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JustRalph
09-18-2003, 01:57 AM
I have seen this before....but received it in Email again tonight.

I thought it might stir a little discussion on this board. If you are not aware of this stuff......you might be a little shocked at the dollars etc...........see below:

By Rush Limbaugh:

I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving the country in Uniform are profound. No oneis really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I just 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 just voted themselves a raise, and 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 also 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, you may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed you in
harm's way receive 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.

SOCIAL SECURITY: (This is worth the read. It's short and to the point.) Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congressmen do not pay into Social Security. Many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:

When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die, except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments. For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000 - that's Seven Million, Eight Hundred Thousand), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. These little perks they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan.
The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Fund--our tax dollars at work!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into -- every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer) --we can expect to get an average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made. And that change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how fast they would fix it.

VetScratch
09-19-2003, 10:34 PM
We are going to pay Turkey something on the order of $16-billion as our toll fee for walking across their border into Iraq. Appropriation of that much new money to bolster the VA system and other benefits for those who risk their lives for us would NEVER make it through Congress!

:eek: :eek: As if Turkey could have stopped us! :eek: :eek:

Tom
09-20-2003, 10:14 AM
The way this country totally disrespects our veterens is a national disgrace. It is the same every war-we are great at flag waving and parades, but when they really need help, we turn our backs on them. Every president in my lifetime is guilty of this-right now we are looking for $87 billion dollars for Iraq while we are closing VA hospitals. We leave the families of our dead service men and women to fend for themselves while we throw countless millions down the drain on a visitors center in DC. George Bush is spending most of his time flying around the country at OUR expense to attend fund raisers for himself and his republican boys club-Hey W.....when are ya gonna rainse money for the vets?
The governemnt of this country is dispicable and no longer serves the needs of its people. It is time to vote out every single incumbent, NO EXCEPTIONS! We need one term limits for ALL elected offices and we need to totally re-oraganize congress to eliminate committes, outlaw all lobbyists, and then put all budget bills up for public referendum-no exceptions.
Oh, yeah, and Bomb Iran! <G>

Big Bill
09-20-2003, 10:47 AM
Tom,

I've always believed that there should be term limits for our representatives in the house and senate. But that might not be the cure all that is needed. When a representative or senator leaves they often go to work for lobbying firms. And because they are former members they have the right to go back inside the house or senate and lobby their old buddies.

Big Bill

Suff
09-20-2003, 11:04 AM
I'm getting Poiltic'd Out..with the board and real life conversations.

But I have to share one thing about Bush and Veterans. And I am an a Veteran.

The VA had a Program. It's sole purpose was to assist Veterans in loacting services that were offered to them from the VA.

If You have ever been in a VA hospital or any veterans center.. There are always Posters and signs telling veterans that "such and such" is available to them if they served Wartime service and so on.

In addition.. the larger Veterans Hospitals and Veterans Service centers had PAID advocates that met with Disabled or WARTIME Veterans and assisted them in Finding the services they needed and qualified for.

Bush Didn't cut thier budget... He elminated it. The entire department is GONE. And not because of crossover or duplication of services existed. Because he believes "If they don't know. Why tell them?"

I believe that if a Man or Women Defends this Country. We should go to painstaking measures to assist them. IN any and every way possible.

This adminisration thinks a 77 year old WWll Veteran, in a wheelchair, Confined to a Floor of a VA hospital, should find his own way out.

Dave Schwartz
09-20-2003, 11:25 AM
Suff,

You said a mouthful and are dead on.

The treatment of veterans in this country is an embarrassment from top to bottom.

WHen a person signs on (whether as a volunteer or as a conscript) he accepts a risk of some significance. That action should be rewarded. The rewards (g.i. bill, medical care, etc.) are a joke. Even the pensions are weak.

If the accepting of that risk should result in disability, that person should be treated as a hero for his entire life. He (or she) should be provided for, with a housing allowance, a living allowance and top-notch medical care. And I don't mean sub-standard housing or life at or below the poverty level.

But, unfortunately, our leaders do not see it this way. Veterans are to be hidden. ("We need you. Thanks a lot. Get lost." This seems to be the way our country thinks.)


I could do an hour on the soapbox on this subject in a heartbeat. And it is not because I have a personal ax to grind... I am not disabled, nor do I have a family member that needs these services... It is simply the right thing to do... and we aren't doing it.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

VetScratch
09-20-2003, 12:02 PM
With decades of conflict looming in the future, why not try settling the Middle-East problem by proposing a simple buy-out to Israel?

The Arab nations are spending a fortune to get rid of Israel, Israel is spending a fortune to survive in a sea of hatred, and the rest of the world is spending a fortune in support of one side or the other (and often both sides at once).

If everyone outside of Israel pooled their resources, the buy-out would enable Israelis to emmigrate to other countries where they would be welcomed with open arms because their per capita wealth would eclipse all other population groups on the face of this earth! Economic booms would be triggered in countries that succeeded in wooing these Israeli immigrants.

Dave Schwartz
09-20-2003, 12:30 PM
VS,

So, you think that a country can be paid money to not be a country anymore?

Why don't we start with someone a little smaller... aren't there a few European countries that we could purchase?

I have heard there is conflict in Bosnia... perhaps they would be open to an offer. Then, after they are under new ownership everyone will get along there, right?



Dave Schwartz

Tom
09-20-2003, 12:55 PM
Let's trade Arkansas for Israel. :D

VetScratch
09-20-2003, 01:29 PM
Dave,

The Arabs and Israelis have been in constant conflict for over 50 years!

The Arabs have the advantage of oil reserves while the Israelis have the advantage of superior human resources.

After the Arabs have paid their fare share, it will take far less than 50 years for the territory abandoned by the Israelis to deteriorate until the Arabs are left with exactly what they lost after WW-II, a small piece of Africa that no real estate appraiser would rate as one of the most desirable locations in the Middle East.

In the meantime, all the countries where the Israelis immigrate will be the true benefactors. In return for my tax dollars, I say give us the Israelis and let the Arabs watch the "lone and level sands" reclaim what they inherit.

Dave Schwartz
09-20-2003, 05:06 PM
VS,

I am not saying it wouldn't be a good deal for the rest of the world... If I work at it I can think of many such "good deals." I am saying that a country simply does not agree to be "bought out" of existence.

Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?


Dave

VetScratch
09-20-2003, 08:35 PM
Dave,

The world real estate map has been redrawn thousands of times during the past 3,500 years. In fact, both the U.S. and Israel are rather recent examples of national rezoning.

Most American Indian treaties were structured as real estate deals, but I think we kind taimted this concept by reneging on most of the deals we struck with the Indians.

Compared with current circumstances and the history of Middle-East violence since WW-II, why do you think a peaceful real estate deal is ridiculous?

When you think of how Israel was created, the poor choice of locations was a monumental blunder. Even Satan could not have picked a less promising location for Israel.

Dave Schwartz
09-20-2003, 10:47 PM
Agreed. The world mapo has been redrawn many times. But I cannot think of any time it has been redrawn because of someone taking money to go away.

And the treaties with Native Americans would certainly not be a good example. That (as the other "map re-draws") was done by force.

And one more question: Who would you pay?


Dave Schwartz

VetScratch
09-20-2003, 11:18 PM
Dave,
And one more question: Who would you pay?Each Israeli citizen, less my commission.

Lefty
09-21-2003, 12:57 PM
Is Vetscratch the James Monroe of Jews?
Hmm, that deal failed too.

Tom
09-21-2003, 03:00 PM
If we pay YOU, will you go away???:eek: :confused: :rolleyes: ;)