I see its bash a veteran/baby boomer day.
So just what did I do that wronged you so badly? Was it because I happened to be born in the 50s? Not much choice there. Maybe I should have waited.
Let’s look back into the past a bit shall we? When I was in Europe in the 70s, I remember almost daily briefings on our status and how we would fight should the Soviets cross thru the Fulda Gap. Remember this was an all voluntary force. We were told we would more than likely only last the very first few minutes of the conflict before we were all blown to hell. However, what we did would be crucial to the long term outcome. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to stand watch and alerts day and night protecting this country from the USSR. BTW, I sat in the back seat of an F4 for many many hours doing my job.
After spending years in Tactical Air Command, in 1979 I PCSd back to the states into Strategic Air Command; went from “in theater” to “strategic”. On 1 Sept 1982 I was able to transfer from SAC to USAF Space Command on the very first day in was in existence. I ended up as one of the charter members of Space Command. Let’s see. That was during a time when there was not all the flag waving we have today, support the troops etc. Not saying that bad, just we never got such ourselves. Still that was not important. Defending the nation was.
In 1987 I left Space Command to work for NASA. First at the Cape and then onto JPL “flying” interplanetary spacecraft. After years of working on interplanetaries, Space Station, Space Shuttle, Launch operations, etc, I am now back working with the DOD.
Also, thanks to Jimmy Carter, the Vietnam era GI bill was scrapped. For those who came in after 1978, they could jump onto the new version. For those of us that were Vietnam era, it just went away. No compensation – zip, nada, nothing. So I could not use my earned GI bill to pay for my grad school. Such is life.
Also all this time, I paid my taxes, social security, and other sundry withholdings the government deemed I should pay. And after I scrimped and saved enough to finally buy a house, even though I never had children, I paid the school taxes anyway. Still I did not complain. I even went so far as to take three years out of my life to teach space science to 5th and 6th graders sans any pay at all. More selfish baby boomer stuff huh.
So here I am, 50ish, never took a dime in welfare, save as much money as I can, give computers to needy folks, teach kids without pay, pay all my taxes and social security, and am still helping to defend the nation.
And yet you begrudge me a little return on my SS when I am no longer able to work?
Guess I did not do enough for you it seems.
Bad RadioAstronomer for thinking you might be able to retire after working you’re a$$ off for 40 years.
I guess I really screwed you over by being born, didn’t I.
And yet you begrudge me a little return on my SS when I am no longer able to work?
Point one: I never have and would never bash a vet. Never, never, never. My hubby is a career soldier and he will be going to combat in a couple of weeks. I've walked beside him through his military life for 16 years. So please let that one go.
Point two: I have no problem helping someone who is unable to support themselves.
I am frustrated because so many of you just don't see the big picture. If you guys don't seriously help us find a compromise on this SS issue, this country will be well and truly screwed for the next two generations.
I know it's not what you were promised. I know that it's not fair. I know that you all were looking forward to retirement and actually hoping you'd be fit enough to really enjoy it. But this is a Pyramid scheme and it just can't go on like this. It's not right for someone to see the numbers, see that this will bankrupt their children and their grandchildren and still insist that they deserve to play for 20 years, consequences be damned.
If a senior honestly cannot support themselves and if they don't have savings, job retirement, or family to care for them, then the burden should fall to the state. But all 70 million of you can't all go and kick your feet up at once and expect us to realistically carry that load. I'm frustrated because so many of you are in denial to that reality. Whether we *want* to carry that burden or not is irrelevant. We *can't* do it. And yet healthy, able-bodied Boomers are planning on flipping us the bird as they drive by in their RV and yelling, "Stop whining and buy me some gas!"
Why is this so hard for you to understand?