Jobs used as bargaining chip

[TheMercenary]

And Obama and his ilk are playing it to the hilt to get re-elected. What a narrow minded group of people...

[TheMercenary]

Life is a bitch, not me.

Here is a good summary of Obama's many fails...

Conservatives vs. the Keynesian Purists

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/...n_purists.html

[Trilby]

but...but Dana- what you fail to see is that merc imagines himself as one of the economic and political elite. He is one of the top 1%! at least in his own mind - so why on earth would he want things to become more equal? He fancies himself wealthy! He's a yacht club member (albeit without the yacht...) and he does his master's bidding...(they let him polish their big boats and carry their cocktails )

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Brianna

but...but Dana- what you fail to see is that merc imagines himself as one of the economic and political elite. He is one of the top 1%! at least in his own mind - so why on earth would he want things to become more equal? He fancies himself wealthy! He's a yacht club member (albeit without the yacht...) and he does his master's bidding...(they let him polish their big boats and carry their cocktails )

It's gratifying to know that we, the taxpayers, paid him, setting up the rise to his lofty position.

[Spexxvet]

I wonder if he gets a military pension, funded by us.

[Griff]

If I understand his bio, he is recently, mostly, off the teat, after having his education, housing, health care etc... all paid for by us. It doesn't count though, because he suckled on the defense teat not one of the other nipples.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

he EARNED a military pension, funded by us.

ftfy

[classicman]

Think of him what you will, but he put his life on the line repeatedly for you to be able to come here and complain about him.

I don't agree with him all the time either, but the man deserves your respect for his service to his country.
Some of you seem to have forgotten that.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by classicman

Think of him what you will, but he put his life on the line repeatedly for you to be able to come here and complain about him.

I don't agree with him all the time either, but the man deserves your respect for his service to his country.
Some of you seem to have forgotten that.

He does not deserve, nor does he have, my respect.

Criminals "served" their country, too, as soldiers. Generalizations don't work. Just because you signed up and wore a uni doesn't automatically grant you status in my eyes. Even Napoleon 'served' his country.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by classicman

Think of him what you will, but he put his life on the line repeatedly for you to be able to come here and complain about him.

9/11 was long enough ago that we no longer have to pretend that is true. Our over-size military is more a threat to our way of life than any petty tyrant overseas. We damage our people by brain-washing them to believe false ideologies and then bring them back to civilian life with a skewed vision of reality and too often mental disorders from the violence that leaves a swath of damaged families that the unnecessary folks like teachers, health care workers, and social workers have to clean up after. The real founding fathers believe a standing army to be a threat to liberty. They were correct. rant off

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Griff

The real founding fathers believe a standing army to be a threat to liberty.

I can appreciate your perspective, but
The founding fathers also kept slaves and didn't think women deserved the right to vote ... and and and ... Its a different world.

[Griff]

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

Ike recognized the need and the danger. The effect on our national spirit having already taken its toll, we live with a government capable of shocking violence compared to what middle American expectations were before WWII. This violence is sold to us with great moral surety. Based on our spending and debt the use of violence for national ends is regarded more highly than any other single economic or political value. It is a different world, one of our own making.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

Think of him what you will, but he put his life on the line repeatedly for you to be able to come here and complain about him.

I don't agree with him all the time either, but the man deserves your respect for his service to his country.
Some of you seem to have forgotten that.

*Some* people enter the military with honorable, patriotic ideas.
*Some* people enter the military because it's a job that they are able to do, and it's their best option.
*Some* people enter the military because they have no other options.
*Some* people enter the military for other reasons.

They are all aware of what they are getting into, and are paid for their service.

You're right, they've all earned, more or less, a pension/benefits. In fact, if their service damaged them mentally or physically, we taxpayers have an obligation to provide a safety net - just as we do for non-military folks in similar circumstances. Having served in the military does not give anyone license to espouse the concepts that mercy does and continue to have my respect. If he had directly saved my life, I would be grateful to mercy, but still not respect him.

[DanaC]

I don't think military service in and of itself means someone is worthy of respect. That said, I also don't think veteran benefits can be in any way compared to wider benefits for citizens. Veteran benefits are there to recognise and reward (and act as an incentive) for those who sacrificed their individual freedom temporarily and in some cases their lives, in service to their country.

The notion that he did all that in order for us to be able to have this discussion is a moot point. I'm really not at all certain that fighting most American soldiers (and British for that matter) have engaged in for the past half century had anything to do with American freedom.

Merc, like any other soldier absolutely earned the right to veteran benefits.

What is sad is that raising the next generation of Americans, often at the exoense of personal career fulfilment, or caring for elderly relatives (the nation's elderly) is not counted as service to the nation, regardless of sacrifice, personal or otherwise.

[Trilby]

[quote=DanaC;754303]Merc, like any other soldier absolutely earned the right to veteran benefits[/DANAC]

yesh.

even soldiers who killed innocent civvies. Amen, dana. baby, you can't have it both ways. which I am thinking dana more and more wants.