Philpott is making a point but by using the generals and admirals as focus he is missing the real problem. We don't pay our military folks, admirals, generals, privates, and sergeants much in terms of cash, and we should be paying them a lot more. A 15% across the board raise would make a tremendous difference,and would be a significant way of saying thanks to our armed forces for all of the b.s. we put them through. Any less than that is a real slap in the face of these real heroes, and I feel it is way past due.
Fund this by cutting the budgets related to the Congress. If it meant cutting their operating expenses by 80%, that would be a good thing.
Ahhh, part of their pay is the breathing checks they receive after retirement. LCol retirement is worth about a $2.0M annuity return.