I’m 32, but I’ve been getting AARP prospect mailings for several months now.  (As one might expect, my young trophy wife gets a kick out of that.)  Up until last week, joining would have been unthinkable even if I was of eligible age: for all the discounts, for all the membership benefits, the fact remains that AARP’s dabbling in politics more often than not resulted in advocacy for positions I disagreed with – specifically, their support for Ponzi schemes like Social Security.

Why would I pay my hard-earned money to people who wanted to separate me from my hard earned money?

AARP, though, has gone Romney on Social Security.  Last week, America’s voice for (some) seniors said it would be open to cuts, a position it has since waffled a bit on.

If AARP decides to take a firm stand, the facts and popular opinion are on their side.  Social Security is untenable as it exists now, and people understand that completely retiring at 65 is a pipe dream – unless, of course, they have taken the steps necessary in their youth to prepare for that.  A recent study that AARP commissioned showed that four of five Baby Boomers expect to delay retirement for five years, one in seven doesn’t believe they will be able to retire.

People are starting to get how dumb the idea of government-sponsored retirement starting in what is now middle age is.

I’m not running out to join AARP anytime soon – after all, they are still complaining about other entitlement programs – but their flip on Social Security is significant.  On the surface, it looks like the group realized just how bad the program’s situation is right now.  Supporting Social Security and perpetuating the Ponzi scheme does nothing for me and the other folks in their 30’s already getting AARP mailers.

Incidentally, this is a great opportunity for an offensive from the supporters of small government.  Private and public thank you notes to AARP might help their flip go mainstream and show other people just how dangerous rampant entitlement spending can be.

After all, if AARP can be convinced, maybe there’s hope for the population at large?