This should make both parties sick!!!

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  • CasingBill
    The Case Wang
    • Jan 2003
    • 1347

    #1

    This should make both parties sick!!!

    This was posted on another site. I stole it.


    By Rush Limbaugh:

    I think the vast differences in compensation between
    victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die
    serving the country in Uniform are profound. No one
    is really talking about it either, because you just
    don't criticize anything having to do with September
    11. Well, I just can't let the numbers pass by
    because it says something really disturbing about the
    entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a
    family member in the September 11 attack, you're going
    to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a
    minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7
    million.

    If you are a surviving family member of an American
    soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a
    $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable..
    Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are
    the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you
    remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for
    each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those
    payments come to a screeching halt.

    Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting
    an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are
    complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were
    tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong
    place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in
    harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families
    know the dangers.

    We also learned over the weekend that some of the
    victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an
    organization asking for the same deal that the
    September 11 families are getting. In addition to
    that, some of the families of those bombed in the
    embassies are now asking for compensation as well.

    You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this
    is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement
    politics in this country. It's just really sad.
    Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they
    usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the
    green machine is in combat in the Middle East while
    their families have to survive on food stamps and live
    in low-rent housing. Make sense?

    However, our own U.S. Congress just voted themselves a
    raise, and many of you don't know that they only have
    to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that
    is more than $15,000 per month, and most are now equal
    to being millionaires plus. They also do not receive
    Social Security on retirement because they didn't have
    to pay into the system.

    If some of the military people stay in for 20 years
    and get out as an E-7, you may receive a pension of
    $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed you
    in harm's way receive a pension of $15,000 per month.
    I would like to see our elected officials pick up a
    weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out
    benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters
    who are now fighting.

    "When do we finally do something about this?" If this
    doesn't seem fair to you, it is time to forward this
    to as many people as you can.If your interested there
    is more........................

    This must be a campaign issue in 2004. Keep it going.
    SOCIAL SECURITY: (This is worth the read. It's short
    and to the point.)

    Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during
    election years. Our Senators and Congressmen do not
    pay into Social Security. Many years ago they voted
    in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no
    congressperson has felt the need to change it. For
    all practical purposes their plan works like this:

    When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay
    until they die, except it may increase from time to
    time for cost of living adjustments. For example,
    former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their
    wives may expect to draw $7,800,000 - that's Seven
    Million, Eight Hundred Thousand), with their wives
    drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their
    lives.

    This is calculated on an average life span for each.

    Their cost for this excellent plan is $00.00. These
    little perks they voted for themselves is free to
    them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan.

    The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly
    from the General Fund--our tax dollars at work! From our own Social
    Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into
    -- every payday until we retire (which amount is
    matched by our employer) --we can expect to get an
    average $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in
    other words, we would have to collect our average of
    $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one month to
    equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!

    Social Security could be very good if only one small
    change were made. And that change would be to jerk
    the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the
    Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social
    Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how
    fast they would fix it.
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  • cphilip
    Former Moderator

    • Jun 2026
    • 16216

    #2
    Lets not let this go political folks


    I have a small problem with one thing in that analagy. The 911 victim fund is donated money is it not? I think it was. Its not government entitlement as its portrayed there from what I know...

    However the disparity of relief is a real issue and so is the inclusion of Social Security so overall I got no issue with pointing out the unfairness. But I did want to point out the slight illusion that was portrayed there in where the money is coming from.


    AGD, where we are so good we can do it with only ONE tube!

    cphilip.com

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    • CasingBill
      The Case Wang
      • Jan 2003
      • 1347

      #3
      Cphilip, True, alot of the money is donated but not all. Some of that money is part of the settlement for the airlines bailout. People were offered money by our government and if they accepted it they lost their right to sue the airlines.

      I made sure to take out the rest of this post which blamed a certain side.

