Stop the madness!

[Capt Alfredo]

Originally Posted by VFFSSGT

Why would we need the draft when all services have been and still are meeting their recruiting goals and then some? We just need the authorized numbers boosted back up and use the taxpayers money for the common defense of this nation and not corrupt political paybacks as has been done for sometime.

Because nations harboring terrorist are not a direct threat to the nation...

At the risk of opening a political can of worms, would you suggest raising taxes to pay for the additional end strength increases, or would you cut current programs? If so, which would you cut?

Personally, I think instituting the draft for the duration of the current conflicts is the best answer. Not because I would welcome draftees into the force, but because it would mobilize the necessary political impetus to finally put an end to the wars and introduce sanity to the political arena with respect to the use of military force.

Note, I am not interested in hearing about how Barack Obama is the second coming of Che Guevara or any of that bs. Both parties are beholden to special interests on this subject (and others) and I'm not looking for more horse-beating on either side.

[smarg]

If this is referring to the terrorist Muslim Islamist Army major from Ft. Hood who murdered those innocent children of God then it is off base. The terrorist Muslim psychiatrist was collecting his paycheck and had never deployed before a scheduled tour later this month.

NEVER trust a Muslim. Never.

[VFFSSGT]

Originally Posted by Capt Alfredo

At the risk of opening a political can of worms, would you suggest raising taxes to pay for the additional end strength increases, or would you cut current programs? If so, which would you cut?

Personally, I think instituting the draft for the duration of the current conflicts is the best answer. Not because I would welcome draftees into the force, but because it would mobilize the necessary political impetus to finally put an end to the wars and introduce sanity to the political arena with respect to the use of military force.

Note, I am not interested in hearing about how Barack Obama is the second coming of Che Guevara or any of that bs. Both parties are beholden to special interests on this subject (and others) and I'm not looking for more horse-beating on either side.

Off the top of my head, this is what I would start with.

Terminate All Political Congressional and Executive Pension Benefits and do so retroactively. This does not apply to career employees who are not political appointees. Reduce active compensation and benefits for the same.

Terminate all Federal "Entitlement" Programs, specifically Medicare and Social Security except to those individuals who have paid into the program for 30 or more years as of the termination date. The US needs to ween itself off these broke programs; Americans should control their own retirement plans.

Terminate all fundings to all overseas programs including the UN except those of emergency temporary humanitarian aide.

There are several things I would do within the military budget too. Cut the lucrative contracts and put the military back to work, increase retirement to 25 years, transfer education benefits only to those who sign for career enlistment, go back to one uniform, and a lot more.

[Capt Alfredo]

Terminate All Political Congressional and Executive Pension Benefits and do so retroactively. This does not apply to career employees who are not political appointees. Reduce active compensation and benefits for the same.

Sounds reasonable. People like to stick it to the man, but in a representative gov, it would be hard to pass.

Terminate all Federal "Entitlement" Programs, specifically Medicare and Social Security except to those individuals who have paid into the program for 30 or more years as of the termination date. The US needs to ween itself off these broke programs; Americans should control their own retirement plans.

Another tough row to hoe. Not sure how that could get enacted, not that it's a horrible idea.

Terminate all fundings to all overseas programs including the UN except those of emergency temporary humanitarian aide.

I'm sure there's some study out there that would show how important it is to our foreign policy goals, but it would certainly lower the anti-American drumbeat.

here are several things I would do within the military budget too. Cut the lucrative contracts and put the military back to work, increase retirement to 25 years, transfer education benefits only to those who sign for career enlistment, go back to one uniform, and a lot more.

You know, as much as I would hate it myself, the 25 year thing sounds like a good idea from a financial standpoint.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by Fenton

Apparently, Dyess, Kadena and Cannon have the highest rates of suicides, divorces, cases of domestic violence, alcoholism, etc. in the USAF.

This is true, but Minot was also mentioned during the brief.

[Bael]

Chief, I couldn't agree more. I am a mental health professional (soon to be provider) and I see the toll war takes on our people every day. I always wish we could do more, but the very best therapy and medicine in the world is never going to be a substitute for enough time off. Year-long deployments with six months off is simply not sustainable.

Are there any Soldiers here who can tell me what the Army's standard deployment rotation is? I honestly don't know. My brother did 16 months in Iraq and was home for eight months before his unit got orders to Afghanistan. Is that standard?

[sigecaps]

The standard in the Army is 1:1 dwell. A year overseas, a year back home. But where they fuck you is when you PCS. The year back home is assigned to the unit that just returned from a year overseas. If you PCS just after getting back (many do), and the new unit you are assigned to will be deploying in six months, guess what, you are deploying with them.

[VFFSSGT]

Glad to see we are fairly on the same page...

Originally Posted by Capt Alfredo

Sounds reasonable. People like to stick it to the man, but in a representative gov, it would be hard to pass.

Another tough row to hoe. Not sure how that could get enacted, not that it's a horrible idea.

Yes, these would be hard to pass in today's political enviroment...especially considering the 17th Amendment. Why states ever allowed that one to go is beyond me. I believe there might be much less political posturing and the states would have have more power as it was intended if Senators were still appointed by the state rather elected. It starts with the states getting their rights and powers back. These states challenging the federal government with these new gun laws (and other statements) saying the federal government has no power over guns manufactured in a state seems to be the beginning of the push back for states rights and power. If the people will show their support to state and federal elected leaders for this, it is possible to get it done. Because at the rate the nation is going, we will be bankrupted third world country in the foreseeable future. I do believe Americans are starting to realize the reality of our poor ways and hopefully we can finally get good leaders in office after decades of all about me politicians in an all about me society.

I'm sure there's some study out there that would show how important it is to our foreign policy goals, but it would certainly lower the anti-American drumbeat.

My initial thought here was things like funding abortions overseas, AIDS programs, and a ton of other nonsense we pay for. Then my brain focussed on the UN because we do need to get out of the business of trying to run the world; I am all for making friends and getting along but we can do that on our own without that joke of a organization.

You know, as much as I would hate it myself, the 25 year thing sounds like a good idea from a financial standpoint.

Yeah...me too, but I think we can work a little longer for that nice retirement package. Seriously, like 30-40 years of a paycheck for 20 years of work? I say it could be balanced a little more. The reality is, all of the benefits and entitlements we get really are quite lucrative considering and it has created basically a welfare program because we have a bunch of people just riding the system for the benies...

[BTDTNM]

The Army has a total force of about 1.2 million people. How many of them have never deployed? Probably quite a few. I would be very interested in that number. I'm not talking about a month or two TDY so you can get a combat patch but a real tour.

Nobody EVER hears the Marines bitching and whining. They have it figured out why can't the Army do it? It has been 8 F-in years. Why is the Army still having problems? More than enough time to fix it. Isn't this WHY we have an Army in the first place!? One word, INCOMPETENT!

Until there is accountability for this we will contiue to see more bad news. What really drives me nuts is big Army attempting to force all the other branches into going by Army rules in the AOR. If they want to make life more difficult than it needs to be for their people, fine. Just don't expect me to be just as miserable as they are. Screw you.

[AlanW]

Smarg,

Please do not turn this into a Muslim vs America post. Stating never trust a Muslim is ridiculous. Muslim's are Americans, and I have served with Muslims who did great jobs, and I have Muslim friends. I understand you are upset about Ft. Hood (as we all are), however, to take your aggression out on an entire group of people based on the actions of few is undisputedly wrong. Please change your mindset, you make yourself look extremely silly.