Got an email today. Thought Got an email today. Thought it’s worth sharing.
No one has been able to explain to me why young men and women serve in the U.S. Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50% of their pay. While politicians hold their political positions in the safe confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense.
Monday on Fox news they learned that the staffers of Congress family members are exempt from having to pay back student loans. This will get national attention if other news networks will broadcast it. When you add this to the below, just where will all of it stop?
35 States file lawsuit against the Federal Government
Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
This is an idea that we should address.
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform… in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn’t seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don’t care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop..
If each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.”
If it wasn’t the case – I’d be running for Congress. That would be a Sweeet deal – salary for life after 1 term (2 years) of congress!!!
urbanrealtor
April 27, 2011 @
1:44 PM
Yeah.
Even if the premise Yeah.
Even if the premise were not horse shit (which it is), I think that people in high positions in government should have somewhat different regulations than those that address the public at large.
For example, I think that members of congress should have different levels of secrecy required as well as different levels of privacy.
I want some people in government to know the nuke launch codes.
I don’t want any of the public to know it.
I want to know about my congressman’s financial health (like if he is vulnerable to bribery).
I certainly don’t want him to know about mine.
So no, this is not something I would ever support.
briansd1
April 27, 2011 @
2:02 PM
urbanrealtor wrote:
So no, [quote=urbanrealtor]
So no, this is not something I would ever support.[/quote]
That makes 2 of us, so far.
Anonymous
April 27, 2011 @
2:35 PM
Also, military retirement of Also, military retirement of 50% pay for life, is extremely generous.
Retire at 42 after 20 years as an officer, live to be 75, and the present value of the retirement plan is around $750K. Plus free medical benefits and other perks. (Enlisted pay is not as high, of course, but still pretty good.)
How many 42 year-olds today have $750K in their 401K? (with zero chance of losing any of it in a downturn…)
Stay in a few more years and your retirement is easily worth more than $1 million.
Today, the military creates more millionaires than Silicon Valley.
But these people risk their lives! True, some jobs in the military are very dangerous. But the vast majority are not dangerous at all. Only a fraction of the military is in combat roles, and many of them never actually see combat.
It would be great if we could pay our heroes unlimited amounts. Heck, it would be great if we could pay *everybody* unlimited amounts. Reality demands otherwise.
[And yes, I am a veteran, served in a combat unit, but never saw combat.]
teaboy
April 27, 2011 @
3:31 PM
pri_dk wrote:[And yes, I am a [quote=pri_dk][And yes, I am a veteran, served in a combat unit, but never saw combat.][/quote]
I am not a veteran and so could never publicly say that i agree wholeheartedly with your post.
Not all officers could serve the full 20 because the system is up or out, and the needs at any given level vary from year to year so many good officers were “passed over” and had to leave before retirement eligiblity. Enlisted pay, and retirement, is based on far lower compensation, and there are far more enlisted service members. Military compensation is far less than jobs with comparable budgets and responsibilities in the civilian sector. The operational jobs are hard, some are dangerous, and the hours are far longer than civilian jobs (my unit, typical for my branch, had a 1 day in 3 duty rotation which is 24 hours on then 2 days normal work before the next 24 hour alert duty which ran 24/7/365).
You are much better paid comparing working compensation and benefits, hours, and on a present value of retirement basis as a California policeman or fireman.
April 27, 2011 @ 10:23 AM
Got an email today. Thought
Got an email today. Thought it’s worth sharing.
April 27, 2011 @ 10:25 AM
FALSE:
FALSE: http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/studentloans.asp
April 27, 2011 @ 10:43 AM
And more
And more debunking…
congressional reps and senators get a pension based on years of service AND pay into social security. (This has been true since 1984)
http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/retirement_for_members.shtml
Basically our federal legislators have the same benefits as any other federal worker… Not FULL salary after one term.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30631.pdf
If it wasn’t the case – I’d be running for Congress. That would be a Sweeet deal – salary for life after 1 term (2 years) of congress!!!
April 27, 2011 @ 1:44 PM
Yeah.
Even if the premise
Yeah.
Even if the premise were not horse shit (which it is), I think that people in high positions in government should have somewhat different regulations than those that address the public at large.
For example, I think that members of congress should have different levels of secrecy required as well as different levels of privacy.
I want some people in government to know the nuke launch codes.
I don’t want any of the public to know it.
I want to know about my congressman’s financial health (like if he is vulnerable to bribery).
I certainly don’t want him to know about mine.
So no, this is not something I would ever support.
April 27, 2011 @ 2:02 PM
urbanrealtor wrote:
So no,
[quote=urbanrealtor]
So no, this is not something I would ever support.[/quote]
That makes 2 of us, so far.
April 27, 2011 @ 2:35 PM
Also, military retirement of
Also, military retirement of 50% pay for life, is extremely generous.
Retire at 42 after 20 years as an officer, live to be 75, and the present value of the retirement plan is around $750K. Plus free medical benefits and other perks. (Enlisted pay is not as high, of course, but still pretty good.)
How many 42 year-olds today have $750K in their 401K? (with zero chance of losing any of it in a downturn…)
Stay in a few more years and your retirement is easily worth more than $1 million.
Today, the military creates more millionaires than Silicon Valley.
But these people risk their lives! True, some jobs in the military are very dangerous. But the vast majority are not dangerous at all. Only a fraction of the military is in combat roles, and many of them never actually see combat.
It would be great if we could pay our heroes unlimited amounts. Heck, it would be great if we could pay *everybody* unlimited amounts. Reality demands otherwise.
[And yes, I am a veteran, served in a combat unit, but never saw combat.]
April 27, 2011 @ 3:31 PM
pri_dk wrote:[And yes, I am a
[quote=pri_dk][And yes, I am a veteran, served in a combat unit, but never saw combat.][/quote]
I am not a veteran and so could never publicly say that i agree wholeheartedly with your post.
tb 😉
April 27, 2011 @ 8:51 PM
My generation of veteran
My generation of veteran (1987-1994) was eligible for 40% of base pay at 20 years (they now call this CBX/REDUX), not 50%, so this has changed over time. http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/retired-pay/military-retirement-system
Not all officers could serve the full 20 because the system is up or out, and the needs at any given level vary from year to year so many good officers were “passed over” and had to leave before retirement eligiblity. Enlisted pay, and retirement, is based on far lower compensation, and there are far more enlisted service members. Military compensation is far less than jobs with comparable budgets and responsibilities in the civilian sector. The operational jobs are hard, some are dangerous, and the hours are far longer than civilian jobs (my unit, typical for my branch, had a 1 day in 3 duty rotation which is 24 hours on then 2 days normal work before the next 24 hour alert duty which ran 24/7/365).
You are much better paid comparing working compensation and benefits, hours, and on a present value of retirement basis as a California policeman or fireman.
Or a San Diego librarian:
http://foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/richard-rider/8160-billboard-comparing-head-san-diego-city-librarians-pension-with-4-star-gener