Well, I think we all agree they deserve more, but the sad reality of the situation is there probably isn't any more room for more...Have you guys seen the budget book lately? If there were a way to prioritize, that would be great and give the troops the money they deserve...
I don't know whether 4% was an option. From the article there was two choices, and Congress was pro 3.5 and bush 3. Since these are pretty close numbers I'm thinking there was money for either one, just depends on priorities and allocation of funds. For Bush, who rarely shows fiscal constraint, to opt for the smaller raise is a slap in the face to our military.
Of course, you could say this about every single spending item in the budget, and that's how you end up with runaway budgets. 0.5% here and there isn't a lot - when you add it all up, you just spent $50 billion extra. To just say "oh, 0.5% is not a big deal, so just go for it" is exactly what both the Congress and the President should never, ever do. There are so many thousands of things to criticize Bush for - this isn't one of them.
I agree, and thats why its frustrating to me. He's pretty much had an open checkbook for just about everything, but this .5% is an issue?
There are tons of things that are issues - there's been wrangling between him and Congress on virtually every bill that ever passes - that applies to all Congresses and all Presidents. The difference is that with the the Republican Congress, it was more behind-the-scenes, whereas now, it's taken public in an effort to win political points. I guarantee you there have been hundreds of times where a bill was pared down in a compromise with Bush, and plenty of times a bill has been added to in a compromise with Bush. It's just not normally ever an issue because that's how government functions.
As someone who is directly effected by these proposed cuts, I'm disgusted! 21 yrs of service to my country and this is what our supposed pro-troop President is all about. He disgusts me!
I would not be surprised if the point five is an issue because President Cheney does not want to take money from within the defense budget from his pet projects and those of his cronies, such as the missile defense system that does not work to fight the threat that does not exist.
Your right. It's about priorities. If Bush hadn't been busy pushing through countless tax cuts for his wealthy and corporate supporters, and not vetoing one spending bill of the GOP Congress that was loaded to the gills with pork, there would be more money for higher pay for the military. I was looking at your quotes, and what I didn't see, and perhaps I missed it, was the average salary paid to US contractors in Iraq. I have a cousin there working for one of the most prominent, actually doing some damn fine work that is contributing to rebuilding and making safer what we are busy, with help from the insurgents, blowing up. I can tell you that he is there because they are paying him an amazing amount of money. Far more than he could think about earning in the States doing the same thing. I sure wish he'd blow off the money and return home. It won't do him any good, or his family any good, if he doesn't make it back in one piece. Or makes it back in a box. D&D. Sometimes you just have to say it... life isn't always fair. A massive understatement.
Imagine that. I bet that would end the war with a quickness. There may not be any iraqis left. . but the war would be over Rocket River
THANK YOU for your service .This president is just not for the people that he's supposed to care about and do the right things by them. I think he should be IMPEACHED.
Thank you for your long service to our nation. I hate to see the treatment people who have served so well are getting from this administration. Best of luck getting all that you deserve.
thank you sir. it disgusts me that congress has not impeached. where is the public outcry. we are doomed i fear.
I've thanked you before, but you can't get enough thanks. Thank you, sir, for your service. D&D. Support Our People in Uniform.
