I don't want to see anyone's pension benefits decimated. Of course, the military is a special case, but we also need to be concerned about Social Security, Medicare, 401ks, and private and public pensions. We also need to be concerned about the fate of future generations and the sustainability of retirement systems. These need to be addressed in a spirit of fairness and a desire to advance the common good. It's depressing to see the young set against the old, the public against the private, and the civilian against the military. We're all in this together, and there shouldn't be any second class citizens.
This is outrageous, but how many people who are rightfully incensed over cutting military pensions are indifferent, or pleased, at the prospect of Detroit retirees losing their pensions? The spirit of austerity is like a prairie fire, once it erupts it’s hard to control, and nobody can tell who will wind up being burned.
I don’t want to see anyone’s pension benefits decimated. Of course, the military is a special case, but we also need to be concerned about Social Security, Medicare, 401ks, and private and public pensions. We also need to be concerned about the fate of future generations and the sustainability of retirement systems. These need to be addressed in a spirit of fairness and a desire to advance the common good. It’s depressing to see the young set against the old, the public against the private, and the civilian against the military. We’re all in this together, and there shouldn’t be any second class citizens.
Well said and I applaud your thinking (and agree). However, people are so stuck on what they were promised that there is little thought of shared sacrifice.
This bill is outrageous in that it seemingly singles out military retirees for cuts. This bill is also outrageous because we are trillions in debt and it only cuts 23 billion and spreads that out over 10 years. I believe it’s less than a half of a percent in overall government expenditures. What a joke. We are destroying our future to keep the Ponzi scheme alive. We are enslaving our children and grandchildren to preserve the status quo and keep politicians and special interests happy.
Just watch a social security thread here on FR and it will prove what you said. Our leaders won’t tell us the truth because it’s ugly. We need huge cuts across government to survive and it won’t happen with this bunch. They will beat their chest and talk about meaningless cuts spread out over 10 years.
Wake me when they cut the entitlements. Based on my calculations, they could cut out all non-entitlement spending and we would still go bankrupt or experience hyperinflation.
I’m much in agreement with your thoughtful post, except for the presently politically correct “a desire to advance the common good.” Who determines what the “common good” is? And at whose expense?
There is no “common good.” There is only individual good.