Welfare?

I am incensed.  Absolutely incensed!

A NY Times article discusses the plans to change the pension plan for the military.  The topic alone is enough to anger me, but this article goes too far.  

As Washington looks to squeeze savings from once-sacrosanct entitlements like Social Security and Medicare, another big social welfare {emphasis mine} system is growing as rapidly, but with far less scrutiny: the health and pension benefits of military retirees.

This is how the article begins. 

Welfare?  The pension system is welfare?  Are you kidding me?  Since when is something you work towards considered welfare?  So, all the years my husband has worked 16 hour days and the days and months he's spent away from the family not even including deployments don't count?  

It's a slap in the face.  

Ben has been in the Army for 19 years.  I can't even begin to list the number of events he has missed.  Anniversaries?  Check.  Birthdays?  Check and double check.  Weddings?  Check.  Funerals?  Check.  Holidays?  Check.  Oh, I can go on and on.

Please Mr. NY Times, tell my children that what they have sacrificed means so little.  Ben has missed 3 of Pumpkin's 6 birthdays.  He has missed many of their ballet performances.  

Social welfare, my ass.  He and my family have earned these benefits.

Comments

[Denise]

Amen! If you ask me, the soldiers typically get too little in compensation, particularly medical/adaptation care when they come back injured.

I hope the NYT gets inundated with responses such as yours.

[Megan Hill]

My husband hasn't been home for our anniversary since 2006. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am watching benefits get cut. I have a friend whose active duty husband has brain cancer. His doctor ordered a bath chair for him, because of his increasing disability. This man has served three deployments, and has cancer that is most likely related to the burn pits he was exposed to. Do you know what Tricare told him? Bath chairs are luxury items. Our senators and congressman need to hear from us.

[Jess]

This makes me sick. The military deserves every bit of the pension they are supposed to get. No one but the military and their families can understand the sacrifice involved in this life.