This is more informational than a personal complaint, but retired military pay dipped in real dollars this year for the first time my memory – just like it did for Social Security recipients. How’d it happen?
Well, the Obama Administration and Congress didn’t give SS folks and retired military a cost of living allowance, even though the cost of living has gone up this year. However, because Medicare went up for SS recipients, and we lost our “tax cut”, which wasn’t really a tax cut anyway, Our payments went down. Sure it was just a little bit, but it happened despite all of this talk about taking care of the needy and the little guys.
It was just a coupla bucks for me, probably so small that it would have got eaten up in taxes anyway, but that’s not my point. There are people out there who depend on every penny they get from their SS and retired paychecks, despite the fact that the six-figure crowd in DC think it’s a tiny amount. How many times have we been bombarded with ads that tell us that seniors have to choose between food and medicine – yet that’s exactly who gets stiffed by this administration.
Now the Bush Administration made sure we got our COLA increases even when inflation was minuscule, but that didn’t stop the AARP crowd from complaining that it wasn’t enough (it’s not a merit increase, for Pete’s sake).
Regardless of what you think about retired military pay or Social Security, you still have to admit that those folks were promised those checks and fulfilled their end of the bargain, but the government doesn’t feel that it has to meet it’s obligations and that’s just not right.
Sure it probably helps with the national budget, but it seems that the people who’ve always sacrificed (since the Depression) are always expected to suffer in silence. I just thought they needed someone to speak up for them today.
Is that why? I noticed it was $9.30 less. Turds.
Spend more on where it shouldn’t go, less on where it should. It’s the Obama way. And yet I’m guessing no veteran will shoot up a federal courthouse because he’s pissed about not getting a COLA, like the gentleman did in Las Vegas this week.
Side note: Ain’t it funny how quick THAT story went away when it was revealed the shooter was griping over SSA and how he “hated white people?” Just saying.
I hadn’t noticed any change to my retirement check but hell, I wouldn’t. My wife however, I bet she saw a change LOL. The House 6 notices all.
Well, Jonn, it’s not an election year, so there really is no need for the congresscritters or administration to woo the demographics you are talking about.
Mine went down $200.40/year. I may have to drink Busch Beer at the Milblog Conference.
Yet another thing I learned. What is up with you guys today? I was wondering why I was 2 bucks and change light. Too bad Bush isn’t still President, I would have heard about it six months ago. But I’m not concerned I’m sure Vote Vets is all over it…
You know, you guys aren’t nearly as dumb as you look. I’m mean for a bunch of grunts.
“You know, you guys aren’t nearly as dumb as you look.”
Good thing, too, huh?
We won’t really miss what little is gone from my husband’s retirement but my mom is one of those people who will miss it in her Social Security check. Child of the depression, young adult during WWII, and now an old lady under Obama. She can’t catch a break.
To add, at least she learned to ration young.
Also with stuff like this there is not going to be as much reason to do the twenty years. I for example plan on doing ten years and that is it.
Jonn said: I may have to drink Busch Beer at the Milblog Conference.
Heh. It’s a good thing too. That’s what I’m bringing in again this year.
Hmmm…drink Busch Beer…punch myself in the ‘nads…that’s a tough call, man.
I was hoping that the COLA would help cover the rising cost of heating oil. Ah well. The price to fill the tank has gone up over $40.00 these past few weeks, so that means cutting back somewhere else.
I’m not complaining, per se. I have enough to cover our expenses, but still and all, constantly having to IAO gets a little old after awhile. 🙂
Great post Jonn. This is the first time my retirement went down not up. Obama talked alot about taking care of veterans, but evidently doesn’t consider retirees as veterans.
NHSparky said: Hmmm…drink Busch Beer…punch myself in the ‘nads…that’s a tough call, man.
Well, like many things Busch IS an acquired taste. But to paraphrase an old Three Stooges bit; if my liver is gonna kill me I’ll be damned if I’m gonna give it 4 or 5 dollar hotel beers to do it with!
