Watch the "Debt Commission" Closely!...

Author Message   Richard G Cooper New member Username: Richardcooper101 Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 72.102.120.132 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 05:44 pm:    One thing I picked up sometime ago-- A rule of thumb used by elected representatives, congress and the sentate. For every member of thier constituency who take the time to contact them there are 2000 others who have simular views on a subject who do not make thier views know except at the polls. Let ur view be known you will be surprised by the replys/answers you get.   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 267 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.171.93.208 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 05:10 pm:    Lets just hope that AARP doesn't get involved, they are so helpful in helping seniors. I know what what you mean about nastygrams, I'm almost at the point to withdraw and lurk. If I was still in the AF I could handle it because it's part of the game but after retirement? They are NOT entitled to send ugly mesages.   Bill Gast Advanced Member Username: Actionwriter Post Number: 191 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 96.8.222.198 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 02:18 am:    Actually, in addition to the 2.5 mil military there is a LARGE voting block in the Senior group. According to Senior News and the US Census bureu, 9.1 million people over the age of 65 are vets. In addition to that fact, 70% of that group voted in the last national election, along with those 45 to 64, people 65 and older had the highest turnout rate of any age group.California has the most seniors over 65 (4.1 mil) with Florida (3.2 mil) and New York ( 2.6 mil) following. The only problem with this large potential vote group is, Veterans and seniors are difficult to organize. Its like herding cats. Two years ago, an organization called VPOA Veterans Party of America was organized and had somplace over 23 states authorizing their party to participate in state and federal elections. The party disintregated because people at the top could not come up with a party platform and structured organization. Just FYI   Charlie S Intermediate Member Username: Avcm Post Number: 129 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 76.109.44.174 Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 04:12 pm:    Hi John, Yeah, yeah, that's it.....   Bill Gast Advanced Member Username: Actionwriter Post Number: 189 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 96.8.222.198 Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 12:03 am:    ....and I get a nastygram for posting what was considered apolitical??????   John David Brooks Advanced Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 358 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 121.55.235.75 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 09:10 pm:    Greetings, Charlie: You mean the part in "Starship Troopers" where the military latrines were all co-ed? :-)   Charlie S Intermediate Member Username: Avcm Post Number: 127 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 76.109.44.174 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 02:52 pm:    More info. Book is on the recommended professional development reading list for USMC enlisteds.   Charlie S Intermediate Member Username: Avcm Post Number: 126 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 76.109.44.174 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 02:49 pm:    Maybe we should follow the premise offered in the movie "Starship Troopers".   Bill Mc Carthy Intermediate Member Username: Billmacnypd Post Number: 98 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 71.163.222.161 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 10:39 pm:    If I remember correctly in the past several national elections there were several complications with the votes coming from our troops in Iraq & Afghanastan & probably other locations as well and many votes were received too late to be counted. I was upset at the time because with all the modern technology available I could not believe this problem was not resolved. Every vote should be counted especially the votes of our military.   steve mccoy Member Username: Nuhusker Post Number: 44 Registered: 04-2009 Posted From: 173.27.221.113 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 08:24 pm:    When was the last election where 2.5 military personnel voted?   Hale Lait Senior Member Username: Norwich50 Post Number: 864 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 71.147.48.68 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 06:18 pm:    I agree that 2.5 million military members appears to be a significant voting block. Unfortunately, those 2.5 million are spread through so states and their voting power is diminished.   Dakota Ray Senior Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 425 Registered: 05-2007 Posted From: 69.62.147.217 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 04:18 pm:    John Civick, I agree with your statements. That might be a good reason for term limits. Make them go home and really "face the people" and explain their voting records.   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 254 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.168.115.75 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 03:34 pm:    I agree, the military, retired military, dependents, etc are a huge voting block that a politician doesn't want to offend. However, thre are some politicians who simply don't care or are leaving office and will support whichever way the wind blows. By and large, I believe the politicians are out of touch and uneducated regarding the "common man."   ed williamson Intermediate Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 147 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:38 pm:    Seems to me that Captain Puzon has done his research, and reached well founded opinions on possible changes to vet entitlements. To suggest that he fears a falling sky is to play into the hands of those who want to cut while lulling us into complacency.   John David Brooks Advanced Member Username: Johnb6597 Post Number: 356 Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 121.55.235.75 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 02:34 am:    2.5 million military members = 2.5 million voters, plus associated votes from spouses, adult children of military members, retired military members, and veterans. Nobody in Congress, nor the President, will risk the military community voter risks inherent in any radical reductions in military benefits programs. This article is a bunch of Chicken Little proclamations with very little foundation in reality. It's an opinion article from one man whose glass appears half-empty. Of course, that's just MY opinion...I could be wrong. I agree that we all must stay diligent to any proposed changes in law that have a deleterious effect on military programs, but I also think we all have a personal and individual responsibility to conduct our own research on these issues and arrive at our own conclusions about the truth. Let's keep a close eye on things, but let's also keep everything in its proper perspective. The sky ain't falling just yet.   Bob Dart Senior Member Username: Bobdart Post Number: 1475 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 76.29.20.95 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 02:21 am:    Bill, thanks for putting this out. I have forwarded it to many friends. It rubs me the wrong way to be on the defensive, but one has to be these days.   Bill Docekal Intermediate Member Username: Bill_d1 Post Number: 118 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 76.186.199.157 Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 02:18 am:    Very enlightening article in the APRIL 2010 issue of the ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY (AUSN) magazine by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret), Director of Government Relations. You can read the full article at www.ausn.org Home page: Recently, President Obama signed an executive order creating the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform — what most people in D.C. are calling the “debt commission.”… AUSN is very concerned about the impact this commission could have on the entire military and veteran communities. Department of Defense budget, while one of the larger budget items presently, is there for a reason – war and our nation’s defense. The compensation to the 1.2 million active duty members and 1.3 million reserve members makes up only a very small portion of the federal budget each year, yet it tends to be the first place many people look to make cuts. It’s easier to take from 2.5 million military members, rather than 40 million Social Security beneficiaries. It appears easier to provide for 30 million non-American citizens than to make sure earned benefits of military members and veterans are protected. History shows that after every major military event in the US, military and veteran budgets take a serious cut! In an environment where less than 18 percent of Congress has served in the military, you should watch this commission very closely. AUSN will follow the commission closely and call on you to let your voice be heard. The danger is always that these types of commissions provide future impacts on legislation that can slip into harmless and irrelevant bills and greatly affect programs that are worthwhile, like US military personnel programs or veterans programs! Some that where considered then: military retirement options, deferring COLAs, limiting COLAs, adjustments to the CPI index, raising the age of Social Security applicability, changes to Medicare eligibility, and means testing veteran and military members’ compensation. These are just a few considered at that time. Stand by. Former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WO) was a member of that 1994 commission and supported some very radical adjustments to military and veteran programs. He will now cochair this National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The commission’s recommendations are due in December 2010, during the lame duck session in the current Congress. This will make for even more interesting dynamics on the recommendations being implemented. I urge all members and friends to be prepared to let Congress and the White House know your thoughts prior to recommendations being released and after recommendations are released. Stay tuned – we will watch closely – www.ausn.org or our Friends of the Navy at https://ausnnat.groupsite.com/main/summary.