Misguided perceptions.

Published on October 4, 2004 By dharmagrl In Misc

In my local newspaper there is a section entitled 'Sound Off'. People get to call in and 'sound odd' about news stories and public affairs.

In this morning's paper, I found this little gem:

It always amazes me how many retired military are political conservatives. They have spent 20 years or more in the service with free food, clothing, housing, unlimited medical care and a pension after 20 years - all provided by government tax-payers. Other Americans have to struggle and pay the taxes the military lives on.

Is this really the perception the general public have of the military? Do you all think that we get all these benefits, that we're living large off of your tax dollars? That we eat for free, get our clothes for free, that we have money to burn?

I'm interested to see what your responses are.

Comments (Page 2)

chiprj

on Oct 05, 2004

but taking a man away from his family and putting him in the middle of nowhere and he does not know what he is fighting for.

I was this _________ close to another rant... But, I see that has been taken care of...

dharmagrl

on Oct 05, 2004

I was this _________ close to another rant... But, I see that has been taken care of...

Ooh, no Chip! Your rants are always welcomed around here!

Spc Nobody Special

on Oct 05, 2004

Well, I was just on my way out the door of the manor, to the army country club with buffy and the gang in our new Bentleys. We were going to get in a spot of tennis between rounds of caviar and champagne in our nice, army issue tuxes, then off to the hospital for a bit of free surgery, (breast and or penis enlargements for the lot, what they hey, it's on the poor joe's tax dollars, right?) when your article caught my eye......How amazingly perceptive, he describes my lifestyle to a tee.......

Providing Free rations is not the issue, but taking a man away from his family and putting him in the middle of nowhere and he does not know what he is fighting for.

Oh yeah, and I know exactly what I'm fighting for. Give me and the people I serve with some credit for not being mindless automatons, acting on orders without a lick of free will. And I would very much like my free rations please.

chiprj

on Oct 06, 2004

Ooh, no Chip! Your rants are always welcomed around here!

Thanks! But when I got in this morning (after cooling down), I saw SPC NBS posted an article that was very much in line with my thinking - minus the dirty words. He labeled it a rant, but as I commented there, it is a very well written piece from the heart. The only thing I have to add (echo) really, is...

How dare you (not, you dharma, just "you" in general) make light of my (and all service members') choices.

KarmaGirl

on Oct 06, 2004

minus the dirty words

But, it's just not the same without the dirty words

Personally, I say "so what?" *if* there was something that a person in the military got for free. Hell, they are out there keeping my sorry ass safe. Who should I be to complain about what they get. On the other side, I would dare say that they don't get enough for the sacrifices that they make. But, who am I to say?

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