Attitude Survey of Seniors.

A new survey released by AARP Missouri offers a closer look at the attitudes and priorities of AARP Missouri members heading into the 2010 midterm elections and challenges some of the conventional wisdom about what will drive their votes.

"No one should be surprised that a political environment that has become increasingly more combative over the last few elections would yield some predictable partisan divisions among voters," said Norma Collins, AARP Missouri Advocacy director. "The real story here is that at a time of growing partisanship, older Americans across the ideological spectrum share many of the same concerns on key issues and are demanding common-sense solutions from their elected leaders.

The survey of AARP Missouri members who are likely voters is part of the Association’s voter education efforts, which include state and federal voter guides featuring candidates’ positions, in their own words, on key issues for older Americans (available at www.aarp.org/yourvote).

"We’re trying to cut through the campaign clutter so that our members and all older Americans can find out where their candidates stand on key issues so they can determine if their candidates share their values and views," added Collins. "Older voters are critically important in midterm elections, so any candidate running to keep their job or win a new one would do well to heed what they have to say."

Agreement Across Partisan Differences

While the 2010 election cycle reflects years of increasingly divisive partisan rhetoric, AARP Missouri members share their support for solutions on key issues and will make their votes accordingly.

Social Security: Almost all AARP Missouri members (95%) say it’s important that a candidate pledge to protect Social Security as a guaranteed, life-long benefit, with similar support among Republicans (92%), Democrats (98%) and ticket-splitters (93%).

AARP Missouri members are nearly unanimous (97%) in expressing the importance of Social Security for future generations. Ninety-five percent of AARP Missouri members agree with a candidate who says that Social Security is essential for seniors and cutting benefits of future retirees will place an unfair burden on them. Ninety-five percent say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supports cutting Social Security benefits to reduce the deficit, including 98% of Democrats, 92% of Republicans and 93% of ticket-splitters.

"There is no doubt that older Americans of all political stripes continue to strongly support Social Security and want to protect it for both themselves and future generations," said Collins.

Medicare and Doctors: The overwhelming majority of AARP Missouri members in Medicare, (985,584) and those younger members not yet eligible for Medicare are concerned about the impact of a looming 23% physician pay cut on their access to a doctor. Republicans are more likely than Democrats (76% - 48%) to vote for a candidate who promises to fix the system and prevent future doctor pay cuts.

"The most important person in the lives of many of our members is their grandkid," said Collins. "Next on that list is their doctor. Americans age 50+ want this problem fixed, and they expect their leaders to act accordingly."

Medicare Fraud: Seventy-one percent of AARP Missouri members say that Medicare fraud is a major problem, and 69% say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports specific legislative measures to prevent and crack down on fraud this sentiment is true across party lines (76% Republicans, 63% Democrats, 72% ticket-splitters.

"Medicare fraud is literally a national health hazard, taking needed resources away from care that helps people get and stay healthy," added Collins. "We all have a role to play in cracking down and preventing fraud, and our members are looking for Congress to build on recent progress and lead the way."

Concern for Future Generations

Despite the impact of the recent economic recession on individual retirement savings and access to health care, and the lingering troubles in the job market, AARP Missouri members are focused on key issues that impact the country overall and, in particular, future generations.

"Many of our members who have weathered a brutal economic storm are relieved just to keep their heads above water, but they want to make it better for future generations and will use their votes to help make that a reality" said Collins. "Their concerns about the economy, the deficit, and the future of Social Security and Medicare are about providing opportunities to and protecting key lifelines for them, their kids and grandkids."

More than 81% are dissatisfied with the current state of the national economy and 92% are concerned about the deficit. While 69% AARP Missouri members say they are satisfied with their own personal economic situation, 69% are not confident that life for their children’s generation will be better than it was for them.

Differences Remain

Despite overwhelming agreement on key needs for older Americans, partisan differences remain.

While AARP Missouri members generally share negative opinions about the nation’s current economic situation and future prospects, Democrats are generally more optimistic than Republicans.

Sixty percent of AARP Missouri members think the country is going on the wrong track, with sharp differences of opinion between Republicans (93%) and Democrats (30%). Only nine percent of AARP Missouri members think their children’s generation will be better than it was for them. Democrats (40% confident) are more optimistic than Republicans (9% confident).

I’ve always heard the old sayin’ that opinions are like belly buttons, ever’body’s got one. The other slant on that I tend ta like better is that opinions are like armpits, ever’body’s got a couple.

Now a lotta folks don’t think their opinions are any more worthwhile than the next. That seems ta be a pretty healthy attitude. Throw them ideas out there and kick ‘em around. Someone might pick up on a mediocre idea and run with it, turnin’ it into somethin’ no one else would a thought of.

The real problems arise when someone seems ta think there can be only one opinion, and they’ve got it.

There’s always more than one way ta look at any particular situation. It’s the arguments that sometimes don’t always make sense. Either way it’s an interestin’ proposition. A lot more interestin’ than armpits.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

Weekly Columns

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our basement flooded, and I was chosen to clean it. All that pushing, lifting and scrubbing did a number on my back. It’s been bothering me for two weeks. I never had a back problem before, but my dad used to have them all the time. He said it was sciatica. I believe that’s what I have. How can I get rid of it? -- M.J.

ANSWER: Don’t jump to conclusions. Sciatica (sigh-AT-ik-ah) is only one cause of back pain. The fact that your father had it has little bearing on your having it. Did your dad arrive at the diagnosis on his own? Many people do. Quite often, they’re wrong.

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve formed by the intermingling of nerve roots coming from the lower segments of the spinal cord. It and its branches run from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg to the ankle and foot. Pressure on the nerve at any point in its course irritates it and produces the pain of sciatica. The most common cause comes from a protrusion of one of the back’s disks, which presses on the spinal cord rootlets that combine to build the nerve.

Low-back, buttock and leg pain are the hallmarks of sciatica. The leg pain is on the back of the leg or its outer side.

Even though the diagnosis is a bit iffy here, sciatica -- and most of the other causes of low-back pain -- get better in three to six weeks. You don’t have to completely rest. Strict bed rest is contraindicated. Walk around and perform the normal activities of daily life, but don’t lift, push or perform manual labor. Use heat or cold on your back, whichever you find benefits you more.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) usually controls pain. If it doesn’t, one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Aleve, Advil, Motrin) can be tried. An injection of steroids into the back takes care of inflammation that adds to the pressure on the nerve. Surgery usually isn’t necessary. The long-term outlook is good.

If the pain hasn’t gone by four weeks, see a doctor. See the doctor promptly if pain increases or you lose control of your bladder or bowels.