Military retirees: You betrayed us, Congress

[First-light]

My buddy served 20 years , saw combat and protected this country. He doesn't live "high on the hog" what will be next????

 

http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/12/news/economy/military-pensions-budget/index.html?iid=Lead

[fasteddie]

Yet - the fat Cats in Washington keep their pay and pensions . This really sucks ! Serve your country and get screwed .

[Geno C]

Retire when they are in their 40's? Good! They deserve it if the serve this country and get to keep their lives and return to their families! This country shoves hard earned american cash down those who not even Americans and those who don't even deserve it, so give it to them and take away the vets money? What a shame, we have said before and the saying continues-- this country is in trouble--

I bet the higher ups won't take pay cuts or pension cuts

[phade]

Having grown up in a military household, my father retired with 23 years of service while in his early to mid 40s. Bottom line, it's a risk-reward logic scenario. More risk, more reward.

 

The problems that come with long-time service are big for many people - and most of it is beyond the actual service. Not much is said what happens to military families as a result of those commitments. I enjoyed a lot of experiences due to my father's service, but to this day, we both have paid a bigger price with lost time, resentment, and other issues. Time cannot be reclaimed.

 

I see all of these CNN and Fox and local news snippets about parents returning stateside, showing them surprising their wife or kids after seven months abroad ONCE. They light up. You want to know how many times I went through my father being gone 6 mos. or more? You'd be counting on your dang toes because you ran out of fingers.

 

Let 'em keep the damn money.

[NYbuck50]

These bureaucrats will do anything they can to keep their gravy train going. They sit there getting rich on our dime while we fight amongst ourselves liberals v conservatives.  The real fight is washington v America

[CuseHunter]

The government right now is an embarrassment to the people. We look to reduce our spending and make these cuts, yet spend $380,000,000 on a website. Beyond sickening to find where they make spending cuts, taking away from those who currently and have already served in the military while not touching money given towards unemployment or Medicare let alone any other large money holes.

What wasn't publicized that many of you might not be aware of, is the cuts they approved this month to veterans and currently enlisted servicemen. I got an email from the Army education office stating that our TA (tuition assistance for college classes) is changing. Our elected officials chose to reduce the amount of TA given to soldiers. It used to be 30 credit hours allowed per fiscal year, now it is 19. When signing on the dotted line and sacrificing so much, how do we get treated? That's right taking away benefits to further your education.

With that said, I sadly have realized our governments prerogative, and know how little they value those who sacrifice their lives to fight the wars they start.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Cusehunter

[GreeneHunter]

All due to the fact that the percentage of Congressmen/women that are veterans have declined to roughly 10 -15 %  ! And rarely do any of their kids serve !

[CuseHunter]

All due to the fact that the percentage of Congressmen/women that are veterans have declined to roughly 10 -15 % ! And rarely do any of their kids serve !

not when their salaries are $150,000

[Mr VJP]

Active duty service people are under paid and their pensions are not adequate.  How do they dare attack them?

[mmkay]

This nation is broke....we don't have enough money. But this said, I second Mr. VJP comments that the military is underpaid and their pensions are too low.

 

There are better places to look to cut. We might not all agree with this list, but places to look prior to the military are:

 

- Length unemployment insurance

- Foreign aid

- Obamacare

- Welfare / WICS

- Public sector unions (pension / retirement ages….have them wait until the social security age to collect)

- Government regulations

 

But the simple fact is a shit load of American's are just not working and paying taxes.  These folks need to have jobs.  JOBS = TAXES  hence revenue to the government.    This nation needs to allow business to employ the people. If unemployment was calculated the same way it was in the 1980’s the unemployment rate would be near 14 or 15%. 

 

If the congress / president did some of the following we would see job creation and thus increased tax revenues to the treasury:

 

(a) Repeal Dodd / Frank

( b )Repeal Sarbanes Oxley

( c ) Repeal Obamacare

(d) Open ALL state and federal lands and waters to oil and gas drilling

 

‘d’ above would a long way towards increasing revenues to the treasury.

 

Just thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2013 by mmkay

[ShelbyGT350]

We have a term for what just happened in the Marines Corps- BOHICA. Some of you may know what this means.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

We have a term for what just happened in the Marines Corps- BOHICA. Some of you may know what this means.

 I believe it involves repeated ankle grabbing