[cva66snipe]

One thing nobody is mentioning. Our number of End Troop Strength meaning the allowed number {ceiling} congress sets on Active Duty has actually drop by IIRC a third since the early 1990's. Less people doing more on active with some task contracted out.

In the same realm the number of vets being buried in veterans cemeteries is dropping off. WW2 had the highest modern times number eligible and most WW2 vets are gone. Korea and Nam Vets will be next. The eligibility is simple for a VA operated or subsidized cemetery. 180 days active duty minimal with an Honorable Discharge. The Civil War up to WW2 had the highest number of vets in these cemeteries. So despite what congresspersons Wiz on military & vets say the money saving nonsense at expense of Vets the cost have been going down and reductions made.

[kearnyirish2]

In discussing any pay/benefits for government employees, I always look at the state of the taxpayers first. I don’t know specifics (I plead ignorance on that), but I do know that expecting workers to shoulder the burden for benefits that have disappeared for most of them decades ago will never be popular.