Something for the Vets in our group

[Seabee]

I came across this when reading my e=mail and found it to be rather dissturbing. This time our POW Senator John McCain is doing some dirty work. Anyon with kids thinking about going into the Military should also read this. .Please take and read and respond if you are upset enough.

http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2011/10/mccain-okay-with-cutting-military-benefits/

[Tiffany23]

Seebee...we are $14 Trillion in debt. The military and SS represent the 800 lb gorilla when it comes to the budget, something has to give. If Sen McCain has come to the decision that VA benefits have to be cut...then that is direct proof how bad things really are. Pls don't tout him as some type of traitor. He is one of our most distinguished war heroes that is stuck with making very difficult decisions...can you even imagine what feelings he must have to have to broach this subject.

In my eyes this makes him even MORE of a role model..someone that is willing to make the unpopular decision because it is the right thing to do to keep America the land of free (as in not owing China).

Just my

[Seabee]

As a Vet myself . I would like to hear what other Vets on this site are thinking. Heaven forbid we get into another ME war and we can not get anone to fight in the war, because they know when they come home that their VA benifits will not be there.

[Mongo]

Seebee...we are $14 Trillion in debt. The military and SS represent the 800 lb gorilla when it comes to the budget, something has to give. If Sen McCain has come to the decision that VA benefits have to be cut...then that is direct proof how bad things really are. Pls don't tout him as some type of traitor. He is one of our most distinguished war heroes that is stuck with making very difficult decisions...can you even imagine what feelings he must have to have to broach this subject.

In my eyes this makes him even MORE of a role model..someone that is willing to make the unpopular decision because it is the right thing to do to keep America the land of free (as in not owing China).

Just my

bullshiite to... if he wants to cut something, how about illegals benefits......hell he treats illegals better than Vets

sorry SOB

[tyron]

Hi Tiff,

It might be useful for you to find out if there are any 'cuts' proposed in the recruitment of new soldiers. I think you will notice that that will see a budget increase if anything. This has nothing to do with nobel causes and everything to do with a cynical plan to kick to the curb that which has been used and is not only no longer of any value, but might actually become a cost to be borne.

[Seabee]

Seebee...we are $14 Trillion in debt. The military and SS represent the 800 lb gorilla when it comes to the budget, something has to give. If Sen McCain has come to the decision that VA benefits have to be cut...then that is direct proof how bad things really are. Pls don't tout him as some type of traitor. He is one of our most distinguished war heroes that is stuck with making very difficult decisions...can you even imagine what feelings he must have to have to broach this subject.

In my eyes this makes him even MORE of a role model..someone that is willing to make the unpopular decision because it is the right thing to do to keep America the land of free (as in not owing China).

Just my

Tiffany

From what you write, I can see that you have never been to Iraq to serve in a military fighting role. You have never had to put military gear and go look for the enemy in 120 degree heat. You never have had to see you best military buddy lying on the side of the road with his guts laying out and one leg hanging by a few strands of muscles and blood all over. Then shortly after you got over freind getting hurt, you now get caught up in an IUD and now are lying on the ground with both of your legs gone. As you lay there with the medics working on your bloody body, you begin to worry about your family and how will you be able to take care of them as time goes on.

You see tiffany I went into the service during the Viet Nam War, I trusted that the VA would help me. You see I was invovled in a serious cargo truck accident. I broke my back and now have metal in my back. I got involved with the inventory of toxic chemical not knowing what they were because I was told to do a job. Now I have Addison Disease.

I have now lost my hearing as a result of not being given hearing protection, while doing construction work on the run way in Subic Bay in the Phillipines.

For you to be so condensending that you appear to be, I'll bet you don't know who has given their lives so that you can go out everyday and live the life that you want.. For me I am now confined to the house most days. Thank you Tiffany for caring so much about .

