The Department of Defense under President Obama is downsizing the military as of 2013. The real shame is that our representatives in Congress are going along with the second part of this downsizing, which is to reduce the salary and benefits to the military – including the military who have been wounded in combat. They are doing this to save money.
How about Congress cutting its benefits, salaries and expense accounts? That would save one heck of a lot of money. Also cut Obama’s salary, and take away his wife’s vacation nonsense that costs us one heck of a lot of money.
I have had enough of this foolish, lying, poor excuse of a government we have now.
I never met a U.S. veteran who fought for socialism, and I doubt very much that the men and women in uniform now are fighting for it either.
Dennis Duguay
North Augusta, S.C.
Wish this LTE provided more details or referenced an article that did. I was able to find a few proposed budget cutting proposals that affect rettirees and veterans, but most centered around co-pays and annual fees for TRICARE and TRICARE for Life.
In other words, the cuts were paid for by making retirees/veterans pay more in fees for health care. Revenue stream changes but there is no cut in the program - it just uses less tax dollars.
Surely there are a few programs out there that can be cut without picking the pockets of veterans.
Our soldiers will soon learn that all of the support and compassion that happens during a war disappears rapidly as the war winds down.
Part of the problem is that the increasing costs of military retiree healthcare is mixed into the DOD budget and they are told to "suck it up" and figure out how to still maintain a fighting force with what's left. Retiree pension and healthcare funds should be "fenced" separately from the DOD operating budget and should be fully funded like any other US government obligation. If they want to change the rules, they need to change them for new servicemen and women coming into the system and not renege on those already retired and financially dependent on Tricare or Tricare for Life. It always amazes me that a country that professes to be so concerned with the cost of healthcare for the poor are perfectly willing to raise the costs of healthcare for military retirees who are, in the vast majority, former enlisted and therefore get relatively small retirement checks. It ain't like all military retirees are all colonels and generals.
How about funding Tricare by doing away with the "Earned Income Credit" where we refund people more money than they paid in? Never made sense to me to begin with. At least Tricare is truly an EARNED benefit. That in itself is pretty novel among government giveaway programs.
"As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time."
-donald rumsfeld
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