Posted on 01/08/2014 6:17:18 PM PST by SkyPilot
Congressional Republicans have been thinking up various clever ways to replace a cut in military pensions for under-62 military retirees with various other cuts in federal expenditures. This is a mistake. As the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget explains, the cut is modest:
Among the elements of the budget deal that passed Congress last month was a small $6 billion change to the way military pensions are calculated for military retirees younger than 62. In the face of lawmakers who would roll back this change, both the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal editorial boards defended the provision in the last two days.
The change would reduce by 1 percent the cost-of-living increases for retirees that are younger than a normal retirement age. Depending on the exact rank and year of retirement, an average retiree’s lifetime payments would be reduced by less than 3 percent, and payments to retirees over 62 would be unchanged. This policy is far more modest than the recommendation of the Bowles-Simpson Fiscal Commission, which recommended completely eliminating COLAs for retirees under age 62.
Over time, however, it will generate larger savings, and give future military retirees time to revise their plans. The provision also addresses, in a small way, the fact that rising compensation costs are crowding out other defense needs, like the need to invest in new technologies. And it demonstrates that Republicans are willing to push back on military compensation, despite the fact that this cuts against type. The fact that GOP lawmakers seem keen to cut spending programs that benefit predominantly Democratic constituencies while protecting those that benefit predominantly Republican constituencies greatly undermines their claim to be consistent spending hawks, and it emboldens their opponents.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Then no one will mind if we expand the cut to all federal retirees? And welfare recipients. And civilians who are on disability. And Social Security recipients. And crazy checks. And food stamps. And government grants. And section 8 vouchers.
Oh you, don't want to touch those? Well then, whatever.
And yes I do mean the "whatever" in the military sense.
Next time you watch TV and notice the Paralyzed Vets, Wounded Warriors, etc. commercials, remember that is the job that the VA and the American public is responsible for. We wasted at least 10 - 15 trillion dollars on the 50 years of the War on Poverty and that is not a government responsibility. We have hundreds of Federal programs, including CommieCare which are not government responsibilities.
I did my 30 plus years and I am not yet 60. The retirement I have was what was promised me and actually written into law and upheld by the Supreme Court. They can arbitrarily determine my cola but then the same should be done to welfare recipients, government employees past and present. They did not touch retired GS employees...why just retired military! Screw the GOP I and done with them and quite frankly screw the ungrateful Americans that never left their living rooms never missed a soccer game or birthday. I am so tired of hearing thank you for your service, when once we retire we are told screw you! By all means the retirement system needs to change Congress and DOD were told that 7 years ago but did not want to hurt enlistment during the war.
A common refrain around the nation that I hear.
Magnets are cheap, so it talk.
The American people to arise and tell Congress that this has to be fix, for real. Stop with the lies and the half truths.
Once Barney Obama and his ‘RATS get the American people to accept them screwing over the veterans, the elderly will be toast. AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK. The ‘RAT freeloaders and illegal aliens need to be kept on the ‘RAT plantation! The only way to keep them there is to keep giving them freebies and handouts. America is dead.
"its the old NIMBY attitude....cut everybody else but don't you dare touch my good thing...."
Like I told you before, NO ONE ELSE is getting cut!
Got it yet?
And why shouldn't a disabled vet, unable to get work have to wait until they're 60 to collect?
What are they supposed to do in the meantime? 20-30 years of welfare, section 8, EBT, etc.? Yeah, that'll be a cost savings measure.
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