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Activists from the newly-formed Texas Alliance for Retired Americans went to the national convention in Washington DC September 5-8. Over 500 delegates from across the nation participated. Almost all of the speakers and the discussion from the floor were about changing the people in government this November. The organization is larger, better integrated, better educated, and more focused than any time in its 5-year history. The convention made a special turn toward getting more community organizations rather than continuing to concentrate on retiree groups that are affiliated with unions.
President
George Kourpias said, "Retirees will determine who wins and who loses this
Fall!" He explained that seniors have far better voting records than younger
Americans, and our persistent commitment to democracy gives us special importance
in non-presidential elections, when youthful voters forget to vote. Senior votes
make up around 19% of every election, but the percent rises to 22-23% when there
is no presidential race.
Unlike the AFL-CIO and many other progressive organizations, the retirees' convention took no position on the war in Iraq. However, many of the speakers drew big applause when they spoke disapprovingly of what is happening in the Middle East. Syndicated Columnist Mark Shields said, "I think it would be a failure morally and civically not to discuss this war." He drew applause when he called the military action, "A war that was conceived in deceit and borne in arrogance." He joked that President Bush had put together a war coalition of 42 nations, "...only 3 of which had armies!" If the United States were to remove its forces, Shields laughed, "Iraq may be overrun by Iraqis!" Shields pointed out that the so-called "war on terrorism" had gone on too long: "In November, this war will have gone longer than WWII... Longer than it took to defeat fascism in Europe!"
Delegates were very aware of being in the nation's capitol. They held a rally on the capitol lawn and lobbied their representatives. While there, they ran into other groups that were seeking justice in the halls of government. Even around the convention hotel, politics was in the air. Only a few blocks away, a vigil and fast was going on for democracy in Burma.
Click here for more about the convention