Bush Wants $82B More for Iraq, Afghan Costs

AP ^ | February 14, 2005 | AP

[CitizenHelper]

The average annuity for retired Members, as of 1998, was either $50,616 [for those that retired under CSRS] or $46,908 [for Members that retired under FERS]. However, these averages don't take into account any additional funds these Members may have also accrued through investments in the Thrift Savings Plan described above.

http://www.c-span.org/questions/weekly68.htm

[jb6]

Damn skippy. Put them up in Detroit, they'd have an improvement and they can enjoy just as much violence as they are used to. Or maybe into South Central, show the Mexican gangbangers a thing or two.

[jb6]

Don't forget sky rocketing interest rates as Greenspan raises them to keep the foreigners financing our spending.

[peacebaby]

Thank you for your well thought-out replies. Both ideas make sense. Both can work together. Thanks for teaching me.....

[jb6]

What we need to be spending on is fielding two more divisions and taking care of the over taxed Guard and Reserves.

[jb6]

Get the interest rates up and Americans buy less while going bankrupt faster. Lower wages (by whose authority?) and you cut into your tax base, while crippling the economy since inflation is continueing to raise the cost of living while you drive more people to welfare. Or are you advocating deflation?

[jb6]

The deficit is not shrinking, period. Deficit spending was to shrink with the new budget (of course this will make up for the shrinkage), but the deficit is still there and we are still paying out $300 billion a year to service the debt, almost all to foreigners. Hint, that's how the Japanese are funding their social security system.

Deficit spending this year will be near $400 billion, 80% financed by foreigners who require higher and higher interest rates..

[jb6]

I was watching Fox last week when they said the new figures for the Medicare increase are now over 700 billion over 10 years. My God, almost twice the original "estimate".

[jb6]

What really gets my goat is that immigrants who come here ready for retirement get all the benefits without putting a penny into the system.

[cynicom]

No problem, just borrow the money.

[monday]

"(Doncha' love spell czech?)"

LOL.... I am not even sure I used spell czech. Sometimes hwen I am in a hurry my dyslexia kicks in and correct spelling just becomes too much of a burden. sigh...

[peacebaby]

so how high do you think Greenspan will rise the interest rates?

[jb6]

This year? I think we'll see at least a 3% increase if not 4%. That's what's keeping the dollar from further collapse, promise of higher interest rates after our recent raise.

[JoethePirate]

What really gets my goat is that immigrants who come here ready for retirement get all the benefits without putting a penny into the system.

I don't think that statement is accurate.

[jb6]

I've known plenty of working immigrants that brought their parents over and have put them straight on medicare.

[JoethePirate]

I've known plenty of working immigrants that brought their parents over and have put them straight on medicare.

I thought you were referring to SS.

[mamelukesabre]

Yeah, well, I got a feeling that discount would never get passed on to us consumers.

What we need is something like...iraq gives free oil to the US military. That way our military costs could stay down a bit.

[ny demimonde]

i'm not proud i'm being ripped off while hundreds of billions have gone missing....and can't be accounted for. if it's for our troops that's fine, but i have a feeling lots of graft and blackmail money are being thrown around.

does that make you feel good? i'm disgusted. the oil was supposed to pay for this adventure.

[RetroWarrior]

Hold on, let me get my checkbook.

[RetroWarrior]

I guarantee it is cheaper than staying in a hospital.

Your right. My surgery cost over 65K for a week's stay! Of that, my doctor got about 16K. Not bad for 4 hours work.