Posted on 12/26/2006 3:44:13 PM PST by qam1
Thanks for the effort, but I'm going to need a lot more than that. I would like to see a source that has answered the specific question.
Then go f'in find it--all the data was right there, you just don't like it....
We don't even have a population of service-age citizens to support a military the size of the Vietnam era military!
"Actually, Gen-X is a small generation so no matter how many of us our educated, we will never be able to support the retirement of the boomers...."
"Generation X" doesn't have to support the "Boomers".
Every employed person in America pays into the pot.
There were more students in public school, elementary to high school in 2003, than there were in 1970.(49.5M to 48.7M)
Immigration figures into all this as well.
Every employed person in America pays into the pot.
No. It's a pay-as-you-go system.
There is no 'pot'. There is no Al Gore 'lockbox'.
The money going into SS are paying current benefits to retirees at the rate of 4 workers for every 1 retiree. When the boomers start retiring, it will go to 2 workers for every retiree.
SS depended on larger generations of workers in a growing economy. Who knew that the boomers wouldn't have enough kids to pay in?
I wouldn't call myself a bona fide expert, but I've been writing on military subjects for over a decade and know plenty, thank you. Let me put it this way: Last year a military historian was sending me chapters of his book to comment on, and he quoted one of my articles as a source. Sorry, but disagreeing with you on the reasons for recruiting dificulties doesn't make me ignorant.
I think if you look at economic data and compare it to recruitment in non-draft eras, you'll find a good economy hurts recruitment a lot no matter how patriotic the population is.
Yes I know about the "lockbox" I just meant taxes in general, it doesn't just fall on the kids born between 1965 and 1978 (or wherever Gen Xers come from) to carry the full burden.
I could have predicted that he would simply disregard your data. He's decided that he's an expert on recruitment because his son's in the 10th Mountain. Well, that's a great thing, but it doesn't make one an expert ofr get rid of valid data.
No, but Gen-X is facing a much higher Marginal Tax Rate along with higher FICA and Social Security taxes.
We will have to support the baby-boomer retirees during our peak earning years with a dimished ability to save for our own retirement because of the factors I listed above.
The Feds have already raised our retirement age and will have to do so again. Gen-X is first generation in America that will have a lower standard of living than the previous generation--due to the demographics and government interference.
But you boomers just enjoy your lattes and chardonnay, you've 'earned' it....
Yeah: SFW.
I was an officer in 1/506 AASLT Infantry in Korea. Currahee! I'm still in the Guard.....
Marines tell me it's OK for even an Air Force puke like me to say "Semper Fi" to them, so is it acceptable for me to throw out a hearty "Currahee?"
I live near Santa Fe where only the most rancid of leftist old Boomer Hippies reside in million dollar homes, so I'm pretty biased.
The old Santa Fe Boomers are the most horrible, selfish, whiney, rotten-to-the-core, God-hating, hedonistic, thick-headed emotional wrecks of drug burn-out monkey-shit....
Stands Alone! Mr. Silverback.
"Publicity stunt BS. Not that her service isn't noble and valuable, but if you really think we're falling so short on recruiting that we have to go out and find Grandma's, you're smoking something."
"BTW, before the next time you lecture an X-er who served in the volunteer military about the vaunted patriotism of the Boomers, you might want to consider the reasons that many of those young Boomer men volunteered. A man who joined up served less time (2 years vs. 3, IIRC) and was far more likely to get into a technical specialty and learn a trade. Also, if one preferred a certain service it was best to volunteer rather than taking a chance. This was especially true of the Air Force and Navy, which received far fewer draftees than the Army and Marines.
"I wouldn't call myself a bona fide expert, but I've been writing on military subjects for over a decade and know plenty, thank you."
"Let me put it this way: Last year a military historian was sending me chapters of his book to comment on, and he quoted one of my articles as a source."
OK, I believe you, I don't know if you write about administrative things like pay or what, but you laid down that false information about the draft as though you knew what you were talking about.
Saying draftees served longer than enlistees, and talking about navy and air force draftees with complete confidence seems a little odd, and it was odd that you kept trying to paint me as attacking the military, when I was attacking their lesser brothers for not joining them.
"I could have predicted that he would simply disregard your data. He's decided that he's an expert on recruitment because his son's in the 10th Mountain. Well, that's a great thing, but it doesn't make one an expert ofr get rid of valid data."
After beating the draft, I enlisted in the army, and attended jump school, and taught artillery among other things leaving the army in 1973. In the 80s I joined an Airborne Ranger guard unit.
All three of my brothers served during the Vietnam war, it is a family tradition, that is why it was very important for me to overcome my sons objections to enlisting.
As far as the data it just seemed too general for the question, I will be looking for more info on it, because I expect it will come up again.
"I live near Santa Fe where only the most rancid of leftist old Boomer Hippies reside in million dollar homes, so I'm pretty biased.
The old Santa Fe Boomers are the most horrible, selfish, whiney, rotten-to-the-core, God-hating, hedonistic, thick-headed emotional wrecks of drug burn-out monkey-shit...."
Interesting that you know the worst of the rich boomers, in my work I meet a mix of the good and the bad ones on the Southern California coast. As far as the worst of a generation I see the young ones in Ocean Beach (San Diego)they match your Santa Fe group except they are in their 20s and 30s and poor, or waiting for inheritance.
So your twisted the kid's arm into enlisting?
And his objections you see, naturally, as symptomatic of the 'less than patriotic' Gen-X and Gen-Y.....
Living in million dollar homes while voting for the Green Party and lobbying their socialist reps to up my taxes? Yearning for the glory days of spitting on soldiers in the airport while illegal aliens are cutting their lawns and making their dinners?
Odd bunch of 20-30 yr olds....
Of course, there are a lot of rotten dope-smoking 'trustafarians' out there, but really:
There's no fool like an old fool....
Ahhhh.. There's the problem right there....
Y'know--It's a volunteer military now. You can't condemn people for not volunteering--then it's not voluntary
I certainly don't consider anyone 'lesser' for not joining. Let them freely go and not serve:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
--Shakespeare, Henry V Speech on the Eve of the Battle of Agincourt.
Don't hold back, Sith! Tell us how you really feel!
So, did you inform her that she didn't deserve it, and shouldn't have it?
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