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I'm guessing the four of you may have military-related ping lists which would benefit from seeing this article. The article appears to be a shot-across-the-bow with statistics like this, perhaps calculated to appeal to a moderate-to-conservative audience that opposes “wasteful federal spending,” doesn't understand how badly our military personnel were paid in the not-too-distant past, and why those who risk their lives **SHOULD** be paid more for their work!

“One problem is that unrestrained compensation costs will edge out funds for training, readiness and weapons. A recent Congressional Budget Office study said that between 2001 and 2012, when private-sector wages were effectively flat, basic military pay rose by 28 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars. The study also said that cash compensation for enlisted personnel, including food and housing allowances, is greater than the wages and salaries of 90 percent of their civilian counterparts. And health care costs are projected to rise from $51 billion in 2013 to $77 billion by 2022.”

Those of us who value our military cannot act as if a major New York Times editorial like this won't have effects. Many people who don't understand the military won't understand why these arguments are wrong, and agenda-setting articles like this need to be responded to, not ignored.

The other side doesn't always telegraph its intentions in advance, but when they do and we don't respond or at least prepare for our response, it's our own fault.

I’m waiting for the New York Times analysis of the past 60 years and the TRILLIONS of dollars in wealth transfers,the redundant welfare programs to end poverty,which has done,guess what,INCREASED POVERTY,where is that report a-Holes at the Times.
They say Christmas has been commercialised,poverty has become a business,with the administrators becoming rich and the poor getting 5 cents on the dollar,and the tax payers getting raped

The NYT is being dishonest. They know that the military spent a period of time catching up in pay. Therefore, their pay was intentionally raised, so it necessarily rose compared to civilian pay. THAT was the point.

Also, if they’re including hazardous duty pay, combat pay, and other incentive and specialty pays in their numbers, that his hardly fair since we have been at war since 2001.

But, John Q Citizen won’t remember these things, so they’ll be duped by the dishonest folks touting these numbers.

And as we speak, we’ll have soldiers dying overseas.

Obama CHOSE to disrespect our deceased and their families during the shutdown by refusing payment for the legitimate death expenses. At heart, these people despise the military, and see them as photo op in the best of times.

That tells me all I need to know.