Legislators ready to award

[Grolli]

 

Overtime is the norm in civilian life and you do what you're told but you don't have to salute and being deployed is usually short term and you eat restaurant food, sleep on motel mattresses.

 

Are you kidding me??? I spent a year living with the Iraqi Army, sleeping on a Hummer, and shooting at wild dogs to keep them away before they chewed on us.

 

Sir, you have no earthly idea what the military puts up with. But I will still defend your ability to have your opinion.

[bongobobny]

Not wanting to speak for syscrusher, but I think he meant CIVILIAN deployment meant those nice comforts...

 

PS Grolli thank you for your service!!!

[syscrusher]

I have an idea of it but most of the worst of it doesn't last for an entire career, unless you want it to. For the rest of us there's plenty of really cruddy jobs and they tend to stay that way for an entire career.

 

Here's a list of the ten most dangerous jobs, police and firefighters don't make the list don't think military was considered in the list.

 

The 10 Deadliest Jobs:

1. Logging workers

2. Fishers and related fishing workers

3. Aircraft pilot and flight engineers

4. Roofers

5. Structural iron and steel workers

6. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

8. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers

9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

10. Construction laborers

 

 

 

I've done several of these jobs. I was a paddleman at the second largest galvanizing kettle in the world. I used a wooden paddle to scrape the ash off the surface of the molten lead/zinc mix after dipping power distribution towers and irrigation pipe and components. I would then use a variety of techniques to hot finish the products. The chains would sometime break when parts were being raised from the kettle and I would run away from molten metal being splashed in my direction since my job required me to be out there. Sometimes parts weren't completely dry and you'd get a blast of metal as they were lowered. The air quality was as bad as anything except maybe nerve gas. If the gas was turned off for any reason I would have to get into a tunnel and stick a torch into little doors to relight that monster while the flame blasts back out at you. I'd walk out into 10 below weather without a coat and drive the 15 miles home before I started to cool down after shift change clean-up. I've done plenty of crappy, dangerous, difficult, dirty jobs. Why don't I get an early retirement or a double -dip?

 

How about this, EVERYONE gets a government sponsored pension at 55?

Let's just make it fair.

[RandyR]

the military retiree's another "Bendover" award.

 

Because military retiree's are receiving soooo much money, and most took other jobs after retirement we can expect a 1% reduction in our COLA.

 

More awards to follow...

 

Don't forget to thank your federal legislators......

 

It looks like this may get a FIX applied.

 

The following was extracted from GA Sen Isakson's weekly email newsletter.

 

I was very concerned to learn that (military) disabled retirees and survivors were mistakenly included in the provisions slowing the growth of retirement benefits over the coming years. I believe that this mistake must be corrected and my continued support for this budget agreement was predicated on the chairman’s commitment to correct this mistake.

Edited December 20, 2013 by RandyR

[Black Owl]

 

Bad union???

Also, here is an extract from a letter I received from Congressman Kline.

 

Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns with the provision in the bipartisan budget agreement that alters Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for working age military retirees.

 

I share your concern that the budget compromise included unintended consequences, which is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3789, legislation that will exempt disabled veterans from changes to their COLA, due to the budget agreement. This legislation exempts all disabled veterans who medically retire, those who receive Combat Related Specialty Compensation (CRSC), and those who receive Concurrent Receipt Pay (CRDP).

 

As a retired Marine, husband of a career Army nurse, and father of a son who has served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I take seriously my congressional responsibility to provide our troops, veterans, and their families the support they deserve.

 

While the budget compromise was far from a perfect solution, it will reduce the deficit by $23 billion over the next 10 years without any tax increases, protect our national security, and maintain the savings from the Budget Control Act of 2011 – which enacted sequestration cuts. This bipartisan agreement was a small step toward ensuring economic security for hardworking Americans.

 

Thank you again for contacting me – I greatly appreciate your input. Please feel free to contact me again regarding any issue of importance to you.

 

Edited December 21, 2013 by Black Owl

[Yammer Dan]

I made your 10 deadliest jobs list 4 times but I get my pension for my 20 yrs in Prison!!

[Grolli]

Eh.. I only made it 3 times.. but all the jobs that count were while I was military... And thanks for the support from the folks on this forum!

[djh3]

I had 4 of the jobs on the list. At least a couple were on active duty. Not counting the garbage collector one. I think everyone in the service has had that one. LOL

[syscrusher]

Are you kidding me??? I spent a year living with the Iraqi Army, sleeping on a Hummer, and shooting at wild dogs to keep them away before they chewed on us.

