Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congress double-crosses military retirees
CNN ^ | 13 Dec 13 | Rebekah Sanderlin

Posted on 12/14/2013 3:25:15 AM PST by SkyPilot

Edited on 12/14/2013 4:31:16 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Editor's note: Rebekah Sanderlin is an Army wife, Military Spouse of the Year finalist, and a writer who focuses on military issues. She, her husband and their three children are stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. She is an advisory board member of the Military Family Advisory Network.


(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: budget; military; ryan; sequestration; veterans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last
To: Irenic
We purchased a home and sold it for double the purchase price.

So how many homes did you have to buy and sell or moves did you have to make during your military career?

41 posted on 12/14/2013 7:21:54 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Miss Muffit suffered from arachnophobia.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: xzins; P-Marlowe; wmfights; jazusamo; Girlene
When I entered the military it wasn't for the fact that I would like to die for my country. It is a real possibility but that isn't why people go into the military. At least I've never found it to be the case. It's an honorable profession, gives one a chance to see the world, experience new things, there's a whole host of reasons. When you ask why a person joined I have yet to find someone who will say that they want to die.

There was someone out here who made the statement that the military were made offers of pension benefits just as you have done. This is a legitimate statement. But if you make this kind of statement, you have to be consistent. The same statement applies to federal workers as well as pensioners in Detroit. Just because they "don't offer their lives on the line" is no reason the law should work any differently. (Try arguing that to a school teacher these days.)

People do not deserve to have their pensions cut any more than the military. Pensions are NOT entitlements but are benefits, rightfully or wrongfully, promised by the government for services render. People make decisions based upon salary and/or benefits a job offerer makes. Sure, arguments could be made that many of these pensions were too generous or given because of special interest groups. But that could be said for just about any group-including the military. In my mind pensions promised shouldn't be touched. They are compensation for service performed. And that includes pensions in private industry for which they should set aside funds they can't touch. Pension guanantees are not the same thing as say, disability payments, farm subsidies, food stamps, etc.

All this being said, one look at the budget should tell us that entitlements and benefits need to be cut. We have to drastically cut welfare, food stamps, etc. And there isn't anything wrong with cutting FUTURE federal worker/military pensions. Just as there is nothing wrong with telling FUTURE state workers they are going to have their benefits cut. A person going into the military has a right to make a decision whether they are willing to make this sacrifice. There isn't a forced draft any longer. It called supply and demand. If people think they can make more and save more by being an investment banker verses a military planner then go for it.

I'm totally against Paul Ryan's budget deal. It cuts promises made by this government while not touching entitlements. There is nothing in this budget deal that even keeps the status quo. He caved.

We either cut now or the cuts later will be much harder. That is the plain and simple truth.

42 posted on 12/14/2013 7:28:31 AM PST by HarleyD (...one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

Too many moves and too many tears.


43 posted on 12/14/2013 7:32:09 AM PST by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD
I see nothing wrong with cutting either just as long as they also cut the entitlement programs.

I hear you ..... but they are not cutting Entitlements. At all. To the contrary, they are exploding.

This is political cowardice at its worst. They are punishing the people who have fought, bled, and suffered for this nation the most - especially in the last 12 years.

44 posted on 12/14/2013 7:37:54 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jack Hammer
Too many military retirees vote Republican.

That is going to change.

45 posted on 12/14/2013 7:38:26 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ScottinVA
Military members deploy where the country sends them, at great bodily risk to them and emotional risk to their families. Civilian employees don’t.

I am retired military, so I hear you and agree with most of your statement. But, in defense of Federal civilians, some of them do deploy into harms way. When I was flying Air Force cargo aircraft, I brought in plenty of FBI and DoD civilians into some very dangerous areas and situations. Let's face it - some agencies are depots for overweight do-nothings (Dept of Education is a prime example). Other agencies earn their bread and I respect those people.

46 posted on 12/14/2013 7:41:30 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Chainmail
I’m with you. It never fails that when the immediate danger dies down, the non-serving among us start calling for reductions for veterans.

What is a double stab in the back is that this guy.....a supposed "hero" to Conservatives, and our former VP candidate, led the charge to mow down veterans and current military. I am getting e-mails from wives of deployed military. They are in tears at this betrayal.

Shame on Ryan and the rest of these jackasses.

I hope he pays a dear political price for this.

47 posted on 12/14/2013 7:44:10 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: mazda77

My best time was as an enlisted although I didn’t know it at the time. The military is the last institution the liberals are trying to crack but they’re making in rows. I’ve had more than one Colonel tell me they’re a die-hard liberal. They see themselves more as a peacekeeping force than a deterrent (which means they harbor no regrets of spying on US citizens all in the interest of peace).


