Why dont us veterans who served receoieve equal benefits as congressmen & senators who milk the system?
969958
I'm sorry to say that the majority of our "leaders" have nothing but comtempt for their "subjects".\nIt is ridiculous that the people who have fought for their country are not treated fairly by the politicians who sent them there.\nWe should all learn the lesson that going to war for some greedy politicians whim's is not the same as being patriotic.
972731
My family received welfare when I was a child, but my mother worked 7 days a week in a low paying job and had 4 children to support. My father was of no help. He was only court ordered to pay $65/month! Now, how is that going to help 4 children?\n\nAll four of us grew up to be very productive members of society--I have a Master's degree, my 2 sis have BA degrees and my brother is a HS grad. Each of us hold professional positions, and we all earn good livings. Despite what people think who do not know any better, many people on welfare only need it as a temporary life saver, and work very hard to be independent of it.\n\nAs far as the Iraq war goes, my old BF and cousin served, but they are the only people I know with any affiliation to this war. Most of the men in my family have been in the military, however.
679846
ever since military service became voluntary, the number of upper middle class (and higher) children serving has declined to just about zero.  this is because (a) they typically have more options in terms of jobs and so don't have to use the military as a way to get training/education/employment and (b) because no matter how patriotic they may claim to be, they don't really want to die for their country.  this disconnect is a serious issue as our government continues to evolve, since it is much easier for our elected officials to promote war as a solution to solving the problems of the US since they have zero experience with true warfare and because they have no one who will be directly impacted by the fighting.  it's the equivalent of monday morning quarterbacking.  either military service needs to be mandatory for everybody (reinstating a draft for example) or military service needs to be a requirement for election to certain posts (senators and presidents at least).  there's a motto from the movie Starship Troopers - "Service Means Citizenship" where the most common way for a person to earn citizenship and the right to vote/reproduce was through military service.  Not a bad idea.
829963
Republicans have always wanted to cut veterans benefits, and to cut social security benefits for our war veterans, our war handicapped, and the families of our war dead. It is simply too expensive.
911576
doubt you can do that.most are already retired and i'm guessing the rest already might have tried to serve in the armed forces and were rejected for some reason. Or maybe they served already and didn't renew their service contract,so they shouldn't be forced to serve if they don't wish to.unless of course congress does reinstate the draft and then everyone is fair game.
53784
It's all about the liability and the dollars connected to it, brother. It is a shame the way the nation allows the government to treat our veterans, our brothers in arms, our selfless soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that sacrifice so much to keep this country free.\n\nMy best advice is to contact your Senator or Representative and get them personally involved. Let them know that you are a vet who votes, and you demand they get results for you.\n\nGood luck, bro. 15 years in and counting.
377501
True but it's not so much civil service employees as it is politicians. That being said, government employees enjoy the same benefits people who work for other companies get. When you're affiliated with something, you get perks that the general public would not. Pepsi employees get free soda, Gap employees get a discount off their clothes, cable company employees get free cable and Internet, etc. That's the way of the world. People let stuff like this get by all the time without saying anything. That's what needs to be changed. Not the perks... you know what I mean!
1055996
Troops aren't in the military to get benefits, & vetrans shouldn't be stealing for the reconstruction money over an offense by the previous & now defunct government. There are frozen assets in the US & Europe that could be attached, but the US govt should provide for these men's disablity. I'm for a vastly different & better VA program, but that's always been down the list of priorities for both parties. Troops support the President because he's taking on a confrontational foreign policy that they agree with. \n\nAs for the poor:\n\nDemocrats believe in conspiracy darwinism... That is that poor people are poor because the man is holding them down (from education, jobs, etc). Hence as victims they need govt intervention to save them from theri oppressors. To solve this they do just as they tend with any other problem, they throw money at it. \n\nRepublicans tend to believe in something similar to social darwinism. That is that the world being a natural free-market, those that are capable (smart, dedicated, hard working, innovative, etc) tend to get rich, while those that are not capable (uneducated, lazy, not socially motivated, etc) tend to get poor. Of course everyone starts at different levels. Those that start rich (spoiled bastard tho they are) are living the rewards of hard work in past generations, and good for them. Everyone else can't climb the whole ladder at once. Your job in life is to work hard as you can so you can EARN your children a better oportunity than you had (ask illegal immigrants what they're doing). The role of govt is only to make sure everyone has access to the minimum level of opportunity necessary to gain the average level income. It is good for us to be charitable with the poor, but this should be structured in such a way as to help them find the opportunities to succeed on their own. As in welfare should only last 18-24 months & include mandatory job training & placement, family counseling, etc with free child care while that's taking place. And, we should double the number of fraud investigators on the program.\n\nPS, Bush raised the number significantly below which you own zero taxes. Head start was used to manipulate children from their parents' views, it would have died because of this, but Reagan saved it by putting it back on a strictly educational path & tripled its funding. Both Bushs have increased funding also. This Pres Bush passed significant tax cuts that were went back to people according to what they paid in. That means if you are paying 15% you don't really do much to help the govt & you aren't going to get much back. That's fair, versus democrats who strictly want to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor without regard to earning it (again because they think they're victims of the corporate bugoise - very Karl Marx of them).