 

Sir, you have no earthly idea what the military puts up with. But I will still defend your ability to have your opinion.

 

Reading your supposed horror story actually sounds kind of fun. Was that really the worst of it?

[Yammer Dan]

Reading your supposed horror story actually sounds kind of fun. Was that really the worst of it?

 

 

Then go have you some FUN and earn a pension!!

[CaptainJoe]

There was talk on the news this morning that quite a few of our veterans are not going to

re-enlist because of this...

 

Guess we're one step closer to a Draft.

[Grolli]

Reading your supposed horror story actually sounds kind of fun. Was that really the worst of it?

 

Supposed horror story. Again, you have no idea what the military does, or puts up with. Shot at, blown up, picking up pieces of people that 10 seconds ago were talking to you, shooting at wild dogs in self defense. No.. it was not fun. It was survival. There is a difference. You can ask any combat vet, he/she will tell you the same thing.

 

As others have stated, you can not just quit... there is no union establishing safety measures, there is no "oversight". You do what you are told, or go to prison.

 

You say I do not deserve any kind of compensation. How do you propose I get these nightmares out of my head? And you say I am fortunate.. that there is no need for any kind of compensation... Look at it this way then... My military retirement is my workmans compensation. My back is shot, I have metal fragments in my right leg, I have lost 20 percent hearing, there is constant ringing in my ears.. I guess I am fortunate.. I only have to work 2 jobs now, while being in pain.

 

Thank you for pointing out how lucky I am.

[djh3]

Ya know maybe this guy is right. I do have it pretty damn good. I still have about 50% thats still operational (per the govt). I am still alive to hear people whine about other haveing a better deal. I have a job I enjoy going to to support myself and the other 64 families living off my income. And I live in one of the greatest countries in the world. All because I protected and defended my country for only 20 yrs. Of course there was the ten years after that I had to aggree to that if someone found necessary I would have to go back.

I would gladly make some concessions to my legaly contracted pay if the politicians would atleast make some sort of jesture they were trying to do the same. Heck Lee Iacoca took a job with Chrysler when they were in the tank and worked for $1 a year, and brought the company back from destitiution. Do you think our politicians could take a play from that game plan? Heavens knows they all could afford it.

[bongobobny]

You can always follow the great American dream and go out and sue somebody to get rich...

[Grolli]

You can always follow the great American dream and go out and sue somebody to get rich...

 

heh.. true!

[Black Owl]

Skycrusher, I really must admire you for taking what has turned out to be a rather unpopular position and sticking too it.

But I am curious about one thing. Maybe you could explain it to me.

Why did you choose the article written by Dr. Lawrence Kolb to support your argument? Dr. Kolb is a retired Naval officer, he is also drawing a pension for his time with the US Government and drawing social security. And, in addition to drawing three government pensions he is working full time as a professor at Georgetown University.

[etcswjoe]

Skycrusher, I really must admire you for taking what has turned out to be a rather unpopular position and sticking too it.

 

But I am curious about one thing. Maybe you could explain it to me.

 

Why did you choose the article written by Dr. Lawrence Kolb to support your argument? Dr. Kolb is a retired Naval officer, he is also drawing a pension for his time with the US Government and drawing social security. And, in addition to drawing three government pensions he is working full time as a professor at Georgetown University.

 

 

 

I think Flag officers do not remember where they came from.

 

I think his position is wrong but I too have to admire his courage to stick with it, too many people now will apologize for their beliefs just to be liked again. I also have to applaud all those that have commented and kept this thread a little heated but otherwise civilized.

 

May everyone have a truly blessed Christmas.

[syscrusher]

Skycrusher, I really must admire you for taking what has turned out to be a rather unpopular position and sticking too it.

 

But I am curious about one thing. Maybe you could explain it to me.

 

Why did you choose the article written by Dr. Lawrence Kolb to support your argument? Dr. Kolb is a retired Naval officer, he is also drawing a pension for his time with the US Government and drawing social security. And, in addition to drawing three government pensions he is working full time as a professor at Georgetown University.

 

 

 

Well thanks, I guess. The article was just the first one that I found with the details about what everyone was complaining about. The cost of living increase was going to be one percent less, ie. instead of 3% it would be 2% or whatever and would only apply to younger retires, and only till they are 62, and hopefully soon those who are disabled will soon be excluded. So if you're getting $14,000 a year as was discussed earlier then 3% would be $420 and 2% would be $280 and the difference would be $140. So we're all upset and gonna throw the bastids out, ready to round us up a posse and head to Washington DC with a nice new rope to string up everybody for this travesty? BFD! Not worth all of the time and trouble to discuss it even. Who hasn't lost $140 in a poker game or spent it on safety chrome or booze?