[Slaydadea]

I came across this when reading my e=mail and found it to be rather dissturbing. This time our POW Senator John McCain is doing some dirty work. Anyon with kids thinking about going into the Military should also read this. .Please take and read and respond if you are upset enough.

http://militaryadvan...itary-benefits/

Sent to me in an Email. I think the real problem is obvious. Slay.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best

quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law

that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all

sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only

3 months &8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That

was in 1971...before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less

to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum

of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do

likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the

message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when

they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present &future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security

system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,

and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for

any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans

do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay

will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the

same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American

people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective

1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.

Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress

is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen

legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to

work.

bullshiite to... if he wants to cut something, how about illegals benefits......hell he treats illegals better than Vets

sorry SOB

+1 for Mongo!

[Tiffany23]

Seebee,

So let me get this straight. My generation, Y generation, will have to go into further debt because there are just some budget items that can't be cut, right? VA, DOD and SS are the holy grails that any politician is afraid to address, for just such sentiments. Don't you get it...we are BROKE...we are paying today's bills with the sweat that my generation will be paying off 75 years from now. Everyone one agrees we are in dire straits but no one is willing to have their ox gored. Go someplace else is always the response...don't you get it...those three programs (including medicare) are the VAST majority of the budget....everything else is chicken feed. They aren't going to do away with the program, but instead make adjustments that HAVE to be made.

I'm sorry about your situation and I deeply appreciate your service to our country. Anyone that has read my posts know that I have the utmost respect for our military.

And no...I haven't served...at least directly. But I've been on over 30 bases outside CONUS, served in the Pentagon and have welcome back our warfighters including visiting VA hosiptials all over the world. My father is a AF one star and I've lived most of my life on military bases...so please don't wave the flag in my face...let's discuss this as adults....Americans that want to make responsible decisions to ensure we continue to have a home of the free.

[ems]

Sen McCain has come to the decision that VA benefits have to be cut... can you even imagine what feelings he must have to have to broach this subject.

In my eyes this makes him even MORE of a role model...

McCain's feelings? His feelings?!! MORE of a role model for wanting to cut VA benefits?!!

You can't be serious. McCain has a Congressional pension, so he will not be affected by the cut in benefits. However, most vets are not well off financially, nor health-wise. They deserve every single benefit our government promised them when they enlisted. Our military men and women have put their lives on the line and as a compensation for that our government has promised to take care of their health needs. How can you condone our government reneging on a promise when those who served fulfilled their part? It would be one thing for our government to cut future benefits of FUTURE enlistees as long as they are aware of those said benefits before enlisting. In other words, it’s ok to change future contracts before they are engaged, but don't go back and change a contract that is already in force!

Mongo is right: Why isn't Congress cutting benefits to illegal aliens? Why don't they cut benefits to the NEA or any number of socialist groups? Don’t worry about McCain’s feelings; he sold out a long time ago. Why do you think they call him a RINO? What you should worry about is how our soldiers feel when they get maimed or lose their buddies in battle and then we abandon them in their time of need.

[minichaser]

Another + 1 for mong0 and seabee Let them cut things that do not pertain to the vet and retired. Lord knows they have earned every dime of what they have coming to them

Edited October 19, 2011 by minichaser

[thegente]

Stop all the trillions of foreign aid..problem solved. We've been carrying other nations for the last 50 years, let them fend for themselves from now on. Most of them hate our guts and would NEVER do the same if the situation were reversed.

[Slaydadea]

"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water was thereof dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." (New Covenant: Revelation 16:12). This army which comes from the east will also number 200 million! Today, China states that she now has a standing army of 200 million. Food for thought.

Perfect time to cut our military and their way of life. Makes you wan't to fight for the rights that others are not willing to fight for themselves huh?

"And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand:..." (New Covenant: Revelation 9:16). We've been warned! It's happening. Slay.

Support the cause, Shop Walmart and Target.

[carlablum]

Another + 1 for mong0 and seabee Let them cut things that do not pertain to the vet and retired. Lord knows they have earned every dime of what they have coming to them

An AMEM to Seabee, Mongo and Minichaser!!!

