An Unholy Alliance Is Forcing Veterans To Pay For 12 Years Of War

Business Insider ^ | 3 Jan 14 | Tony Carr, John Q. Public

[House Atreides]

“My COLA for 2014 is only 1.5 percent for my modest federal pension... Respectfully, why should I care about military vets - government is saying they’re double dipping.”
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I don’t know whether you left off a “/sarc” tag or not. If not, I’m sure that just as this subject legislation applies to ALL military members (both CURRENT and future) and retirees similar legislation needs to be passed to apply it to ALL current federal employees AND FEDERAL RETIREES. For federal retirees the 1% annual reduction in the yearly COLA should be applied for the first twenty years following the legislation’s enactment or the employee’s year of retirement (whichever is later). This 20 year 1% annual COLA reduction will be in addition to any other reduction that may apply.

Surely you’ll agree with this in the same spirit in which you have no care about our military retirees’ reductions. Write your congressman now and demand this. Hell, maybe it can be used to pay for an extension of unemployment benefits.

[blueunicorn6]

As one of those filthy retired Veterans, let me make it clear again. If my country needs some of my COLA to survive,then I’ll go down to the IRS and write a check on top of it. That’s not what this theft from retired Veterans is about. Nobody’s taxes go down. The deficit doesn’t go down. The budget isn’t balanced. It’s not even an attempt at any of this. This “compromise” budget was Ryan and Murray taking money from retired Veterans to give to HEADSTART and Education TO BUY VOTES FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. It was never about helping our nation. It is about helping the Democrat party.

[blueunicorn6]

Since money is of no concern to you, please send everything you have to Free Republic. It’s only your money, so who cares?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Remind me about how much time Mr. Obama, Rep. Ryan and Sen. Murray spent in uniform.

[RetiredTexasVet]

“The shorthand employed by Ryan to sell his beloved pension cut envisions healthy, well-adjusted, fattened mercenaries ...”

But he forgot about the ones who had lost arms, legs, paralyzed, etc., you know the ones that are significantly less than healthy, well-adjusted, fattened, etc. with no possibility of stepping into corporate America or anywhere for that matter.

[RetiredTexasVet]

And besides, why am I seeing ads on TV everyday for Paralyzed Veterans, Wounded Warriors, etc. doing VA’s job?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Understanding Military Retirement Pay
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalpay/a/retirementpay.htm

[RFEngineer]

“Since money is of no concern to you, please send everything you have to Free Republic. It’s only your money, so who cares?”

So should taxpayers (like me) make every federal, military, state, and municipal retiree a millionaire (like you, maybe)?

I’m just asking.

I already know that we can’t afford it, but I’m just wondering about folks expectations.

[TADSLOS]

As one of those filthy retired Veterans, let me make it clear again. If my country needs some of my COLA to survive,then I’ll go down to the IRS and write a check on top of it. That’s not what this theft from retired Veterans is about. Nobody’s taxes go down. The deficit doesn’t go down. The budget isn’t balanced. It’s not even an attempt at any of this. This “compromise” budget was Ryan and Murray taking money from retired Veterans to give to HEADSTART and Education TO BUY VOTES FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. It was never about helping our nation. It is about helping the Democrat party.

THIS.

[RFEngineer]

So should taxpayers (like me) make every federal, military, state, and municipal retiree a millionaire?

[blueunicorn6]

I’m just asking, too. I’ve already posted that I’m a filthy retired Veteran. Please list your name and employer with address. Then, we can all write and let them know you don’t need any money and especially no retirement. We’re your buddies. If you want to be free with my money, I’ll be free with yours.

[chargers fan]

Not sure what to think. Obviously I don’t like the idea of a pension I am planning on changing. On the other hand, I do hear the old guys talking about retiring at 40 and getting a federal job to get two pensions.

[RFEngineer]

Don’t you think a multi-million dollar retirement package is excessive for federal, military, municipal, or state retirees?

It’s like Detroit on a national level.

[huldah1776]

Finding those who are willing to do the work at cost and not skim will be hard. Always check the give rate on any charity. There are untrustworthy groups using vets now. Charity is not something anyone likes to ask for. The problem is they were promised these benefits by the people, by us. We have to get together and fight for them now.

[2ndDivisionVet]

You're lumping apples (military) retirees in with oranges (federal, state and municipal) retirees. When enemy forces seize or assault DMV or IRS offices or the county tax department, then you can conflate government drones and bureaucrats with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. When civilian employees of the government are forced to go overseas, away from their families and live in tents or foxholes or the hold of a ship and are shot at, bombed, bayoneted, gassed or raped on the job without surcease, then your post would make sense. Because of my service, for example, I have heart disease, hypertension, edema, nerve damage and hearing loss. Should I lay along the thoroughfare and beg for alms?

[RFEngineer]

Since federal, military, municipal, and state retirees all require present year taxpayer funds (and funds to be borrowed to make up the difference) to be taken in order to get paid, I ask again:

Should federal, military municipal, and state retirees be awarded multi-million dollar pensions?

If you are worth it, just say so.

Nevertheless, we can’t afford it, and can’t pay it. It’s just a financial fact.

So what do we do? Pretend that it isn’t true?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Again, the nation didn't promise any civilian workers retirement pay (really retainer pay, as they can be recalled to active duty) after 20+ years service and free medical for life (which they've already reneged on) but that is EXACTLY what they promised the armed forces. BTW, I'm not military retired, I'm a service-connected disabled veteran, but six of one, half-dozen of another. I don't know that we can afford to fulfill the expectations of the civilian bureaucrats, but if we don't respect the military retired and other veterans, who, exactly, do you think will fight the next war or insurrection? You and your neighbors?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Can’t afford it? There are about 50 million on food stamps, millions on TANF, millions in Section 8 housing and many millions in other welfare programs. Until all those programs are kaput, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you or anyone else about cutting veteran’s benefits of any kind. Comprende?!

[RFEngineer]

So should federal, military, municipal, or state employees be awarded multi-million dollar pensions?

[RFEngineer]

Isn’t a multi-million dollar pension excessive for federal, military, state and municipal employees though?