Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts

Government Executive ^ | 3 Aug 2011 | Bob Brewin

[SkyPilot]

It's time veterans and active duty military face the ugly, hard, cold truth:

You are not valued, and this is no longer a "grateful nation" under current political leadership.

This isn't hyperbole - it is reality.

Illegal aliens collecing SSI are worth more to Washington than a veteran who got his foot blown off in Iraq.

Minorities collection AFDC and Section 8 housing are sacrosanct and immune to budget cuts, while active duty military pay is going to be frozen just as it was with Federal civilians. Veteran's TRICARE fees will soar, while Medicare will be protected from the looming November "Super Congress" star chamber (meeting behind closed doors). Military retirees will not receive a Cost of Living adjustment for the third straight year, but ACORN can change its name to "Community Organizations International" and still receive millions in Federal dollars. People can collect 99 weeks of unemployment checks, and they are worth much more politically than a DoD civilian, military veteran, or member of the National Guard.

Entitlements were not touched one hair in this "debt deal" - and entitlements are breaking the back of this nation.

Veterans and the military are not as big a voting block, Obama hates them, and the Democrats don't care what happens to them as long as minorities and seniors still get their checks and pull the big "D" lever (whether you are dead or alive).

Even Republicans will be piling on veterans and the military. The DoD is going to be raped when this "Super Congress" cannot hammer out other cuts.

It is going to happen.

Shame on this country. Those who actually earned any benefits are thrown on the trash heap. Those who strolled along and collected them for breathing are walking away unscathed.

I never thought I would see that day.

[MissEdie]

The liberals are finally getting what they want. It disgusts me to no end. For the first time in my life, I am ashamed of my country.

[RC2]

You may never “see that day”. Not if the American people have anything to say about it. Thanks for your service and thanks to all who have served.........never expecting something like this to happen and never asking for anything in return. My heart goes out to them.

[hattend]

Seeing as how my military pension hasn’t had a raise since Obama has been in office, I didn’t expect much else. When the inflation rate was supposedly 1 or 2% a year it didn’t hurt.

Can’t wait until we hit Jimmy Carter style inflation.

[SkyPilot]

Seeing as how my military pension hasn’t had a raise since Obama has been in office, I didn’t expect much else. When the inflation rate was supposedly 1 or 2% a year it didn’t hurt.

Food prices, medical expenses, and energy costs "don't count" towards the Government computation, so there "is no inflation"....donchaknow.

[flyingtabby]

Ping

[submarinerswife]

For the first time in my life, I am ashamed of my country.

Such an sickening overused phrase when someone doesn't like what the POLITICIANS are doing.

Like the rest of the country has a part in the decision making. I know I did my part in trying to keep this SOB out of the WH.

[hattend]

Hence the word “supposedly” hehehehe

[StonyBurk]

Sky Pilot- excellent reply ,Sir. Thank You for your service. I just read Alexander on the Next american Revolution Patriot Post Aug.4,2011 One of my favorite websites. May give some comfort. I think it seems those most responsible for the
redistribution of funds/ the taxes/ and the borrowing/Debt have secured an annual pay hike for themselves that is always several percentage points higher than any scraps they can manage to throw to the Veteran—or the disabled Vet. Yet it is “everybody else” they insist must sacrifice,at such times.It seems the “progressives’ were factually shocked that the Republicans actually stood their ground for a change at least for the show. And are now setting up the TEA Party as target for their useful idiots.
Anything but consideration of the resolution called for.

[lurk]

I love the military. Dad, sister, brothers, brother in law, friends are all vets.

But I do have a question about whether military retirement and life long disability benefits are constitutional. While they are compassionate and desirable, are they truly constitutional?

If we’re conservatives, we have to be consistent. Does the Constitution allow for such benefits?

[BlatherNaut]

“Shame on this country. Those who actually earned any benefits are thrown on the trash heap. Those who strolled along and collected them for breathing are walking away unscathed.”

You said it. Bait and switch.

Risking life and limb (not to mention the opportunity costs of putting the “needs of the navy” first, living like a gypsy and taking the financial hits in real estate, spouse’s employment, etc. that ensue from the military lifestyle, having to pull the kids out of school every other year to move on to the next duty station, long family separations...).

People give up a lot more than meets the eye to serve their country. And now pay and benefits are counted as collateral for the “tranche” in the debt ceiling bill.

Full faith and credit? Nothing but hot air.

[SkyPilot]

A nice post - and thank you back.

I do know the Tea Party Republicans are aware of the Entitlement mess, and some of them really tried to attack the beast.

They failed. The Democrats won.

Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are exempt from ANY cutbacks - and military and veterans programs are thrown under the bus.

It's just the way it is. There is no sense in lying to ourselves about it. There is no outrage, and there will be one.

There are no more Budweiser commercials showing an adoring crowd in the airport cheering and breaking into spontaneous applause at returning veterans.

In the war of "My Entitlement Check" vs. veterans, the veterans lost.

[Churchillspirit]

Illegal aliens collecting SSI are worth more to Washington than a veteran who got his foot shot off in Iraq.

That is a true and disgusting fact.

[BlatherNaut]

“If we’re conservatives, we have to be consistent. Does the Constitution allow for such benefits?”

Let’s first check and see if the Constition allows for Obama’s Auntie Zeituni (former illegal alien before the “fix”) to be living large on the American taxpayers’ dime.

[Mountain Troll]

Democracy is the best method yet developed to ensure that people get the government they deserve.

Obama is a JUDGEMENT.

[count-your-change]

. But, he said, the stark reality is “everyone will have to suffer a little bit.”

“Everyone”??? IMF? UN? Pay and benefits for federal judges? for congress? foreign aid?

[Mich Patriot]

This is an outrage. The scumbag bottom-feeders who don't produce get to keep all their entitlements (even enhanced with Obozocare coming), while honorable, responsible Americans continue to get the shaft.

FUBO!

[vette6387]

I love and respect our military personnel as much as anyone, but it strikes me that what is being said here is that military pensions and benefits should be sacrosanct and not be subject to any alterations while this country deals with a massive over spending problem. We owe our combat veterans complete medical care and a pension, particularly if they have sustained injuries as a consequence of military action. At the same time, we also have tens of thousands of “retired” military personnel who put in their “20” and retired without firing a shot. A military career was their choice. they accepted what goes with following that career path with all the “hits.” To my mind, they are just another classification of “government employee,” and need to be brought into the solution process along with the rest of those in government service. Now, let the rock throwing begin!

[Protoss]

Don’t forget, the military is a team. Just because someone may not have ever fired a shot in anger doesn’t diminish their value. What about the Soldier who supplies the beans and bullets? What about the truck drivers who drive along dangerous routes delivering necessary equipment? What about the mechanics who work on tanks, artillery, and airplanes? What about the armorers who repair and complete maintenance on airplanes, or the staff officers who devise plans to be executed?

[Mr Rogers]

“A military career was their choice. they accepted what goes with following that career path with all the “hits.””

Yes, and retirement factored into that decision. In my case, I would have left after 8-10 years instead of after 25. Why? So I could have time to build a new career in a different field - not a lot of employment in the civilian world for knowing how to blow people up.

Still, I’ll make this deal: I’ll cheerfully accept a 10% cut in my retirement pay IF everyone else getting a check from the government does likewise. Even 20%.

Oh...and all that comes after cutting things like NPR and welfare for illegals.

I think the military budget should be cut, but I don’t like the idea of cutting military ‘entitlements’ so that no one else takes a cut. I’ll take a hit without blinking an eye, but I don’t think the hit should be restricted to the US military.