I may not be a vet or retiree BUT my father served 24 years in the navy, retired, was a Vet and died from a service related illness. God bless all of you who have served. My family now sits here helping my mother financially. We as a family moved every two to three years of our lives prior to my Fathers retirement, God knows it was not easy leaving our friends and loved ones to be stationed somewhere else.

My Father fought for this country and died becouse of it. So when they talk about taking from military benefits, I have nothing good to say. If they wan't us to fight for our Country then they better be able to afford to take care of the people who have served!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe if there was a budget for obama's spending habit alone they would not have to consider taking from our heros.

God Bless America!

Carla

[Sann]

Thank you Seabea for all you've done for this country. you are my hero. Thank you EMS my sentiments exactly. When man closes a door, God opens a window. Don't worry. I have faith that God will provide all your needs. Sea' you are in my prayers.

[Shinnidan]

hmmm... i had several paragraphs to comment...but then i deleted it....

its just to much of a double sided debate on this....

[Slaydadea]

hmmm... i had several paragraphs to comment...but then i deleted it....

its just to much of a double sided debate on this....

You're Mod material! Sometimes you gotta say no, I'm not going to do it! Respect, Slay!

[Shinnidan]

You're Mod material! Sometimes you gotta say no, I'm not going to do it! Respect, Slay!

buwhahaha....mod material...buwhahah....thats funny...! ................. no.

i'm better off making fun of the the all the political sillyness that is going around...

"Not gonna do it....wouldn't be prudent at this juncture..."

[Linda]

[ if he wants to cut something, how about illegals benefits......hell he treats illegals better than Vets

Mongo...agreed...between that an other countries the cuts would be enormous...gee what a concept....'help our own THEN those from the outside'....here is to our Vets....

[usndiver]

I'm sure I will get neg'd for this. My father and two aunts worked at a VA Hospital, and not unlike any other government entity the VA is grossly inefficient. My dad took a book to work everyday, and it wasn't read during lunch, he played cards instead. I have an uncle that worked at the same VA that filed a complaint because he never got his two 15 minute mandatory breaks everyday, his job, sit on his fat a$$ and watch tv and boiler gauges, the a hole won and was compensated.

God forbid we make every single part of the federal government work better for less. Everyone I know has had to make some major changes to stay afloat, it's time for our bloated pig of a federal government to do the same. Problem is is that everything is a sacred cow.

I am a veteran and I care about everyone of my brothers and sisters that served. But, the fact of the matter is the VA can do more with less. Less money, less innefficiency, less management, etc. etc. As for the gross negligence in regards to some of the VA facilities, start throwing management in jail and that might change the tune.

[Tiffany23]

Thank you USNdiver...you provide personal information on what is actually happening. Not throwing out scare tactic that we simple delete the VA program. That's not what McCain or I are saying...read this one more time, we need to cut the budget and cut it DEEP...everything needs to be on the table....or else we will ALL be eatting Alpo.

Guys...if you want to meet every promise ever made to an American...why don't we start with the Native Americans! Least you forget that America once belong to them instead of most of your European Ancestors!

Ok...let's look at one recommenation made. Cut all foreign aid...guess how much that would save? Less than 1% of our annual budget goest to foreign aid. See: http://masbury.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/what-percent-of-us-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/

According to this site: http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

18% of our budget goes to past military (read VA)

36% goes to our present military

33% to Medicare

21% to SS

You can wipe out all those other expenditures: national parks, schools, transportation...take them all away and guess what...you won't make a dent in the National Debt.

Get real people, EVERYONE EVERYWHERE has to take a hit..or else we are all SOL

Edited October 19, 2011 by Tiffany23

[Seabee]

Hello Tiffany,

Here is something that we can all ponder. While Sen. McCain decideds that the good ole USA should cut VA benifits in one hand, on the other hand the budget had over $500,000.00 aside so that scientist can watch the matting habbits of the Earthworm. How does this Earthworm fit in your everydayscheme in life?

