[Silver]

Lets make a deal: Outlaw unions, and corporations and LLCs at the same time.

Level playing field, right?

Oh wait, I forgot. We only fist the little people in the ass with the invisible hand.

 

[X3pilot]

I sure do. Our military spending on pay for troops isn't great, and guess what, we have to lower our standards to meet recruiting goals. About the only thing keeping soldiers in the armed forces after 7-10 years is that pension, since they could easily leave and make 2x as much in the private sector. Our soldiers earn every penny we pay them, and deserve the benefits like (cough cough, socialized) health care and government backed loans.

Basically the only way the military can keep soldiers in uniform is to promise them a worthwhile pension and health care after they retire.... Hmmmm, sounds familiar....

Thanks. Seriously. I've said it before in this forum, I wish we could give everyone my health care plan that I have in retirement. Also wish I could guarantee every kid in high school that gives a crap, a college paid plan like my post 9/11 GI Bill. If that's socialist, so be it.

 

[dante]

Don't know where you'd get the idea that I'd want to cut soldier's benefits, as that seems to be more of a Republican idea...

Tea party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has unveiled a plan for cutting $400 billion in federal spending that includes freezing Veterans Affairs Department health care spending and cutting veterans’ disability benefits.

Her proposed VA budget cuts would account for $4.5 billion of the savings included in the plan, posted on her official House of Representatives website.

 

[ohio]

You also need to look at it from the Lehman/AIG viewpoint.

Looks roughly like this:

 

[$tinkle]

Don't know where you'd get the idea that I'd want to cut soldier's benefits, as that seems to be more of a Republican idea...

The proposal, which would affect more than 150,000 veterans, has long been on a list of possible budget options prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which describes the option as a way to “eliminate duplicate payment of public compensation for a single disability.”

seems reasonable

but wait, there seems to be a "pulling up the ladder" attitude among vets and/or their reps:

In their annual budget options report, CBO analysts predicted strong opposition from veterans if the two benefits were offset. The report suggests the cost-cutting option would draw less opposition if veterans already receiving both payments were exempt from the change. Having it apply only to future benefits awards would mean about 3,000 veterans a year would be affected.

*spit*

 

[X3pilot]

Don't know where you'd get the idea that I'd want to cut soldier's benefits, as that seems to be more of a Republican idea...

She is another reason why I don't even want to affiliate with any political party.

But in regards to some of the changes that are being proposed by the CBO, one is to increase retiree annual payment to Tricare. I currently pay $460 per year for my family health care. It's a $12 co pay per visit and $9 co pay on prescriptions if i don't use a military pharmacy. Honestly, paying more wouldn't kill me and even if my pay in doubled, would still be a bargain.

 

[dante]

seems reasonable

Yeah, why should the government have to pay an additional amount for having sent a soldier into a warzone to have his legs blown off, as opposed to say... an American losing a leg to diabetes?

But hey, they Support Our Troops®, right? We know that because they tell us that on a daily basis...