old dog new tricks and by that age most are set in their ways. Human nature does not just decide to get all intellectual and start seeing the world differently. A large portion of Tea Partiers are hypocrits and come out to the rallies to preserve medicare/SS. I suggest getting the younger crowd who don't usually get involved to rise up and vote would be a better bet. The trick is to put as many eggs in the various baskets but I don't have much faith in those who have spent their whole lives drinking progressive kool aid to have an epiphany and convert to true liberty ideals. You either get it or you don't by that age... plus, why would anyone choose to cut their own benefits. They're all on a 'fixed' income ya know... like the rest of us have some endless piggy bank. The only hope is to possibly convince them to realize that their dollar and savings is worth much less as inflation rises. Since only 25% of those over 60 have more than 250K in savings, applying to reason and understanding of the devaluation of the dollar won't go far with someone who failed to put anything away for retirement.... they were brainwashed to believe that's what big daddy gov was for.

[Icymudpuppy]

I believe the old are a lost cause. They call us the "ME" generation, but the 65+ I know are usually the most bigoted, selfish, whiny, hateful, groupthinkers I encounter. All I hear from them is My SS this, my Medicare/Medicaid that, Muslim bad, Israel good, etc, etc, etc.

[realtonygoodwin]

If we lose the old vote, we lose the election. Can't write them off.

[Vessol]

Ron Paul should talk about how he wants to stop the government to stop looting the already bankrupt social security system.

[erowe1]

If we lose the old vote, we lose the election. Can't write them off.

+1

The best way to reach them is one-on-one, directly and personally. Get involved in groups where you can meet and talk to likely voters from a wide range of ages (especially 65+): local GOP, tea party groups, church, issues oriented groups like Right to Life. And when it comes to canvassing, ask your county elections board for information about which precincts have the highest turnout in Republican primaries, and concentrate on those.

[ronpaulhawaii]

Last post there was nearly 2 years ago :o
Thanks, I will check it out.

Much of this site is on standby, just waiting for people to make use of it...


+1

The best way to reach them is one-on-one, directly and personally. Get involved in groups where you can meet and talk to likely voters from a wide range of ages (especially 65+): local GOP, tea party groups, church, issues oriented groups like Right to Life. And when it comes to canvassing, ask your county elections board for information about which precincts have the highest turnout in Republican primaries, and concentrate on those.

^^^That!

A good way to start would be visiting senior centers/retirement communities/etc. The people in those places usually love visitors and presentations... Someone could easily make DVDs mixing The Ron Paul Story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgF-s1voM_Y) followed by Ron's recent Iowa speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pOncFuDIKM) and present them at the centers. It would be simple, you would talk to management and arrange a showing date/time, then on show day you would just introduce yourself and the video, watch it with them, and stick around for some Q&A.

These DVDs could also be used for a targetted door hanger/knocking camapaign... Be sure and leave a business card with local contact info...