cut pay, or cut troops?

[Dick]

Cut Pay or Cut Troops?

The government's current budget woes have made
military pay and compensation a hot topic this fall.
Most signals point to the DoD reducing future
across-the-board pay raises or replacing them with
targeted bonuses. In addition, Senator Webb (D-Va.)
has recommended that the Pentagon consider
reducing troop sizes.

Read more about the future of military pay and benefits.
http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2010/10/2011-military-pay-debate/

My message to the dear Senator: Best check to see if you still have a job, after the elections!

[eagames]

I think they need a budget where the congress and senate only get paid if they balance the budget, their pay should be the bottom item and if over budget they get nothing. All of a sudden they would figure out how to budget without debt.

[Dick]

Ed, you are right, and another thing that would be a big benefit to ALL Social Security recipients, would be to put the Congress men, et al, on the same retirement program. Then you would see two things happen:
First they would make the SS retirement withholding more adequate for a little better living standard, and, also make it illegal to touch, under ANY circumstances.
I think it is grossly "one-sided", that they vote their own pay raises, and deny the retirees, and SS recipients their slight increase, as well. The fact that they take their full pay, and allowances home with them, even after retirement, ( the few that actually retire), until they die, is not even in the ballpark, in tyerms of equality, in a country where we are all "supposed" to be equal.
There needs to be some changes made!

[eagames]

Agreed!
They act like what's OK for us all is not good enough for them. Let them have the same SS and the same healthcare that they think is OK for others.

A lot of companies have retirement plans but the gov makes the workers stay in SS. They should let you opt out if you have another plan and put the money in your own plan (like the gov opts out because they have another).

It's worse for younger people, they pay in at the same rate but based on their age they get SS later plus get a lower % of it when they need it. That's like a bank saying if you opened an account after a certain date you can only get 75% of your money out and can't take it out until you're older.

[Dick]

If they come up with some good ideas from the "new hires", the "old fogies", that have lived in congress for 50 years might get the idea to produce something for the people, not "the good old boys in Congress"!

They have to be taught, that the "old farts" can be fired just the same as the new hires", if they don't produce. that lesson has been stashed in a closet too long! They need to know that they are there, because we put them there. it is not 'cut in stone" that they are permanent fixtures!Obama gave himself away when he indicated he wanted to work with a one party administration. Teah, so he could lead the country down to the lower echelons, where the third level countries are. Not that easy, BUB!

[coppercoins]

I agree it is time for a mass overhaul of the government from the top down. Unfortunately (and I am a Republican) with Republican control you are more likely to see an increase in congressional salary than a decrease because that's what Republicans are known for - every man for himself.

[Dick]

Chuck, just between you, me, and the fence post, I too am Repubolican. My wife is DEM, but in the Mexican gov't. They are like the REB's here. The PRI, (Partido Republicano), held the contron of the gov't, for over 70 years Thw last two Presidents are PAN, (Partido Nacional).
If I had a say in the general reform, it would be simple:
Abolish the Electoral college. Your vote then could elect a president.
Change the presidential term to 6 years. Enough to do a good job, but not enough to ruin the country.
Limit the number of terms a Congressman may serve to a max of 20 years. Then retire on Social Security, like the rest of the folks. NOT take their full sdalery home foe life! No special benefits after leaving oddice. (within reason).

Close the borfer for 6 months. Then put a "No man's land strip un the areas that lend itself to that type of construiction. Put the State Guard units there , WITH the Porder Patrol, in the border states. NOT particularly to stop the illegals from crossing, but to control the drug traffic. Wihich brings the next "reform": Make all controlled subsdatnces available, but to make them easy to obtain, for the addicted, BUT, under the agreement that they sign up for a de-tox plan, and follow thru. If they don't, then treat them as any other drug dealer. The dealers should face capitol puinishment, for the effects it has on the chikldren, and others, who in their addiction will do what it takes to get money or drugs foe the next "fix".
Once the above was done, then I would re-wriet the immigratyion laws to simplify the operation, and control of all, for their mutual benefit, it wouldn't be east, but it beats what we have now!
"and now fot your weather: There will be sun.....

[coppercoins]

All you say is nice and would make things a lot better - in a perfect world. As long as we continue to live in a very broken (and nearly broke) world, things remain the same as they have for years.

I agree with most of what you say, but abolishing the electoral college would be a big mistake. It needs to change, go through reform - but to abolish it would give a lot of people too much voting power who never study or care about politics except for the month before elections. Too many people vote on the theatrics of a commercial on TV and really don't know squat about the real political field...do you REALLY want them to have voting power?

[Dick]

Chuck, Uou have a point there! It would be a mess, but if the popular vote counted, it might make some difference. yhe only thing I am uncomfortable with the electoral college, is that they are human, and subject to pressure. yhat could be dangerous.