Posted on 12/25/2013 11:10:42 AM PST by SkyPilot
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wants to look tough on budget issues. In an editorial published in USA Today explaining his decision to lead the passage of a budget that reduced vested veteran pensions by an average of $84,000 to $120,000, Mr. Ryan founded his message on the urgent need to “do the right thing.”
In doing so, he created a painful irony; Ryan’s budget seeks to save $6B over the next 10 years – equivalent to less than six-tenths of one percent of projected federal spending over that period — by extracting it from compensation already guaranteed to people who earned it risking their lives and defending their country. In other words, despite his assurances to the contrary, he wants to do exactly the wrong thing.
The military and veteran population stand in awe at Ryan’s explanation. He apparently believes we are not only naive enough not to overlook the gaping moral maw between his words and actions, but also dumb enough not to see this for what it is: just the beginning.
If he can decouple vested veteran pensions from inflation while we still have people dying in combat, there will be nothing to stop him from continually enlarging the legitimacy of promise-breaking until veterans wake up one day and realize the pension package they’re getting bears no resemblance to what they and their families earned.
Ryan presents a classic false dilemma. ....
... Ryan admits he seeks to take $100,000 dollars out of the retirement accounts of veterans who earned that money by risking their lives in combat.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Active Duty/Retiree ping.
The problem is that veterans’ benefits is just about the only program they cut significantly. The budget measure actually increases spending in exchange for unspecified cuts down the road while leaving idiot programs like the Obamaphones intact.
>> If veterans are singled out, that’s one thing.
The welfare queens didn’t give up a damn nickel.
That ok with you?
Clinton took a cut on the military back in the 90s with The Cold War Peace Dividend. Now, it’s time for The War On Poverty Peace Dividend. This war has been going on for decades. The last time we did this shared sacrifice with COLAs, the military was the only part of the government that actually sacrificed. Social Security recipients all got a $500 bonus. Where’s our bonus?
Has the number of people in the military over the past 20 years gone up or down? Has the number of people receiving Social Security over the last 20 years gone up or down? Has the number of people receiving Social Security Disability over the last 20 years gone up or down? Has the number of people receiving foodstamps gone up or down in the past 20 years? Money to the Democrat base keeps increasing. Ryan is a dumbass.
Ryan is a liar. The Democrats were crowing about how the money taken from the retired Veterans was going to HEADSTART and Education. There’s two successful government programs that need more money. The decision to take money from retired Veterans had nothing to do with helping the Defense budget or reducing the deficit or any financially-analyzed reason. The decision to take money from the retired Veterans was made to keep the Democrat base happy, and RYAN AGREED TO IT.
OUTSTANDING posts BUMP!
FUPR
Ryan convinced me that he is anti-military in the core of his being. If he runs for national office I will support his opponents in the primaries. If he is nominated by the Republicans I will not vote for him. I hope every veteran has similar sentiments and make them know in every legitimate way. In my locality, a county health board has voted to prohibit smoking in VFW and American Legion halls. There is a pushback which may result in the health boards losing their authority to pass ordinances, and instead require them to submit proposed ordinances to elected county officials. Nobody is going to get elected hereabouts if veterans oppose his or her election, or object to some particular votes he or she has cast. Veterans need to push back on socialists and their fellow-travelers— of which Ryan apparently is one.
I’m convinced most high political types, of both parties, have little identification with the people who serve in the military.
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