SENIOR VOTE: A new poll commissioned by the Coalition for the Modernization and Protection of America's Social Security (CoMPASS) suggests that AARP might be out of touch with its own members on the issue of Social Security personal retirement accounts. "Older Americans of all walks of life and every political persuasion agree that Congress should fix Social Security now," said Q. Whitfield Ayres, president of Ayres, McHenry & Associates, which conducted the poll. "AARP members, in particular, are also supportive of giving younger workers the option of starting personal retirement accounts." The survey of 800 voters age 55 and older found that 65% of AARP members and 66% of non-AARP seniors think significant changes are needed to ensure benefits for future generations. AARP, of course, opposes significantly altering the 70-year-old entitlement program. It has poured millions into a multi-dimensional ad campaign calling for Social Security to be "strengthened." It will soon target Rolling Stone and People magazines to appeal to a younger audience. The CoMPASS poll also reveled that 83% of AARP members say they are paying attention to the Social Security debate. But despite their interest, only four of 10 said they were aware of AARP's intense opposition to personal retirement accounts, the centerpiece of several Republican proposals. PIG BOOK: Citizens Against Government Waste has compiled 14-years of congressional pork-barrel projects in The Pig Book: How Government Wastes Your Money. The compilation identifies 52,461 egregious projects approved by Congress that have cost taxpayers more than $185 billion between the years 1991 and 2004. The book provides a snapshot of the projects highlighted annually in Congressional Pig Book. (The 2005 edition will be released April 6.) Some of the most shocking pork projects: $102 million to study screwworms, which were long ago eradicated from American soil; $50 million for an Iowan indoor rain forest; $2.2 million to renovate the North Pole; $1 million for ornamental fish research; $273,000 to combat goth culture in Missouri; $50,000 for a Californian tattoo-removal program. "In 1994 there were 1,318 pork-barrel projects; in fiscal year 2005 there are an estimated 13,000 pork-barrel projects, an increase of 886%," writes Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.). "Where are our priorities? And for what? So that members of the House and Senate can go home in an election year and brag about a peanut festival in Alabama or an indoor rain forest in Iowa." FREEDOMFEST 2005: Conservative author Dinesh D'Souza will join former Rep. Bob Barr (R.-Ga.), Whole Foods Market chief executive John Mackey and economics professor Thomas DiLorenzo at this year's FreedomFest in Las Vegas. The Young America's Foundation-sponsored event-billed as the largest gathering of freedom-minded individuals in the country-will be held May 12-14 at Bally's Paris Resort. "America's freedoms are under attack as never before-not only from terrorists, but also from people who provide a justification for terrorism," D'Souza said. Other speakers include American Civil Rights Institute President Ward Connerly, Center for the Study of Popular Culture President David Horowitz and Citizens United President David Bossie. Tickets range from $37 for students to $247 for adults, and are available by calling 1-800-USA-1776 or visiting FreedomFest.com. NOT SO PROFITABLE: The rage among companies such as Procter & Gamble, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Southwest Airlines to be socially responsible doesn't necessarily translate into extra profits, according to a new study led by noted supply-sider Arthur Laffer. The study examined the economic performance of companies that Business Ethics magazine deemed the most socially responsible for their dedication to women, shareholders, the environment, the community, non-U.S. stakeholders, employees and customers. "[W]e found no significant positive correlation between [corporate social responsibility] and business profitability as determined by standard measures," Laffer concluded. In fact, the study suggested social responsibility might actually be a deterrent to profits. "[T]hose who invest exclusively in companies deemed to be 'socially responsible' do not appear to receive financial returns that are better than those of conventional investors," Laffer wrote. The study is available at CSRWatch.com.
