ChecklistMonkey

First, not everyone is able or capable nor do we want everyone joining the military (remember how much we hated the gays and now trans?)

Second, why can't we create a civilian system that is similar to it and provide a livable wage, retirement and health benefits?

Third, I don't care if you don't like my opinion. I served my time. I saw PLENTY of lifers who rarely deployed, homesteaded and more. They still get the benefits and good for them. Let's not pretend that everyone who retires from the military spent 20 years getting shot at in the dessert But for anyone who got the benefit to tell everyone else no one else deserves it and that government health care, college, jobs and retirement is evil is a hypocrite.

C130driver

Based on your other ignorant posts, I wouldn’t expect you to have the logical capacity to understand that I was specifically referring to people who refuse to work or better themselves and live off the government dough. Nor the logical capacity to understand how a welfare state has historically led to the poverty that you claim to care about. It terrifies me that you fly airplanes.

ChecklistMonkey

And I wouldn't expect someone as narrow-minded, ignorant and as disconnected as you do understand what it is like to be truly poor. But keep telling yourself how much better you are than them.

C130driver

Dude, my parents immigrated into this country with $50 in their pocket, so actually I do understand. There is a big difference between being poor and working your heart out to better yourself and your family without relying on the government; and being poor and refusing to break out of the victim mentality. I sympathize with the former, and have zero sympathy with the latter.

Galaxy5

Create a similar system? So you’re in agreement with almost everyone here, then, people should have to work for their benefits. We have crumbling infrastructure, that would be a good place to start putting people to work.
🤔

OOfff

The good news is that due to survivorship bias, you will wrongly categorize the poor into the latter more often than reflects reality.

Airhoss

A democratic socialist Richard. Not to put too find a point on it.

OOfff

Is it the red scare again?

ChecklistMonkey

Oh no. Not a democratic socialist! How dare anyone have alternative ideas without being demonized. Isn't it exhausting to be frightened of fake enemies all the time?

AAfng

I cant help myself. This comes up every now and then. Why do military people get X, Y, or Z?

Well, let me begin with a story. It is 2005, no one wanted to join the Army to go to Iraq. I was a part time soldier and they had this program where if you recruited someone they gave you $2000 bonus. So I hit the streets, I thought "Easy money". Boy was I wrong. No one could be bothered. They all wanted the college money, they all wanted the benefits but none of the ones I approached wanted to be away from Mama. None of them wanted to leave town. None of them wanted to be shot at. So all these things that us mil retirees are getting are well deserved because trust me when I say no one really wants to be in the Army for 20+yrs. The first deployment is for God, Country, and the American Way. The next ones where all about the benefits of staying which included X, Y, and Z. Cant wait for my retirement pay to be deposited in 5 days.