48 posted on 12/14/2013 7:46:32 AM PST by HarleyD (...one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: New Jersey Realist
I would accept the 1% cut to help out but I think Congress and all other entitlement programs should do the same.

I agree. I have said since last year that if Medicaid, Social Security, and other entitlements agreed to accept Chained CPI, then it would be to the fiscal benefit to the nation.

That is not what this betrayal is at all. This singles veterans out, it exempts the Entitlements that are the REAL causes of debt and deficits, and it is worse than Chained CPI. This is going to cost veterans 20% of their retirement, or worse. And Paul Ryan and Boehner are minimizing it, saying it is nothing. They are lying.


49 posted on 12/14/2013 7:47:01 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Agreed. I’m shocked and ashamed of these despicable, morally challenged politicians.


50 posted on 12/14/2013 7:47:11 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Absolutely...I’m so mad at the Republicans for caving (and that is exactly what they did). That’s what make this whole thing so odious.

I’ll only vote Republican because I will not vote for a Democrat.

I’ll vote for a (legitimate) Tea Party candidate over a Republican even if it splits the vote.

And I would love to hear any FReepers complain to me about vote spliting. The Republicans are worthless and underminding our cause.


51 posted on 12/14/2013 7:51:34 AM PST by HarleyD (...one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD
They are only going to save $6 Billion over ten years with this "deal" - that is almost nothing to a Federal government that spends $10.46 Billion per day!!!

They are betraying our veterans for less than cost of one day's Federal spending.

Think about that.

52 posted on 12/14/2013 7:52:17 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD
The Republicans are worthless and underminding our cause.

I am done with supporting the Republican party as a monolith.

I may support an individual candidate or two, but that is it. I am done.

They have proven themselves to be an enemy of veterans and the military. The days of Ronald Reagan might as well have been 1,000 years ago.

53 posted on 12/14/2013 7:54:03 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: grayeagle
I am a military retiree. I see no issue with cutting benefits for FUTURE military. They can decide to join or not based on the benefits at that time. But stripping pay and benefits from those who have already served is, at least, unethical.

What is so outrageous about the Ryan-Murray "deal" is that future Federal employees have to contribute more to the pensions, but for military, they reached back to veterans who retired years ago. This is nothing but a 20% tax on those Americans who have given the most to this nation.

54 posted on 12/14/2013 7:56:08 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: USNBandit
Ten years of COLA cuts nets $6 Billion in savings Last year the "Obamaphone" program spent $2.2 Billion. The morons in Congress aren't going after the low hanging fruit.

Exactly.

55 posted on 12/14/2013 7:57:13 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

..and he is now pushing amnesty..,He’s toast, as far as I’m concerned.


56 posted on 12/14/2013 7:58:12 AM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: icwhatudo
here is an idea, lets stop giving free money to people that don’t work and lets make food stamps good for milk, bread, peanut butter, and baby formula only.

There are not that many veterans or military to compete with the Takers.

Less than 1% of current Americans serve, and less than 3% of living Americans have ever served.

Meanwhile, there are 49 Million Takers alone who have SNAP cards.

Our cowardly politicians have done the political math.

57 posted on 12/14/2013 8:00:10 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD

Are you telling us that you’re a combat veteran and now you think we’re paid too much/should be first in line for reductions?


58 posted on 12/14/2013 8:00:24 AM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: OldGoatCPO
You are right, slow down the growth with a new retirement plan and change the rank and retirement system as recommended in 2006. What you do not do is go after those who have fullfilled their contractual obligation in anticipation of a retirement compensation. Make changes now and you will see real savings in 10 years. People can scam any system, the 10% exists everywhere in life. You do not punish the 90% who are simply asking for what they were promised.

Agreed.

59 posted on 12/14/2013 8:01:29 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: xzins
Moreover, the excuses of Ryan are incredible deceit. He knows that the government had to increase compensation in the early 2000's to bring military pay up to par with civilian counterparts. Therefore, any claim that military benefits have grown faster than other areas is totally disingenuous.

I read a statement by a retired Air Force 3-star who was a Pentagon Comptroller director in the 1980s. He said personnel costs, adjusted for inflation, were about 28% of DoD spending back in the Reagan era, and today they are 29.4%. The rhetoric out of Chuck Hagel's and Gen Dempsy's offices that it is the people serving who are the disease is a load of garbage.

They are simply throwing their own people into the shredder. That is the cold, hard truth.

60 posted on 12/14/2013 8:05:00 AM PST by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson