[SkyPilot]

Looks like the GOP got its pound of flesh from military retirees. The above story was from Monday, 9 Dec. From today's headlines:

Budget deal would reduce COLAs for some military retirees

I am a military retiree, and I recognize we have a budget problem. I am willing to see cuts that must occur to solve our fiscal problems, however, those cuts should be shared.

Medicaid is now a time bomb because ObamaCare is adding millions of more Takers to the system. Social Security Disabilty is now a $150 Billion a year enterprise, and there is no arguing that many on this program are nothing but scammers.

They will get a full Cost of Living allowance.

These guys won't.

It is time to realize the GOP is no friend of the military. In fact, they have not been one for years.

[Logical me]

It is time to realize the GOP is no friend of the military. In fact, they have not been one for years.

You are full of ____. America is on the verge of total collapse and if you were really intelligent you would realize that we all are taking a cut. I am a Korean vet so spare the BS.

[Kenny]

It is time to realize the GOP is no friend of the military. In fact, they have not been one for years.

Nope, the country's been effectively divided so they don't need military votes. And of course there's the fact that America has let these tyrants stop military ballots over and over again so the military has no say in anything anymore.

[AlmaKing]

You made your bed, now sleep in it.

[redgolum]

The issue is the same with any defined benefit program.

You end up paying for three workforces, of which one is actually working. Used to be most died before they were receiving benefits for to long, now a 20 retired person can life for an extra 30 years.

The benefit system is why the US is starting use more and more mercenary “security forces”. They are MUCH cheaper in the long term than regular military personal. Trouble is by definition, most have no loyalty to the USA. The Fedgov has little choice but to use these mercs if they want to keep pursuing US interests.

We either start cutting benefits, cut services, or both. Status quo won't work.

Full disclosure. My wife is a state employee in the same boat. Teachers were “promised” a nice retirement package that is not able to be paid out now because of reality. Many are mad about it, but we have decided that we will not retire till late 60’s early 70’s. With the decline in health care coming, that means that we will likely work till we can't anymore, and die.

[kabar]

Both parties are dedicated to crony capitalism, including the many contractors who profit from DOD. Eisenhower was correct about the danger the military-industrial complex poses to this Republic. I would go further and say that the corporate influence on our government is a real problem.

Federal, state, and local government expenditures amount to over 40% of the country's GDP. Government has a major impact on the winners and losers in the private sector. Such control is pernicious, especially since the political parties can extort campaign contributions using government funds.

As a veteran, I share your concern about our defense posture, but unless we do something about curtailing the welfare state, we will have more and more cuts to defense in order to fund entitlements and other government benefits. It is the age old battle of guns versus butter, and butter usually wins since it has more constituents. One just has to look at the UK and other European countries to see where we are headed in terms of defense spending. We just added another huge entitlement program, Obamacare, that will suck huge amounts of money out of the private sector and the federal budget.

[MSF BU]

It would be interesting to know when the last member of Ryan’s family or Murray’s family was to serve in uniform. I know Ryan himself had better things to do apparently.

[blueunicorn6]

I don’t think that cutting military pensions is at the top of the list for the Republicans. Every time somebody starts calling for cuts in any Democrat base supported item, the Democrats start yammering about cutting defense. They throw it out to frighten the conservatives. This is an even bigger issue because of the “haircut” they are looking to give the city retirees of Detroit. That really has the Democrats scared. Those Democrat city retirees in Detroit are about to get their reward for voting for Democrats all those years....a nice 80% cut in their pensions. How loud do you think they are screaming? They don’t have the guts to look in the mirror and say, “We brought this on ourselves.” So, they threaten military retirement to try and get a bone to throw to the city retirees from Detroit. I don’t vote Democrat because they’re a bunch of self-serving liars.

[Mashood]

Paul Ryan is a disappointment.

[dfwgator]

Political suicide.

[puppypusher]

I just can’t stand these creeps from Congress.They’ll go out of their way and stab our Veterans in the back by taking away their Health Care,Benefits and Now they’re attacking the Retirement Benefits for these Veterans.

When is the Congress going to cut its own damned benefits and pay?Damned S.O.B.’s.

[3Fingas]

Before Congress cuts military pensions they should get rid of their own outrageous retirement system. Why do congressman get lifetime pensions when they leave public service? For that matter, why do they even get paychecks seeing as the can’t even accomplish their primary task to produce an annual budget (we have been operating under CRs for years)?

[3Fingas]

I do think we should reform our military pension system for future servicemen.

This is how I think it should be reformed.

Go to a 401k type system. Use the TSP program in which service members already can participate. However, change it in this regard. Have employee matching contributions for a certain amount, just like civilian employees have. Here’s the real change I am proposing: make the system tax free going in and coming out. Service members can deduct contributions from taxable income and not have to pay any taxes when they collect a lump sum or elect tax free allotments when they get out. This way those who do not serve 20 years can also benefit from the system. The incentive to stay in is there also as serving more years produces additional tax free contributions and a larger amount when you get out.

The other advantage to my proposal is that the separating service member than is not dependent on, or tied to, the federal government for a retirement check every month. Freedom and no dependency on monthly checks. Time to rethink the wisdom of waiting for a monthly government check. I would rather have a lump sum of tax free money and no need to be locked into receiving a monthly check which could be manipulated by Congress as it is now.

[Poundstone]

Interesting debate. Glad I’m already a Federal retiree!