August 4, 2003

The Plight of Senior Citizen

• European Dismay
  Since the demise of totalitarian states of Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II, the statist ideas that governed these (and other) countries did not die off. Social engineering installed to affect retirement is experiencing catastrophic pain. One by one, European states are struggling with the failure of government run pension schemes that are running out of money, raising the threshold of uncertainty and leaving countless citizens perplexed, anxious and disillusioned. And, because the resolve to accept only totalitarian solutions has so weakened voices of dissent, any reasonable arguments that could begin to ease the pain of future generations is forcefully silenced.
  
  
• United States Diffidence
  In the face of world crises in aging, the United States government, which is more interested in the arbitrary and flawed principles social altruism than quality of life, finds itself in a quandary similar to the nations of Europe. Since their inception, social security programs have systematically robbed people of their powers of self-determination, while raising the risks of uncertainty. Through incremental conditioning, people have lost their ability to think critically and protect their own self-interests. Meaningful discussions about solutions, such as the success of the Chilean retirement system based solely on a belief in the power of self-reliance, is not only discouraged and silenced, but, because of the poverty of American citizen's grasp of world affairs, has fallen on deaf ears. As we plunder ever deeper into the endless abyss of uncertainty and expense, new arguments about prescription drug entitlements have centered our collective thoughts on the meritless pathway of continuing to raise the threshold of government oversite and control at the expense of meaningful quality of life. Is there no way out?
  
  

New Initiatives

• Public Policy
  In preparations for and anticipation of funding, Elder LifeCare Foundation is beginning to spread its unique words and philosophy about aging and quality of life. ELF believes that the process of helping America find the pathway to restoring quality of life must be comprehensive in scope and collaborative on every level. We are beginning an aggressive campaign to bring together businesses, political forces, celebrities, other foundations and citizens so that we can all speak to the world problems of aging with a single and powerful voice. To that end, ELF has begun communications with the Cato Institute, American Liberty Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, Organization for Safe Retirement, Art Linkletter, American Global Foundation and others.
  
  
• Las Vegas Meeting
  Pending funding, ELF's temporary office in Reno will soon relocate to a new headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, which will house facilities for all United States program initiatives and core support solutions, including information technology, new research staff and organizational leadership. To begin this process, executive director, Kent Lenhard will host a meeting with program director Dr. Marlene Howlett, outside consultant Bill Lenhard and others on the weekend of August 8 - 10.
  
  
• Connie DeBord, Activist ELF Supporter
  A powerful new quality of life advocate for aging solutions has joined the Elder LifeCare Foundation crusade to transform America. Fundraiser, public policy strategist and former campaign manager to presidential candidate, Pat Robertson, Connie DeBord was introduced to Elder LifeCare Foundation by our legislative lobby team, Bill and Ann Kincaid of Richmond, Virginia. In commenting on her meeting with Dr. John Cull and her support of our mission, Mrs.DeBord has expressed the following kind words:
  
  May I take this opportunity to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about Elder (Life)Care. ......... It looks to me that God has been orchestrating your career to prepare you to lead this revolution in the care and respect of our elders.
  
  We are very enthusiastic for Ms. DeBord's interest and support and look forward to a long and productive relationship. The week of August 11 - 15, she will be carrying the ELF message to a New York convention of nationally prominent foundations.
  
  
• Baltimore Meeting
  The fundraising coordination team for Baltimore initiatives, Mike Goodrich and Phil Stewart, will be meeting with members of the Elder LifeCare Foundation team on August 19 to discuss the planning and coordination of organizational issues in regard to launching public policy initiatives, both regionally and nationally.