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06/29/2003 Archived Entry: "They 'revere the military...'"
They 'revere the military...'
They just don't want to pay them. From The Army Times:
In recent months, President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have missed no opportunity to heap richly deserved praise on the military. But talk is cheap — and getting cheaper by the day, judging from the nickel-and-dime treatment the troops are getting lately.For example, the White House griped that various pay-and-benefits incentives added to the 2004 defense budget by Congress are wasteful and unnecessary — including a modest proposal to double the $6,000 gratuity paid to families of troops who die on active duty. This comes at a time when Americans continue to die in Iraq at a rate of about one a day.
Similarly, the administration announced that on Oct. 1 it wants to roll back recent modest increases in monthly imminent-danger pay (from $225 to $150) and family-separation allowance (from $250 to $100) for troops getting shot at in combat zones.
Then there’s military tax relief — or the lack thereof. As Bush and Republican leaders in Congress preach the mantra of tax cuts, they can’t seem to find time to make progress on minor tax provisions that would be a boon to military homeowners, reservists who travel long distances for training and parents deployed to combat zones, among others.
Incredibly, one of those tax provisions — easing residency rules for service members to qualify for capital-gains exemptions when selling a home — has been a homeless orphan in the corridors of power for more than five years now.
The chintz even extends to basic pay. While Bush’s proposed 2004 defense budget would continue higher targeted raises for some ranks, he also proposed capping raises for E-1s, E-2s and O-1s at 2 percent, well below the average raise of 4.1 percent.
To cut hazardous duty pay, while American kids are being killed daily in Iraq, is simply disgraceful. Mr. 'Honor and Dignity' is in short supply of both. In fact, looks like he's fresh out.
He should be impeached.
Replies: somebody speaks up.
As my mommy told me when I was a wee lad: Money talks and bullshit walks.
Sadly, it appears that many Americans have an insatiable appetite for bullshit.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 06/29/2003 11:21 AM NY
