Barbara J. Easterling

In 2010 Mitt Romney made $21.7 million, while that same year the average senior citizen received $14,000 in Social Security benefits.

Put another way, Mitt Romney made more by 6:00 a.m. on January 1 than many retirees did the entire year. His daily income was over four times...

I don't know Ruthelle Frank. But I do know that what is happening to her is enough to make my blood boil. Along with many other seniors, Ruthelle may lose the right to vote because she lacks a government-issued photo ID card.

Over the past year, GOP-controlled state houses have...

With Social Security and Medicare facing harsh threats from various politicians, retirees must keep a close eye on the 2012 elections.

The recently-deadlocked super committee was the latest in a line of blue-ribbon panels -- preceded by Domenici-Rivlin and Simpson-Bowles -- that have debated, and in two instances recommended, drastic...

In these difficult times, retirees across the country are proud to support public sector workers.

We value the work these men and women do every day. They keep us safe. They teach our grandkids. They care for us when we are sick. They don't make shareholders wealthier; instead, they make...

The 2010 elections accelerated the movement of seniors away from the Democratic Party. This year Republicans carried the senior vote by 21 points, a sharp rise from their 8 point win in 2008 and 2 point loss in 2006. This trend is magnified by the growing percentage of the electorate...

Imagine if Social Security were put on trial. We've all seen enough movies to know how it would begin: jury selection.

Now imagine a room filled with potential jurors. There is a talkative one who stands out. He's calling senior citizens "greedy geezers," and those with lower...

Social Security turns 75 on August 14. To me, creating Social Security was one of the best things this country has ever done.

But this milestone anniversary was recently marred by House Republican Leader John Boehner saying that if his party won this fall's elections, they would try to raise...

July 30 is the 45th anniversary of Medicare, a milestone for a true American success story that has helped reduce senior poverty by two-thirds.

This year is an especially happy birthday for Medicare because the new health reform law makes it easier for seniors to afford to see a doctor,...

This August will be the 75th anniversary of Social Security, a milestone for one of our nation's greatest accomplishments. We should feel tremendous pride at what we have done to help Americans stay out of poverty in their retirement years.

But as we reach this landmark anniversary, there is a...

Retirees must keep a close eye on the bi-partisan commission President Obama recently created to lower the federal budget deficit. Many in Washington are urging the panel to recommend changes in Social Security as a way to reduce the debt.

If the commission takes a thorough and honest look at...

Today Medicare celebrates its 44th anniversary. As we honor Medicare's success -- it has reduced senior poverty by two-thirds -- it is also an opportunity for retirees to become more aware of what is at stake for them in health care reform.

The Alliance for Retired Americans, a progressive...