As for YOUR suggested alternative… I’ll pass, but have to ask how you determined a punch in the ‘nads was comparable?
The image that came to mind here was of you sitting down with maybe a case of Busch and an idea to do some experimenting. At some point during the process you musta said “Aha!” or some such? [grin]
Hey guys, I understand that dry dogfood is lots better than the wet, and, after all, it’s fit for human consumption, so they must be aware that many seniors eat the stuff, because they can’t afford regular food.
Thanks for the information, I have posted it on the bulletin board at my AMVETS for all to read,,
Brian, Adjutant
AMVETS Post78
Ponsdorf–given my experience in five Westpacs of drinking virtually everything from Aussie Nectar of the Gods to formaldehyde-enriched skunky horsepiss in Guam (and let’s not forget Primo Beer–RIP), and add to the fact that as a submariner (and a nuke to boot), I could tell you more than you possibly want to know. Fortunately, after the second Westpac, I built up a pretty good tolerance to both being punched in the yambag and shitty beer.
NHSparky said: Ponsdorf–given my experience in five Westpacs of drinking virtually everything…
With apologies to Jonn and all. I just hadda go even further off topic.
I’ve only got 4 Westpacs under my belt (as ‘pond scum’) and I do value the bubblehead perspective so I guess I’ll just accept your appraisal of ‘yambag’ punching.
Coupla beer notes though: Never made it to Australia, but the Primo in Hong Kong was top notch, while Primo in the PI was not! I did manage to down quite a bit in both places anyway. The 33 beer in Da Nang was different from that in Cam Ranh as well, again extensive testing was involved.
In truth, after 40+ years and much subsequent investigation my memories may be a bit flawed here and there. I do remember drinking some kind of beer on Guam though… or maybe that was Korea…
Anyway MY taste buds and liver no longer give a damn, so cheap will do.
whooops… Replace Primo with San Miguel!
Little did I realize how right I was about my memory.
However, we lived in Hawaii for a while and I also developed a taste for Primo.
Heh… The way the economy is going down the toilet and the way the fed is printing monopoly money, expect things to be Zimbabwe 2.0 by the time I retire & can receive my Guard check. Luckily, married into a famb-dambly with some serious acreage & we grow most of our own food.
Saw something like this on a survivalist board:
“Just because you’re hunting squirrels in the city park with an atl-atl doesn’t mean we’re in a depression.”
BHO is just following in the footsteps of his idol, Jimmy Carter. Even though there was double digit inflation, Carter would only give the military about a 5% raise. The military would show the way…
This cut of our pay is not JUST for 2010, it will also cover 2011, and probably until 2013. Nixon’s administration and congress did this to us during the 70’s. Only we went to the courts to get it back with interest, and won. But by then inflation had ate it all up and it did not do us any good. We need to storm the castle and get the money that we EARNED.
You also notice that congress the BBFN gave them selves a COLA pay increase of 5,000 per month. Yes they can. You VETS that voted for this BBFN prez and all his rear end inter-coursing buddies into the oral office, Hope you like the Change as they have taken YOUR money from YOUR retirement check. Our SIX is in danger.
@Heltau, since all COLA’s are a percentage of the current amount, If you look at it using your own real numbers I’m certain you’ll quickly come to the conclusion that a 0% increase will affect every year from onward.
My last job something similar one year only a bit trickier. In Lieu of a pay raise they issued a lump sum one time payment for each employee. On the face of it the deal seemed great until you factored in the reality that all future pay increases were percentage based on the previous years rate.
This represented a tremendous savings for the corporation as well as a substantial loss for each employee, over the long term.
P.S. Their justification for doing this is they base COLA on inflation rather than on the “cost of living” and they claim there was zero inflation in 2009. So COLA is a complete misnomer. According to this, shouldn’t it be called IA (Inflation adjustment)?
I see clearly now – hell’s a comming