My apologies. This is a frustrating thread and a frustrating day. BTW not once at work (yes, even though I work with the government, I was at work yesterday) or here was I told "happy veterans day". Not even a call from a relative. Such is life.
Tell your hubby TO BE SAFE. Sigh. :-(
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 truly believe there really is no solution. Guess what it isn't our fault. We were not the generation that basically put this nation on the road to bankruptcy. It was already flying down that path before we turned 18.
I know it's not what you were promised. I know that it's not fair.
"Life is not fair so get over it". That is what my adopted father taught me.
I know that you all were looking forward to retirement and actually hoping you'd be fit enough to really enjoy it.
Actually that is not true. I dread retirement. At that moment I will no longer feel useful to this nation or society. Nobody gives a damn what I did during the cold war even now. At least presently I still help defend this nation.
Ever wonder why suicides are up among seniors? You don't think I haven't considered that as an option when the time comes?
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.
You think that is what I have been saying? Personally I say scrap the SS NOW for anyone under 57 (that would include me) and hope we as a nation would survive.
Just my two cents.
Just one more thing: *I* care what you did during the cold war. As a young teen, I was deeply impressed with our Cold Warriors. For three of my four years of highschool, I was blindly lead along the socialist path by my teachers. My senior year we were reading Brave New World, but the teacher put a positive twist on it. "Wouldn't this be a wonderful place to live in?"
I remember the light flicking on. Flashes of every cold war movie I'd ever seen, of the stories I'd read about the people attempting to flee Russia, of the stories told by my uncles who served in the military in the 50's and early 60's sped through my head. I actually stood up and said, "Hey! This is Communism!" She tried to sooth me and tell me how a "little" communism was actually a good thing. I was so upset that I asked to go home. (My mother was just liberal enough to allow it.)
If I hadn't had the stories I would never have made the connection and had my epiphany. I'd still be happily marching down the Socialist path. As it turned out, I spent five years reading and researching and going over old ideas from my new perspective.
So I say now, with sincerity: Thank you so much for your service! :-)