"I’m an Army veteran, and my benefits are too generous"

[bobabode]

Now here's a story you don't see every day.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z2

[icenine]

The thing is that the author of the article knows none of the cuts will apply to him.
And if you took away benefits from the military the quality of the service would decrease.

People do not put their lives on the line because of patriotism but because of good retirement benefits. A pilot who puts his life on the line by landing on an aircraft carrier may decide a 401k instead of a pension is not worth the risk. It all depends on what kind of military the nation wants. By the outcry over the VA I do not think retirement benifits are in danger. The author is a middle class or upper class Lt Colonel who most likely is doing ok on his own. However the vast majority of retirees are not in his financial situation. For some the pension and benefits are all they have. It is a Walmart world they face like everyone else.

[BlueStreak]

Yeah, that is bizarre for a military member (or anyone else for that matter) to be complaining that his own benefits are excessive. Either he's planning to run for office or he's crazy. I think the military and civil service folks are treated right and the rest of us are getting ripped off.

Dave

[icenine]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Yeah, that is bizarre for a military member (or anyone else for that matter) to be complaining that his own benefits are excessive. Either he's planning to run for office or he's crazy. I think the military and civil service folks are treated right and the rest of us are getting ripped off.

Dave

I think you are right.

And if you diluted the health care the retirees would just move to the VA system and put more strain on that.

I here some of the false debt crisis mantra in the background of his argument.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by icenine

I think you are right.

And if you diluted the health care the retirees would just move to the VA system and put more strain on that.

I here some of the false debt crisis mantra in the background of his argument.

They already are. My sister is the prime example. She has two part time jobs, neither of which offer healthcare coverage and pay so low she cannot afford to buy her own. So, she uses her VA benefits. She has NO CHOICE.

He case is NOT unique, by any stretch of the imagination.

Another relative in Ohio works in the healthcare industry. She has told me that in the last few years the traffic at the VA hospital in Warren has skyrocketed------because the private sector is FAILING to provide healthcare benefits to employees, over and above the effect of unemployment.

The jobs that the private sector is creating are low paying and provide little benefit. They are rapidly becoming WORTHLESS.

Why people can't see the dangers of this is beyond me. All I can figure is that their heads are so far up their............

Well, you get the picture.

Dave

[icenine]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

They already are. My sister is the prime example. She has two part time jobs, neither of which offer healthcare coverage and pay so low she cannot afford to buy her own. So, she uses her VA benefits. She has NO CHOICE.

He case is NOT unique, by any stretch of the imagination.

Another relative in Ohio works in the healthcare industry. She has told me that in the last few years the traffic at the VA hospital in Warren has skyrocketed------because the private sector is FAILING to provide healthcare benefits to employees, over and above the effect of unemployment.

The jobs that the private sector is creating are low paying and provide little benefit. They are rapidly becoming WORTHLESS.

Why people can't see the dangers of this is beyond me. All I can figure is that their heads are so far up their............

Well, you get the picture.

Dave

We need to vote some Democrats back into the house. In the old days even a GOP president and and a GOP congress might get something done. I do not trust the Teaparty though.

We need some basic safety net measures done along with some infrastrucuture stimulus bills.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by icenine

We need to vote some Democrats back into the house. In the old days even a GOP president and and a GOP congress might get something done. I do not trust the Teaparty though.

We need some basic safety net measures done along with some infrastrucuture stimulus bills.

Hear, hear! It'll be tough in the upcoming midterms but the '16 elections will be a different animal.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Yeah, that is bizarre for a military member (or anyone else for that matter) to be complaining that his own benefits are excessive. Either he's planning to run for office or he's crazy. I think the military and civil service folks are treated right and the rest of us are getting ripped off.

Dave

Put-up job. Scripted.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Put-up job. Scripted.

I considered that. And I think you may be right.

Dave

[donquixote99]

I'd bet real money.