How times change!

[Irish]

I watch the local noon news,everyday,to get the local weather.
Today,on the news,they were commenting on the great influx of
people trying to join at the recruiters.I graduated at 17 in 1961.I
enlisted in Aug. of the same year.I was Honerably Discharged in
Aug of 1965!I was 21,and already had 4yrs in.I started at Sikorsky Aircraft,the next day,as an aircraft mechanic.My friends,
GF(now wife)worked in the recruitment center.At that time,homo-
sexuality,was grounds for inadmitance.I was married.They both
would be at our apartment at night.She would,jokingly,tell us all
of the things,that people would do to keep from getting inducted!
VN was going strong then and they would do anything to keep out!They would pretend homosexuality,use sleep deprivation,etc.
I couldn't help but think,How times have changed!I have noticed
many things.Name some of the things that you have noticed.I
realise that most of the members are younger,so they wouldn't
notice much! Irish

[wench]

Most military personnel are finally being recognized for the hard work and price they pay for doing "their job." Unlike after Vietnam. My uncle fought in Vietnam.

Civil servants are finally starting to get recognition for their hard work and decication (fire dept, police, etc)

[Lilith]

The typical millitary family makes enough to qualify for food stamps or reduced lunch. Too bad the powers that be, don't wanna put MY money where their mouth is.

[skipthisone]

Well its just a start, but as of yesterday when it passed both houses of congress, Military personal do not have to pay Federal Income Tax for a 3 years (I think that was the compromised figure).

They should be paid more than anyone else in my opinion, and they have just started getting some of the raises in pay they deserve in the last couple of years, even though the original raise was shot down in the Senate and was much less by the time the president signed it

[Lilith]

Excellent to hear!

[Irish]

Lilith---I heard about the Food Stamps during the last regime!
To say that it shocked me,would be an understatement.Also,
alot of the people that were called up,were called because the
regular military budget,was cut so much.A good football coach
will tell you that the best offense, is a good defense. Irish

[Steph]

Bush's tax plan didn't help . . . I've also read that military officials are ashamed of the salaries of the troops and are lobbying behind the scenes to see pay increases. I have relatives serving in the military and they aren't getting paid much but take solace in the fact that their educations are paid for by the government.

[skipthisone]

Horse hockey.. that the tax plan had nothing to do about the salaries. The bill concerning the increase in pay of enlisted personal was 2 months before the tax bill of 2001. The amount of the increase in pay had to be decreased by 30% by the democrat leadership in the Senate or they threatened fillabuster.

The tax cut is a common scape-goat and the two have nothing in common. To be honest I can think of 100's of social programs I would cut in order to give the enlisted personel the money they should get for protecting our asses.

[LixyChick]

Do tell skip! Be an armchair Senator and tell them/us what programs should be cut to rectify this situation!

TY babes...in advance! *hugs*

[skipthisone]

In this mix of people, not even gonna touch that subject. Still love all these people here, dont want to mess with that.

My penis is A-political. :D

[LixyChick]

And could someone tell me this? How is it that our football players make all that money and our military personel get shit on?

Just a thought!

[LixyChick]

Good thing you don't vote with yoru penis then, huh?.....or do you use it to push the buttons? God, I am nosey!

[skipthisone]

I would like to say I type with it, but I am not that talented...

but I do use it to rub certain "buttons"

damn we just lightened up this thread.

[Irish]

Once again,this thread is turning political.It's always blamed on
the other party,and the problem still exists.People seem to care more about their party then they do their country.My wife & I have
both noticed this lately.Perhaps that's why we are both registered
as independants.There are good& bad in both parties!As in every
group,etc.,there are good people & assholes! Irish

[Steph]

I'm just saying - the president announced a tax plan that would benefit the two percent of the richest and the economy is in free fall and the soldiers seek food stamps . . . justice starts at home, does it not?

[skipthisone]

Kisses to you Steph.....and that is my response.