Inequality. Unfair benefits! I want to know why Federal employees are not covered by the same Medicare plan that they foist off on the rest of us? I'd like to see ONE health plan for all Americans. Since coverage is better for federal employees....I want to be covered by THAT policy!
Of course, the next question is, how do we get them to do it?
Another issue I'd like to see addressed is the pension the legislators "earn." Awarding a person a pension for life without regard to length of service is a gross misuse of funds. Each year I get a note from Social Security about what they will pay me IF I continue to work until I'm 70. Medicare is afraid to do the same sort of mailing because it's likely the legislators will have spent everything before it's time for me to retire!
Perhaps we need to consider one year of reimbursement for each year served. And perhaps we need to average their income over that time, rather than basing the pension on the salary of the last year in office. Our government is like a good old boys club, with members voting in as many freebies and benefits as they can, despite the fact that we are just beginning to rise out of a recession. They are handing out golden parachutes right and left, when people barely above poverty level are being taxed to pay for those benefits.
Something else that really ticks me off is the fact that soldiers serving in the Middle East have to pay their own way home when they get a leave. Since the leaves are on short notice, most of the soldiers can't afford to come home, because they can't book their flights ahead to take advantage of cheaper rates.
The government is working to fund the financing to pay for flights home, but the soldiers will be dropped in Baltimore, Atlanta or Dallas. They have to find their own way home. The government is working at funding this plan to the tune of $55,000,000, but that money won't be available for a few weeks. Don't you think SOMEONE could have thought this problem through when it became apparent that we were going to be there for a while??? Rep. C.A. Rupersberger of Maryland has created Operation Hero Miles as a stopgap. He's asking people to donate their frequent flier miles to help our soldiers. Don't you think it's a bit ludicrous for the government to have to beg for frequent flier miles??
Why the heck are the men who are laying their lives on the line so unimportant to our leaders? If you're going to ask a man to risk his life while he defends you, you ought to be prepared to make his leave as easy as possible.
One more thing.... There has been a ban on filming the caskets of returning soldiers. I don't know if there is a justification of this ban from a military point of view. If it's being done because the government doesn't want you to see a graphic reminder of our losses, then they've made a bad choice. We owe it to these men and women to watch their return. We need to be reminded that they felt our freedom and safety was worth fighting for.
Unfortunately, it's the only way a soldier's flight home is free.
Comments (3)
"Operation Hero Miles", huh. If you notice the initials for that are "OHM". An ohm is a measurement of resistance. Ironic, isn't it.
Posted by Wichi Dude | November 25, 2003 5:04 PM
Posted on November 25, 2003 17:04
Interesting observation Wichi Dude.
That is indeed poorly thought out by the government, and too bad that the only way home free is in a box.
Posted by Desiree | November 25, 2003 11:47 PM
Posted on November 25, 2003 23:47
Yeah, the government is great at paying lip service, they just don't want to pay anything else.
Up until just a few weeks ago, soldiers had to pay for their food while in the hospital recovering from injuries. They changed that one, I hope in response to a firestorm of anger from potential voters.
About the one healthplan for all Americans, though, that dosen't sound like such a good idea. It makes me think of socialized healthcare, and if you've ever seen a nursing home or VA hospital, you can see how our government takes care of people. I'd rather pay my own way, thanks, and for everyone else to do the same. But, I guess people in Hell want ice water, too, huh?
Posted by Allison | November 26, 2003 2:45 PM
Posted on November 26, 2003 14:45