Posted on 08/15/2011 4:20:01 PM PDT by Newbomb Turk
“I could damn sure have done better on my own and at least it would be my money, not an IOU from the general fund.”
This is exactly why they need to make the change!
I do agree they must phase it in for those under 50 ONLY!
RE: I do agree they must phase it in for those under 50 ONLY!
It would only effect those entering service or those recently entering service. Others would remain under the old rigid Darwinian system.
Rebel, I did 21 years in the Marine Corps, so your response to me doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
I appreciate your service.
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good for you, this will go a long way to reduce the costs or the Fort Eustis/Fort Lee homes for unwed mothers and all the counterparts in the sister services!
Do you imply that we should pay our naval personnel on par with merchant mariners. What civilian occupation would correspond with somebody deployed with an infantry brigade to Afghanistan? What is the average workday for that profession. When you compare masons to infantryman you simply reveal ignorance of both trades.
I’m comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruit, both are sweet, both grow in orchards on trees. I hope that explanation helps you.
I’m a retired federal officer. After four years active duty in the Air Force, I joined the Defense Department as a civilian. In time, I rode in Hueys with the troops in Vietnam, served in Panama during the Noriega Operation, in Military Attache Offices in embassies in the middle east and Latin America. I did a lot of TDY in Africa, too. While I never had to hump an 80lb pack, I have eaten a lot of C-Rations and MRE as a civilian. I spent 25 Christmases overseas. My late wife and I had Marine Security Guards over for Thanksgivings and other celebratory dinners/cocktail parties; we also sent plates of turkey dinners to the Marine on Post One. I stood rotating watches all over. Now, please let me enjoy my pension.
Eh, you’re wrong in this regard. Those who are choose to leave the service or are told to always have the option of serving in the reserves. They take with them a myriad of benefits from the VA, the two most valuable in my estimation being the mortgage and the educational benefits. I’ve never been in an area where the reserves were not looking for good prior service personnel, the Army Guard & Reserve especially.
Well if it was sarcasm I didn’t pick up on it.
Aside from getting shot at, I’ve done all of those things at work.
I appreciate the point you are trying to make, but you cannot just assume that everyone who hasn’t spent a life in the Army is worthless. That type of NIMBY mindset is what keeps us spiraling downward.
It’s time to put everything on the table if you seriously want to get the country on track. And we have to agree that all productive members of society have to respect each others contributions.
Sarcasm it wasn’t.
When we say “you’re comparing apples and oranges” we mean that the person is comparing two different things. And yet they really very similar things.
Every job is unique. The military offers unique and valuable benefits to those who are in it. Pride in that service is one, and that is something which has carried throughout history.
Becoming a highly disciplined and effective part of a highly cohesive, highly disciplined organization is another that very few experience outside of the military. And that is also why many employers look to hire, or enterprises businesses to associate with ex-military people, they know such people are low risk, high value in general. (Excepting the fairly easy to identify ever-cohort of lay-abouts and goldbrickers who take postings in easy government jobs for the sake of not working too hard and double dipping.)
Going into the AMERICAN military and serving honorably is almost never the wrong choice for a man (and some women) to make, just because of those two benefits.
On the other hand, EVERYTHING that some claim as to the reason that military veterans (excepting the disabled) should receive special benefits not available to any other good citizen is bunk. Those same things can always be found in non-military duties.
Heck, I’d sign up for 8 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan for a good 401K
sarc
No, the mason building the chimney in North Carolina is always free to go home. He typically has weekends off. If he faces danger he will leave the area. To claim he has any similarity to a Marine serving in Iraq or Afghanistan is ridiculous. There is no civilian occupation remotely similar to what those service members face. Why do I suspect you were one of those who never served, never applied or who was rejected?
My inclination is to believe most people who frequent Free Republic are hard working people who contribute to the good of our country.
I have only the utmost respect for those type of Americans. many have overcome the odds through hard work, determination and just plain will to be a success no matter what it takes.
What really pains my ass are the people I see every day who live off government subsided housing, food, and other taxpayer funded programs. You know the same ones that got that same free high school education I was afforded but didn’t apply themselves. Had kids out of wedlock but think it’s my job to pay to feed house and clothe them. Think because they are in college they should get free food stamps and housing along with grants and free health care while I pay for my own housing, food, medical care, education and work two and sometimes three jobs. Along with supporting their now working butts !
How about before we revamp the retirement program for the military, we revamp those entitlement programs that allow people who are too fat to work to get free food and housing and sit on their hind ends all day. How about all the non producers “eat their (subsided) peas” before all of us hard working Americans sacrifice even once cent more.
Or how about we tie and military retirement change to mirror exactly what congress provides for themselves. If they are willing to cut their own retirement golden parachute then I will believe they are serious about cuts.
Until Congress and the President are forced to realize that they work for us and not the other way around we are screwed.
Really? All those things at work? When did you deploy nonstop for 18 months without seeing your family? What is your average duty day and what are your height/weight standards; how often are you tested for physical fitness and drugs? Do you get paid overtime when you work over 40 hours a week?
Sorry about the “Pound sand”. I was having an ungood Monday.
You are correct. The adherents of Obamunism are trying to set us against each other - retired vs. active duty, military vs taxpayers, in order to distract us from our common opponent - the parasitic tax consumers who are degrading my kids future! Don’t let them do it! We must avoid the intercine squabbling and remeber that defense is job #1, everything else comes 2d.
Obama went and talked to "vets" yesterday. IF YOU WANT PROMISES OF A BIG FAT PERMA-PENSION FOR VETS AND SPECIAL SERVICES LIKE ASS-WIPING RUN BY A BLOATED CORRUPT VA -- OBAMA'S YOUR MAN!
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