 

One thing though, I do want to make it clear that if you're disabled from the fun that you've had while in the military then you deserve a pension. NOW, what about a pension at 55 years for the rest of us? What about all of those transmission poles that I galvanized and certified? What about all the roofs I tarred, shingled, and covered in sheet metal? What being a material handler, construction laborer, dock help, driver, etc. What about my time at the railroad "Building America". I really do want an answer because I'm afraid that most of you are going feel like it's alright for y'all, God given right and the sort, but a bridge to far for the rest of us to retire at 55 on a government pension. What do you say, how about we all retire at 55 just like over in Greece?

[etcswjoe]

Well thanks, I guess. The article was just the first one that I found with the details about what everyone was complaining about. The cost of living increase was going to be one percent less, ie. instead of 3% it would be 2% or whatever and would only apply to younger retires, and only till they are 62, and hopefully soon those who are disabled will soon be excluded. So if you're getting $14,000 a year as was discussed earlier then 3% would be $420 and 2% would be $280 and the difference would be $140. So we're all upset and gonna throw the bastids out, ready to round us up a posse and head to Washington DC with a nice new rope to string up everybody for this travesty? BFD! Not worth all of the time and trouble to discuss it even. Who hasn't lost $140 in a poker game or spent it on safety chrome or booze?

 

One thing though, I do want to make it clear that if you're disabled from the fun that you've had while in the military then you deserve a pension. NOW, what about a pension at 55 years for the rest of us? What about all of those transmission poles that I galvanized and certified? What about all the roofs I tarred, shingled, and covered in sheet metal? What being a material handler, construction laborer, dock help, driver, etc. What about my time at the railroad "Building America". I really do want an answer because I'm afraid that most of you are going feel like it's alright for y'all, God given right and the sort, but a bridge to far for the rest of us to retire at 55 on a government pension. What do you say, how about we all retire at 55 just like over in Greece?

 

 

Others may think different but it's not losing the one percent that really matters it's the fact that there are so many other wasteful programs that should have been cut first. I would gladly give up part of my retirment if it would actually help anything but untill these other programs have been cut I see no point and as for you other questions I think it has been covered several times without going into very personal and gory details already.

 

Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours.

[CaptainJoe]

Greece is a bad example, eh?... LOL

 

 

Is this really what you want:

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-financial-collapse-of-greece-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-for-the-global-economy

Edited December 22, 2013 by CaptainJoe

[Grolli]

Others may think different but it's not losing the one percent that really matters it's the fact that there are so many other wasteful programs that should have been cut first. I would gladly give up part of my retirement if it would actually help anything but until these other programs have been cut I see no point and as for you other questions I think it has been covered several times without going into very personal and gory details already.

 

 

^^ this ^^

 

Agree 100%

 

It just seems that the first thing to cut is the military in some way, shape, or form.

[Black Owl]

$140.00. That is almost three times what I was making when I first enlisted. So let us not go down that road.

[RandyR]

I'm a firm believer in trickle-down economics.

 

The government should send me lots of money and I'd trickle it out buying things for myself until its all gone, thereby helping the entire economy.

 

 

 

[blue mtn. jim]

If you want to really know the truth there is no such thing as a 20 year military retirement you can leave the military at 20 with retainer but you do not retire until 30 years.

 

I believe most people on here are aware of the terms of military retirement and for that retirement the ones that make it to that point have had the luxury of being shot at, spending years away from their families, taking cold showers or none at all, eating MREs or none at all, missing their kids grow up, spending days awake because they don't know if that low hanging cloud is dust from a wind storm or nerve gas, being awaken in the middle of the night by a mortar attack, standing watch in all kind of conditions and more horror and sacrific than most will ever know, I forgot to mention a good portion of retirees never live past their first year of retirement.

 

 

Even without the things mentioned above I believe the single fact that these men and women served our country for a good protion of their lives and were willing to sacrifice those lives for the good of this country deserve the small of retirement they get.

 

A military memeber does not serve for the money they serve for their country and I know this must be true because why would

anyone work in a job that paid half or less of what they would make in the civilian world?

 

I do not hold your comments against you but do me a favor research the things I have said and if after that you still think the way you do so be it you have that right and the right to speak it thanks to those that served.

It took me 60 years to learn these words ( IT IS WHAT IT IS ) disabled vet Jim USAF

[Black Owl]

Welcome to the conversation Jim....