Politicians First (A bit "R" rated)
Now, I'm one of the folks on the deficit reduction/balance the budget band-wagon. I know enough to know I don't fully understand economics as being preached at the federal level, and there's actually some sound arguments for having a small deficit. (I don't recall them off hand, but I remember learning about them from one of my Master's classes on the federal budget.) However, we have a problem in this country and we can't keep bleeding red ink the way we have been.
So, President Obama formed a commission to come up with ideas. That's a good thing, absolutely no sarcasm intended in that comment either. The commission tossed some 58 or so different ideas out on to the table.
One of the several ideas floated by the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform was a three-year pay freeze of military compensation: basic pay, basic allowance for housing, and basic allowance for subsistence.
Here's an excerpt from the 2010 military pay tables for the ranks of E-2, E-3, and E-4, this is monthly pay:
Under 2 yrs Over 2 yrs Over 3 yrs
E-2 1622.10 1622.10 1622.10
E-3 1705.80 1813.20 1923.00
E-4 1889.70 1986.30 2094.00
If they're without dependents and living in the dorms, they don't get any Housing, Subsistance, or Family Separation Pay while pulling duty in the war zone.
If you're authorized "Imminent Danger Pay/Hostile Fire Pay" you get an extra $225/month for the privilage of being shot at.
There are some other pays for special duties/jobs/positions, as well as uniform allowances for enlisted troops, but I'm leaving those alone for the sake of this exercise.
So, and unmarried E-4 who spent all of Fiscal Year 2010 in Afghanistan was paid the princely sum of $27,828 for a year of having a bunch of whack jobs trying to turn his balls (or her unmentionables) into a so much shredded beef.
They want to freeze these folks pay? Congress (both Houses), the Cabinet, and the Prez need to take a mother-fucking pay cut.
Congressional Pay is $169,300/year. The Prez makes $400K/year. He shouldn't work for chicken feed, but the man gets free rent and board. Married military members make a little more but pay for both.
I'm just sayin'.
P.S. If you don't believe my numbers, military pay charts are public domain. Don't take my word for it, go look 'em up.
And if you really want a lesson in comparsion, go look up how much we paid the same ranks in early 1969 to hump the Vietnam jungle in search of Charlie.
So, President Obama formed a commission to come up with ideas. That's a good thing, absolutely no sarcasm intended in that comment either. The commission tossed some 58 or so different ideas out on to the table.
One of the several ideas floated by the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform was a three-year pay freeze of military compensation: basic pay, basic allowance for housing, and basic allowance for subsistence.
Here's an excerpt from the 2010 military pay tables for the ranks of E-2, E-3, and E-4, this is monthly pay:
Under 2 yrs Over 2 yrs Over 3 yrs
E-2 1622.10 1622.10 1622.10
E-3 1705.80 1813.20 1923.00
E-4 1889.70 1986.30 2094.00
If they're without dependents and living in the dorms, they don't get any Housing, Subsistance, or Family Separation Pay while pulling duty in the war zone.
If you're authorized "Imminent Danger Pay/Hostile Fire Pay" you get an extra $225/month for the privilage of being shot at.
There are some other pays for special duties/jobs/positions, as well as uniform allowances for enlisted troops, but I'm leaving those alone for the sake of this exercise.
So, and unmarried E-4 who spent all of Fiscal Year 2010 in Afghanistan was paid the princely sum of $27,828 for a year of having a bunch of whack jobs trying to turn his balls (or her unmentionables) into a so much shredded beef.
They want to freeze these folks pay? Congress (both Houses), the Cabinet, and the Prez need to take a mother-fucking pay cut.
Congressional Pay is $169,300/year. The Prez makes $400K/year. He shouldn't work for chicken feed, but the man gets free rent and board. Married military members make a little more but pay for both.
I'm just sayin'.
P.S. If you don't believe my numbers, military pay charts are public domain. Don't take my word for it, go look 'em up.
And if you really want a lesson in comparsion, go look up how much we paid the same ranks in early 1969 to hump the Vietnam jungle in search of Charlie.