Quote:You know that money you use to buy stuff from those good ol' Private Organizations?


It's backed by the Federal Government.  Otherwise it would be totally worthless.  The pieces of paper you own (unless you invest all in gold, and in which case I'm wondering where you shop that lets you pay in gold) and have in the bank would be totally worthless if the federal government weren't operational.  Someone of course has to print that money too.  So you're able to buy stuff thanks to taxpayers who pay for money to be printed.  So you too are paid by socialism (again, unless you are paid in gold)

 

That's fiat currency it has nothing to do with any of this. And if we want to have that conversation I have a very big problem with fiat currency.

 

Quote:Seriously???? We are NOT conditioned to accept handouts from the government. We are conditioned to bust our [BAD WORD REMOVED] to serve this country.

 

As someone stated before, contracts were signed, lives were given over to the government to do with us what they wanted/what was required. In return they pay us (have you seen the pay of an enlisted troop? Not even minimum wage per hour considering we're officially on duty 24/7), feed us (chow hall, MRE's), clothe us (uniforms), house us (barracks, tents, on post housing) and provide healthcare and retirement for a job we do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are expected to be ready 24/7 to be at the military's beck and call because that's how it works. No other job I can think of for the average American comes close. And we will go into harms way to protect this country, whether we or anyone else agrees with the why of it, or not.

 

I agree with most of what you put out on the board but in this you are sorely off base. In so many ways you are off base. Unless you have lived the military life you don't even know the hardship that goes into it for the troops and their families. We deserve every bit of retirement we earned, every bit of that healthcare (which BTW is not entirely how you think it is or you wouldn't consider it socialized), every bit of that VA loan (it's a LOAN we have to pay back- hello), every bit of whatever USAA wants to offer us.

 

I've been both the Soldier and the spouse so I know I speak from both perspectives in that you have no idea of what you're talking about. 

 

Benefits are not synonymous with handout. I said everyone including the military is being conditioned to expect government benefits. Yes they are earned but they are still benefits paid for by the government and taxation. 

 

Quote:WHAT? The Veterans Administration is a socialist program? Do you even know how the system works? After retirement/seperation from the military, the Veteran Affairs Administartion is where the funds come from for health/vision and dental or IF you are near an active military base that has such facilities, you can go there for services...While on active duty, you simply go to your base medical/dental or facility...The problem is the government keeps cutting the budget for the VA

 

The governement does not confiscate food for the sailors at sea...they provide it because when you are out to sea, you have no where to eat but your ship...on military bases, you generally don't have time to run grab something to eat...food is provided because you are paid as a military person 24 hours a day...you are NEVER off from the military...sure you might get a day off from your job, but you are STILL on the military clock...

 

My friend, you really need to investigate what it's like and how the military works before you try to condemn it as being provided for by socialist properties...we get such benefits because we are paid for 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year but we still are on the clock on days off and on leave...totally different than private sector and those who have never served have no clue what it's "all about

 

Most jobs have benefits, the military benefits used to be the main reason people joined other than to serve their country...Because of politics our benefits package has shrunk along with our pay...We are provided the benefits, no we are not provided with the benefits, we EARN them...

 

Yea I know how the VA works it's the prime example of socialized medicine. The VA is funded by tax dollars it's one of the most dysfunctional forms of healthcare and it's what Obama-care is going to lead to for everyone. 

 

I said everything provided by government has to be paid for through forced taxation. I'm not arguing the sailors shouldn't be fed, of course and they should be fed the best. I'm not trying to condemn the military or anyone associated with the military I have a profound respect for you guys and what you do. That doesn't however mean we can't have a discussion on the topic. 

 

 

Quote:Let me add, lest anyone gets their panties in a bunch.... We deserve it because we EARN(ED) it. Period. 

 

No one's getting their panties in a wad, we're discussing if some forms of socialism are acceptable and others are not. From what I'd gather in this conversation most are ok with redistribution so long as a service is provided in accordance to the payment. So my question is are you guys ok with doing the same for other government workers, teachers, police, firefighters, trash collectors, IRS, politicians, ect.....

 

If not then it's only selective socialism people are ok with, I'm not sure I agree with that. 

 

That doesn't change my respect or gratification for military members. 

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