Saturday, October 28, 2006

Couldn't have said it better myself

This was forwarded to me by a good friend the today. I'm going to re-post it here, but won't reveal the author until later this week because many of my readers, once learning of the author's identity, would dismiss this as propaganda.
Which it isn't.
But I couldn't have said it better myself.
"I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.
If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.
Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.
We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well.
You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing. Make sense?
However, our own U.S. Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month.
And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.
I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.
When do we finally do something about this?"
Nuff said?
These are my brothers and sisters in the sandbox. Let's take care of them and their families.
I'll let you know who said this later this week.

8 comments:

cmk said...

It has always disturbed me how we, in this country, 'pay' people. Entertainers, sports figures, (you can see where I'm going with this,) etc, get paid millions, and the people who actually WORK, live payday to payday. Obviously, some people feel as if a person who can hit/carry/throw a ball, or can 'pretend' to be another person in a TV show, or can sing a few songs, is WAY more valuable than the person who is protecting their loved ones: firefighters, soldiers, police, EMTs, etc. We should be ashamed.

Anonymous said...

I know who wrote this and when it came out. I won't steal your thunder, of course, as this is your blog and I am simply a regular reader.

I do think that your suspicions concerning how people will react once they know the author are sound, however, speaking as someone who has a brother currently serving in the military, I have watched this "lack of debate" over these issues with the same interest I would if, indeed, we really were talking about it.

*returning to stealth-lurk mode*

The Ramblin Hillbilly said...

AMEN is all I need to say

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

Agreed, there is a huge disparity in compensation.

Rebecca said...

I have been in the dark. I had no idea that victims of 9/11 have been been receiving that amount. I think it is wrong. The military families should get so much more.

Thanks to them for making the world safe for my son.

Woodrow said...

I never understood why we paid the 9-11 victim's families so much either. I understand them needing some help, but a million bucks? Sheesh.

honkeie said...

Is it me or do to words 'Tax Riot' sound plesant enuff to try?
What is also sad is that so many ppl know whats going on but no one has done anything....who is going to make the first move for change before we have another civil war?

The RHS said...

aye, amen as well.

And that's why I've always considered becoming a congressman. I figure it's about the only way a dumb hick from nowhere will be able to provide a posh lifestyle for his family.