[tacticalmedic69]

My buddies that survived opns with career ending disabilities say the VA care is another example of "the lowest bidder". When your broken they have no longer a use for you. Ask any one on a medical hold status when sent back to the world ...it sucks, it's not a Cadillac Plan. It's the family that suffers the most.

We as operators all know what can happen when the intel is wrong and the life you had is now forever changed. We chose the life and You don't quit ...but this benefit system that was lacking on a good day should not be messed with... it's all they sometimes have to get by... they did their job.

The deficit and waste in Gov't are a problem that cannot be solved on the backs of those who have served. Call your rep before Veteran's Day and support the vets.

Gotta go...

[Redhorse]

Sent to me in an Email. I think the real problem is obvious. Slay.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best

quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law

that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all

sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only

3 months &8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That

was in 1971...before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less

to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum

of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do

likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the

message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when

they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present &future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security

system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,

and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for

any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans

do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay

will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the

same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American

people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective

1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.

Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress

is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen

legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to

work.

+1 for Mongo!

I believe that all of our politicians are off focus when it comes to the needs of the American People. What the hell are they thinking. We don't need another war, Wars Are Expensive!!! Obama is sending troops to Uganda soon, why? Why didn't he get approval from the house committee and the or Senate? Does he think that he can print money at will. That's only going to devalue the dollar and make things worse.

The boys in Washington ought to pull their heads out and take care of business at home first.

[Kanga]

Thank you USNdiver...you provide personal information on what is actually happening. Not throwing out scare tactic that we simple delete the VA program. That's not what McCain or I are saying...read this one more time, we need to cut the budget and cut it DEEP...everything needs to be on the table....or else we will ALL be eatting Alpo.

Guys...if you want to meet every promise ever made to an American...why don't we start with the Native Americans! Least you forget that America once belong to them instead of most of your European Ancestors!

Ok...let's look at one recommenation made. Cut all foreign aid...guess how much that would save? Less than 1% of our annual budget goest to foreign aid. See: http://masbury.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/what-percent-of-us-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/

According to this site: http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

18% of our budget goes to past military (read VA)

36% goes to our present military

33% to Medicare

21% to SS

You can wipe out all those other expenditures: national parks, schools, transportation...take them all away and guess what...you won't make a dent in the National Debt.

Get real people, EVERYONE EVERYWHERE has to take a hit..or else we are all SOL

Okay Tiffany

I usually love your posts, but I am mathematically inclined. Add up your figures and it comes up to; TADA !

18% of our budget goes to past military (read VA)

36% goes to our present military

33% to Medicare

21% to SS

108% :o

Edited October 20, 2011 by Kanga

[Seabee]

Tiffany,

After reading all of your post, I must admit that we have a huge problem facing this country with the term of the debt and how it should be reduced. First, i am appauled at your attitude towards Vets & Social Social Security. I respect your Father's tour of duty while serving his country, however you have to be mindful of the total circumstances between the soldier and and his active duty time and what he is authorized as a vet after service.

If it were not for the Veterans Administration and what they have to offer our military upon exit, can you imagine how hard it would be to get a good soldier to fight the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. For me the VA helped me go to College and they are monitoring my health issues. I'm sorry you can not understand the complexities of the VA and for all the Sad Sacks in Washington that don't understand either they need to be booted out.

Social Security was a program that was taken advantage of by our government. For many years SSA was taking in more money that it paid out. Not alot of people know this. Anyway.the US Treasury took a lot of money from the SSA to cover and balance the budget of the government. It was kind like a kid robing the cookie jar with no intention of putting any cookies back. I don't know how many billions was pillffered fron the reserve fund over the years but this has cause the sittuation we are in at the current time. Our Represenative are lying to everyone about the state of the SSA and it stinks. Think about what might be available to you when you come of age

I need to close this out as it is getting late and ask that you to consider the few things I have said.