Folks,

Thought you might find this interesting to say the least. Having been enlisted I can say the figures quoted are accurate for the military. Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head.............



By Rush Limbaugh:



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

Dave

Dave,

I couldn't agree more.

Cuda'

Ditto what Cuda said!!!!

Hog

Ya'll are all right,
We need to end the golden parachute that the congress and senate, have set up for themselves, while selling our children and our grandchildren down the river, the deficit.
As far as our soldiers, and their families. I value them much more, at least ten times more, than the blowhards that put them in harms way. I say do away with the politicians golden parachute, and give the proceeds to our troops.
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

P.S. This is probably the first thing I have agreed with Lush Rimjob about.
The junkie got it right for a change.

Homebrew,

Not a Rush fan by any means but I agree. I can't believe someone can get elected to congress; do nothing for 4 years and get 15K a month for life. I served for 12 YEARS and did 6 overseas unaccompanied tours; a desert shield/storm vet and I get SQUAT!!

Dave

Things just are not fair, but I do not have the answer nor do I think anybody is going to step up and do much about it! Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico, has stated that they will give 250,000 per death of military men from New Mexico...I believe they are insuring each military member that is serving overseas for that amount of money! Not sure of the details, but that is one Governor who is concerned and I might add he is a past Billy Clinton cabinet member!

Charlie

....so, back to what Dave said....

Are we now wanting to raise the amount of death benefits of US Servicemembers or are we going to focus on the original topic, and lower the amount of death benefits to victims of murder? Just curious which way this thread is going........

A man gets killed in the Towers his wife gets 4 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. A man walks into a Mom+Pop store to buy candy for his kids and gets shot to death by a robber his wife gets NOTHING. Is that fair? Two men in the wrong place at the wrong time.

JonR

I've read this before, it has been around for a while. And JonR, I have to agree with you... while it is sad that all those folks had to die on 9/11, if their families didn't have insurance, that's their fault. Wrong place, wrong time.

Adroomi, I think military families are ALMOST compensated enough. Should I die during my service, the wife gets $6,000 right off the bat. Then $250,000 more in life insurance (which I pay $20 a month for) and my paycheck for the rest of her life, if she doesn't remarry. Once I retire - whole new ballgame. THAT needs to change.

And Senators/Congressmen get a pension if they serve only ONE term, whereas I have to do 20 years, at a minimum. THAT needs to change.

"Threadjack On"
Macs... same type program only the rates go up a bit... and it changes from SGLI to VGLI and you can still carry your spouse on it for additional...

Charlie, the Clinton Cabinet member is either blowing smoke or funding for the program I listed above for these soldiers from New Mexico.. with that said the State would be paying to 20 bucks a month... it would be Illegal for the state to have the same policy of the servicemembers no? and most servicemembers I know carry the SGLI coverage... one with a family would be a fool not to carry the coverage...
SGLI = Servicemembers Group Life Insurance
VGLI = Veterans Group Life Insurance

"Threadjack Off"

Now as far as the rush limbaugh story above... JonR covered it well...

as far as our elected officials.... they are the ones who gave themselves these benifits and we american people let it happen, and nothings going to get this one a fair and balanced unless We The People start taking a better look and a better stance at what our elected officials are doing rather then the sleeping approach that has grandfathered this country....

Hog

Call For Increased Death Benefits
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_benefits_011305,00.html 

WASHINGTON - Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today announced plans to introduce legislation later this month increasing benefits to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines killed in combat.

The Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act, which Lieberman will introduce along with Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) when Congress reconvenes January 24, will increase the maximum life insurance coverage for servicemembers to $400,000 and increase the death gratuity paid to families of servicemembers killed in combat to $100,000.

These benefit changes would cover all servicemembers regardless of rank, and would apply retroactively to cover those lost in Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We can never fully repay the debt we owe the brave men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms," Lieberman said. "But we can help lessen the financial hardship on the families who must bury their son, daughter, wife or husband killed in combat.

Our bill, the HEROES Act, significantly increases life insurance coverage for our military men and women and the death gratuity paid to their families if they die in the line of duty. This bill deserves to become law because it is what our fallen heroes and their families deserve."
Specifically, the HEROES Act increase the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) benefit to $400,000 and cover the cost of the first $150,000 for troops serving in a combat zone. Currently, the SGLI maximum coverage is $250,000.

Lieberman’s bill also increases the death gratuity to $100,000 for personnel killed in combat. The death gratuity was raised in the FY 2005 National Defense Authorization Act from $6,000 to $12,000 and indexed to the rate of annual pay raises. Raising the amount to $100,000 will substantially assist the families of service personnel lost in combat and eliminate the financial hardship so many have had to endure while planning for the burial of their husband, wife, son or daughter.

Hog

How about increasing their pay while you're at it?!
Instead of just making it a death lottery.
Take the money from the senior's wasteful prescription plan that Bush wants to pass.
Better yet, have the Iraquis pay for their own reconstruction!


I used to be a "Lush Limboo" devotee, but these days he smells administration doo-doo and calls it steak. He has become a shill with talent on loan from the Republican party. Wouldn't you take drugs too if you had to prostitute yourself?

BS I agree about the Rush issue....

I used to listen to him all the time...

he's a talking head just like the rest of them who are up in the big strings....

he would not do anything when confronted about the GWS and the possible Soldiers being used a guinie pigs for vaccine experments... and neither would allot of the big radio talk show hosts... it's the littler guy's who have been doing the stories... Pressure from the top is the way I see it...

Hog

It is sad. The Military should be paid much more.

Of all the professions an American can take on, being a part of the Military is the MOST important of all. Without them nothing else we value or enjoy in our lives would be possible as we know it.

Politicians shouldn't be able to receive a pension that large or that soon. I believe that if someone isn't reelected after their 1st term they shouldn't even receive a pension. If they are out after one term that tells me that the job wasn't done the way the people would have liked. We the people are their bosses in a way. Where else in our society can the employee dictate their own payscale or pension to the employer. I know of none myself.

As far as 911 victims receiving so much. It is ridiculous to believe that you deserve this money from the government because a party having nothing to do with this country does a terrible thing. If help is needed to not go under, then I think government help is fine. We help many and they shouldn't be overlooked. But to make someone wealthier or rich because of 911 is wrong.

As far as military death benefits. It's not enough, it should be better. But If the pay goes up like I think it should. Then military folks should pay for it like anybody else.

just my . 02