The Federal government is required to maintain a standing military. Military retirement was a contractual agreement between myself and the United States Government. I had to perform certain tasks, meet certain requirements and serve for a minimum of 20 years to receive a retirement. In return the government agreed to compensate me at a rate commensurate with the years served and my final pay.
You are right my bennies are paid for by your taxes, as was my military paycheck for nearly 33 years, by the way, you are also paying for local, state and federal law enforcement, firefighters and even the guy working in the sewer. You know what, their sweet bennies are paid for by others as well. Some have a sweeter retirement plans than I do. Also paid for by others.
Point remains the same, saying 47% pay no taxes is misleading. You have between 20% and 30% of the population acting as free riders. Free riders do not and have not been an asset to the society, they give nothing back in return for their entitlement. They certainly pay no taxes. Another 12% are so severely disabled as to be incapable of caring for themselves and as such we as a nation choose to care for them vice euthanizing them.
I didn’t mean it personally, and re-reading my post, accept my apology, as it was coarse.
Background: Non-military, but primary care physician who has a 35% patient population who is Tricare Prime/Standard (and their dependents). Thus, when a vet wants me to write a letter to the VA stating that his hemorrhoids are due to Agent Orange, so he can boost that “service connected” disability, he is a part of that 10% you speak of. I think it is probably closer to 20%, but don’t estimate myself as more knowledgeable than you.
Regardless, 50% of my patients are Medicare. Thus, 85% of my pay comes from the government. I work very hard for it, and sometimes several times a year, the reimbursement for my services are cut off or lowered until congress votes on stop-gap measures.
Effectively, I am also a government check receiver. With the war(s) and Barry’s centralization, a majority of us who work (and who do not!) are now dependent upon the FedGov teet - and we rate that as a necessity and will fight accordingly. We talk broadly, but we vote our paycheck (especially if family is involved). We are thus statists, reinforcing this malignant (and ultimately, terminal) relationship. You have no more right or authority to claim disability monies that I do Social Security - both transactions we invested towards with a promise of return. I also sign a Medicare and Tricare contract every two years.
The problem is that there hasn’t been enough wealth to pay for those promises for quite some time. FedGov knows this, and it is hardly concealed from the voting public. Since every politicians first-most and greatest desire is to remain in office (and ALSO RECEIVE TAXPAYER BENEFITS), the easiest and obvious short-term strategy is to let us continue to believe our “cut” is the top most priority. It isn’t, but as long as you and I continue to fight over it, we exchange security for fear and anger, and they receive the security.
It is wrong, and it has got to stop. Going further, I would say we must stop it, or it will stop on its own accord (scarcity, once the future variable is exploited, will render it unsustainable) and hurt us ALL much worst than if we changed it on our own.
The country of our Grandfathers would have fixed this; that was a time when many would have walked away from Social Security or Medicare Disability - out of pride and altruism, “give it to someone who needs it,” and depended more heavily upon family, church and community. Now, you and I both would think that someone who turned down the tentacles of a FedGov benefit would be insane.
This is no longer the country we like to wax nostalgic over.
With the current borders and population composition, it won’t be again.
Mike