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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow I make MAGA heads explode
I tell them I worked a federal government job that allowed me to retire at 54, with a life-time pension and great health insurance.
They look at me like I'm a FUCKING thief, until they ask; "what did you do"? When I say; "served 30 years in the United States Navy", they sputter and stammer like I've asked an AI program to explain why Musk is a genius.
Their brains kind of short circuit as they try to figure out if I'm a "French Surrender Monkey Commie", or if they should thank me.
I really wish they instead would ask WHY THEIR PENSIONS AND BENEFITS CAN'T BE LIKE MINE!!!!!!?????
MineralMan
(147,987 posts)walkingman
(8,545 posts)and I think all the other wars that followed have been meaningless and seemingly never ending. So I think you deserve whatever compensation you get for being willing to put your life on the line for some bureaucratic politician who takes no risk for himself or his family.
More power to you. I hope you are doing everything you can to promote a more peaceful world as someone that understands the impact it has on real lives and families. ☮
I'm already against the next war.
Emile
(30,780 posts)PCIntern
(27,012 posts)An older retired guy takes a job at Walmart as a greeter. One night he goes home, has his dinner, and the phone rings. Its his manager, who says to him, You know, you do a great job when youre here. Youre extremely nice to the customers, you execute your job duties beautifully, you understand your role in Walmart Hierarchy, you read and follow the manual, everything. But you constantly show up 10 or 15 minutes late. Did you do that in the job that you had before us?
Yes, says the man, I did.
And what did they say to you when you showed up for work earlier at that job?
They said, Good morning, Admiral.
SarcasticSatyr
(1,295 posts)he had to show up early for many years before he could get away with that ...
Just a Navy vet talking ...
BOSSHOG
(40,268 posts)My first order of business. When Youre on time youre late.
maxrandb
(16,000 posts)I worked for a great XO on one of my ships when I was a Chief. He was tough, but fair, and his catchphrase was "if you're on time, you're late".
Fast forward about a decade and I was a Department Head at an F-18 Squadron. My new Chief was supposed to check-in with me and showed up right on time.
I said; "Chief, if you're on time, you're late". He turned white as a ghost, looked like someone just walked over his grave and said; "did you used to work for Captain (blank)?"
I laughed and said "yeah". I don't think either of us was "on-time" again.
Bravo Zulu for making me remember that.
BOSSHOG
(40,268 posts)I dont know when I originally heard it, but it worked like magic. My other favorite, if you will, is a quote by Henry Ford. If you think you can or you cant, youre right. Worked most of the time without too much supervision being used. I had it on a sign on my desk facing the visitor.
Genevra
(35 posts)NT
iluvtennis
(20,948 posts)DENVERPOPS
(10,147 posts)Can't be like the Members of the House and Senate..........
TBF
(34,745 posts)that comes their way. But I may have a different opinion of Congress.
DENVERPOPS
(10,147 posts)to shove thru their pay increases for congress critters which they tried to include on their budget bill proposal????????
TBF
(34,745 posts)but I also think it was controversial enough that they took it out. This extension they passed is only 3 months and includes key spends like disaster relief (apparently NC is still a mess up in the mountains) and farm $$$. They will wait until a longer term bill and try to get that pay raise in there.
Lochloosa
(16,442 posts)Callie1979
(271 posts)None of them have ever retired from Congress poor either. Plus they get other compensation
Plus if they serve 20yrs they can retire with pension at 50. THATS early. If they're 62 they can retire with only FIVE years in office. not a full pension, but still better than private sector.
Maybe they should do what the framers intended & serve a few terms and LEAVE.
A term limit amendment would easily pass pretty much every state.
DENVERPOPS
(10,147 posts)we have the best Politicians money can buy..............
Lochloosa
(16,442 posts)And the retirement is the same as the military. Your point?
DENVERPOPS
(10,147 posts)that a small portion would need it........A large percentage are worth more than a couple of million......
Lochloosa
(16,442 posts)Callie1979
(271 posts)And that goes for both sides of the aisle.
TBF
(34,745 posts)as staff in law firms (back in the 1990s) ... the pay was better in the private sector at my level and we had massive O/T. The staffers on the Hill did not make as much. Most of the partners in the major law firms actually had higher salaries than the president, much less Congresspeople.
However the optics of it probably weren't great. I hope it's done after the new year, I don't keep up with it much anymore but like I said I wouldn't disagree with you.
DENVERPOPS
(10,147 posts)is increase the debt limit a trillion or two so they can RENEW the huge tax cut he passed for the Uber Rich last time he was president, AND, so he can pass even yet ANOTHER huge tax cut for the Uber Rich....
Wiz Imp
(2,430 posts)Lochloosa
(16,442 posts)Second, they have not had a raise since 2009. How would you like that at your job?
Third, My Step-brother is a congressman and sleeps on his office couch because of the cost of living in DC. Maintaining two households on his salary would be impossible. He could walk away and make a high 6 figure salary, but chooses to fight the good fight.
You are spouting right wing talking points with the "congress critters" remark.
COL Mustard
(6,983 posts)My GS-15 salary is actually higher than theirs but they get an allowance to run their offices. They can use that as a discretionary fund to pay their travel, salaries, etc. but their Federal retirement is based on their salary.
Mr.Bee
(424 posts)paid the national MINIMUM WAGE with any additional income from any source being unlawful.
OrangeJoe
(431 posts)Members of Congress get the same retirement benefits as every other federal retiree. That them politicians get 100% of their salary and free health care for life was invented by the right wing that wants to end democracy. Stop spreading the lie and do some research. The Congressional Research Service had excellent papers that clearly address this subject.
LymphocyteLover
(6,968 posts)lindysalsagal
(22,446 posts)mountain grammy
(27,378 posts)LogDog75
(162 posts)I retired, at age 53, after serving 28 years in the AF and have the same benefits you do. It was the benefits that convinced me to enlist.
Except, when then begin complaining about government employees being lazy and, in general, being worthless. I ask them why they hate our military since everyone in the military is a government employee.
It's hilarious watching their brains and mouth work out-of-sync trying to come up with an explanation that doesn't make them look like they're dissing the military.
BOSSHOG
(40,268 posts)I am a proud military retiree, enjoy a modest pension, use TRICARE sparingly, take care of myself physically. All of us who retire today are volunteers. I will say we deserve our retirement package. But we also volunteered to die for our country to get it. Good On Us.
Callie1979
(271 posts)Especially if they dont know what they want to do for a living.
It will educate you in so many ways plus you'll see the world like most never do.
I never served long enough for a pension but my dad did. Best thing he ever did. I STILL wish I'd done my 20 even today in my 60s
Blue_Tires
(56,725 posts)Blue1Red2
(4 posts)Ha ha good one FLY NAVY!
Quanto Magnus
(1,034 posts)Because they've given up and are looking for someone else to blame.... They can't blame their leaders because then they'd have to admit that their whole political ideology is terrible for them.
kevink077
(474 posts)Drives him crazy . 100%
kairos12
(13,320 posts)I'm an Army Ranger, and I ask, where did you serve?
odins folly
(279 posts)When i tell someone that 20 years in the USAF taught me to be a diehard liberal...
I did my 20 twice, USAF and TSA...
It occurs to me that the folks who disparage federal workers who retire with pension and benefits are the same jag offs who didn't want to answer to the man and thought the would be better off self employed..
Martin68
(24,726 posts)30 years of rightwing media have rotted trotted their brains.