582377
well, maybe a change in who deserves full citizenship rights and who doesn't.  Like all us veterans and those that pledge 2 or more yrs of federal service have full rights and those that don't volunteer for fed service lose the right to vote or run for office.  Things would be better for everyone, even those with minimal rights.
647998
Except for WW II, the US has never had a long line of young men (and later women) eager to go to war. Washington complained frequently about how hard it was to keep his army together. Of course, it doesn't help that the US, even befoe it's inception, never paid its military very well and welched on promises made to entice people to enlist. And God forbid you were not injured badly enough to die, because the US has never willingly spent enough money on medical care for disabled vets.
764429
You do understand that we are an DEMOCRACY? Everyone gets an equal vote.  That's the point.  And furthermore, people who were born wealthy or middle class have a much better chance of getting into college and getting wealthy.  People who were born poor, no matter how hard working and intelligent they are, often never have a chance. And that is the flaw in your argument!!!\n\nYou are endorsing a class based system.  One of the fundamental principles of this country is that every one is equal in the eyes of the law.  Everyone gets an equal vote no matter if he or she has 3 million dollars or 3 cents.  No matter if he or she has a Ph.D or a job as a garbage collector.\n\nIf you don't like it, you're welcome to find yourself a class based society outside of the US.\n\nOH, I GET IT.  You are a dishonest neocon attempting to further the stereotype of limousine liberals, by posting this rediculous anti-american post.  Shame on you.   You will find that liberals as a whole get onto this thread and give a massive thumbs down to the suggestion that the wealthy deserve more.  That is what we are fighting!  \n\nThough I guess you probably have multiple nics, and you will have them come on and agree with you to further your pitiful attempt to bash and stereotype liberal attitudes and beliefs.
637880
they keep american workers from being robbed of the only thing of value they have the ability to work and get the job done.although i do take exception to government workers and contractors having unions.they should be paid in line with the private sector if you get a check from the government you should not have union protection , or employ union workers.all the defense contractors nation wide should pay in line with community pay standards.Government workers vote based on there pay check anytime a candidate mentions pay cuts or defense cuts  or cut government spending these people vote for the candidate that is for pay raises benfits and health care never concerned about how we will pay for it. The government serves the people not the people serve the government. these voters like postal workers teachers police fire defense and others working for tax dollars have embedded them selfs so deeply in america that change is impossible to effect fully one third of all people work for the government paid by the other 2/3 rds.if this trend where ended tomorrow we could have meaningful elections that represent the needsss of the people not people covering there own checks electing politicians who are affraid to mention cutting anything except taxes . we can no longer have a program to help the people because we are spending it faster then we make it.people who are connected to goverment jobs and contracts vote for the guy who is going to help them and they already enjoy better pay shorter hours and better health care across the board .They complain if americans want more they say we  need to work harder to pay for it .  I say pay all americans equally and see if they do not sing a different tune.unions are good at getting workers benifits but it should never be allowed for government workers if america needs more pay then all americans should have it not government workers who protect there wages and allow the rest to suffer  . if they were made to feel the pinch other americans feel may- be things would get better insteasd of worse.a one third voting block garunteed .for real change to happen we have to ban together as american workers against the government and declare that we need some changes not the same crap we have got for the last 35 yrs .they started breaking the unions in the 60's and regan did a real number in the 80's bush is a wimp and the unions so weak that it doesnt matter untill we all demand better for ourselfs and families .
1161380
Repuglicans like to lift the top box. They assume that all the boxes will follow, democrats lift the bottom box and all the boxes move. It really is that simple. For those of you that are talking welfare reform, where were you when Clinton did it. He started the welfare to work program. In Michigan you have two years to get to work and four years lifetime and you are on your own. None of you blink about spending 10 billion a month on a war that should have never been. To bad that repukes are so indifferent to the poor, because the are just an illness or a lost job away from joining the corp.
1112808
All vets should be treated fairly and equally. Sufficient funding should be a high priority to help all vets, not just Viet Nam vets. \n\nI tried to put on a play at the Veterans Administration site in Northport, New York and have the gross receipts of my company, NEW FIVE STAR MILLENNIUM ENTERTAINMENT, INC., go to helping the active members of the military and returning vets. I was told "NO".\n\nAnd, the reasons given to me were a smokescreen to allow the auditorium to be used for non-military political fund raising for candidates seeking public office.\n\nVeterans were pushed aside for the benefit of politics and politicians. The Northport, New York Veterans Administration is a joke.
3606
Those privileges would be nice but I don't see it as a big deal. The prices there are not significantly lower than elsewhere to make it worth much. I agree with the above commenter that health care and education are much more important. I would like to see better health care options for veterans.
128726
if you want to be equal you have to fight for your right to be drafted just like the men, to go into battle just like the men et cetera. You have to fight for the things that will make you equal not just the things that you want like higher pay et cetera
861847
More people should read it and respect it like they should our Veterans and soldiers.\n\nMy father was a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam twice Veteran, besides all the other he did in his 32 years of service. Seems as if all the military did was take away benefits once he retired.\n\nThe military itself should read this!