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| Home Front: Politix |
| Obama to Force Military Families Away From Tricare ...By Tripling Their Fees. |
| 2013-11-09 |
| Posted by:Uncle Phester |
| #3 TOMMY - by Rudyard Kipling I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls! For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?" But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll. We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints; While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind", But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind, There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind. You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all: We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2013-11-09 16:56 |
| #2 Actually, they tried tripling it in the early 00's, just shortly after 9/11. The blowback made it, as expected, politically untenable. The idiots wanted to do a huge doubling/tripling immediately. If they only had made it an increase of extra $50 a year over a number of years, it probably would be at the level they're seeking now. However, just like the pension holes in city and state governments, the federal government has consistently failed to budget to pay for retiree medical care. It's eaten out of the DoD operating budget and is now, if not already, eating over half of that allocated for medical care. It's just not medical care. Literally for generations the GAO has advocated rolling all military pay - base, rations, housing - into one sum. However, even dumb congresscritters have long figured out the effect of future outlays that small amount will have in retiree pay. So they keep the creative bookkeeping in calculating base pay. As the war effort has decreased and personnel cuts loom, all those 'bonuses' suddenly disappear. Getting back to base pay will move a number of married with children enlisted back to food stamp qualifications. As a retiree, yes, I remember they said that we'd get 'free' medical care back in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. Most likely they could provide it free if the access would be limited to the procedures, protocols, and pharmaceuticals available back then. However, most want 2013 level care. So, I should be open to paying more for that level of care. BTW, having received the 'alert' back in the '00s to increase these costs, I've always budgeted accordingly. That they haven't taken effect meant a little extra at the end of the year. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-11-09 07:59 |
| #1 Less the one percent of Americans enter the military. Far less than that ever make it to retirement, but the Champ knows how most of us vote....(when we are permitted to do so.) Although we had to know it was coming, nice of the Champ to impose such premiums on medical coverage that was billed as... "a free benefit for life" when we all went on active duty. TRICARE becomes your Medicare supplement or back-up at age 65. No doubt many will drop it altogether....which is undoubtedly the plan. "We know who you are." -- BHO |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-11-09 00:55 |