      I hope people can just take it for what it is and we'll see how long it stays open.
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      • aaron_mag
        Registered User
        • Jul 2002
        • 1375

        #4
        Originally posted by cphilip
        Lets not let this go political folks


        I have a small problem with one thing in that analagy. The 911 victim fund is donated money is it not? I think it was. Its not government entitlement as its portrayed there from what I know...

        However the disparity of relief is a real issue and so is the inclusion of Social Security so overall I got no issue with pointing out the unfairness. But I did want to point out the slight illusion that was portrayed there in where the money is coming from.
        Good point phil!!!

        I donated money at the time as well (to NYC firemen lost in the line of duty as I recall).

        But I understand Limbaugh's point (shudder). We felt so horrible with 9/11 we threw money at them. But the pain a soldier's family must feel is no less. There is a certain amount of hypocrisy there. We live in a non-perfect world, unfortunately...
        ULE Body Level 10 Automag intelliframe + retrovalve

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        • 1stdeadeye
          Still around????
          • Jun 2002
          • 8501

          #5
          Originally posted by cphilip
          I have a small problem with one thing in that analagy. The 911 victim fund is donated money is it not? I think it was. Its not government entitlement as its portrayed there from what I know...
          Most of that fund was government money. That is why they were allowed to put the lawsuit waiver into the settlements.

          I don't think the entitlements growing to include past and future attacks is a good thing. That is why we have insurance policies.

          Comment

          • cphilip
            Former Moderator

            • Jun 2026
            • 16216

            #6
            Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
            Most of that fund was government money. That is why they were allowed to put the lawsuit waiver into the settlements.

            I don't think the entitlements growing to include past and future attacks is a good thing. That is why we have insurance policies.

            I was pretty sure most of it was Donated to the Red Cross. Someone needs to see what they can find out. I do recall the Red Cross trying to divert some of that money at one time because it was excessive and they wanted to siphon some of it off to other causes. And there was a big stink about it. Because the people that gave it expected it to go to the 911 Victims. And the Red Cross backed off the plan to divert it.

            Anyway I am not certian. But I thought it was indeed mostly donated money. At least a lot of it. Anyone can agree to put the money anywhere they wanted to under any legal agreement. How do I know that the Airline settlement didn't just put it in with the rest of the funds. Where its going doesn't convince me that it must be Government money. That alone doesn't tell me anything.


            AGD, where we are so good we can do it with only ONE tube!

            cphilip.com

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            • Halliday
              Level 10
              • Oct 2000
              • 1655

              #7
              Yes it does make me sick that the people with the power constantly vote themselves raises and perks.

              What can I do about it?


              Super Moderator at Pbreview.com

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              • 1stdeadeye
                Still around????
                • Jun 2002
                • 8501

                #8
                There was a special master appointed to administer the fund.

                The Liberty Fund was not the compensation to the victims. THat was where the donations went. That fund covered emergency infrastucture, victim grants, emergency meals, etc...

                Check out that link for more. THe airline/government money was a seperate payout.

                Comment

                • frozte
                  Registered User
                  • Dec 2003
                  • 52

                  #9
                  I find this to be rather sad, honestly. I plan on going into the military come my 18th birthday. If I die in combat, and my parents demand compensation, I'd haunt them for eternity. I'd be much happier knowing they were just happy I died a soldier, and died doing what I love, than to say "Oh, damn. He's gone. Ok, Uncle Sam, where's my money?!" Yeah, losing a loved one is hard, but, it's a fact of life. Everyone dies sooner or later, we just sometimes get to choose how.

                  Comment

                  • tyrion2323
                    Euroball=goodness
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 1654

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Halliday
                    Yes it does make me sick that the people with the power constantly vote themselves raises and perks.

                    What can I do about it?
                    Vote Liberal.
                    My AIM Intimidator is better than your Automag. Get over it.
                    Hobart Paintball AIM Paintball

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                    • 1stdeadeye
                      Still around????
                      • Jun 2002
                      • 8501

                      #11
                      Originally posted by tyrion2323
                      Vote Liberal.


                      Why? So they can bankrupt the US with "Entitlement" programs?

                      Comment

                      • brianlojeck
                        Registered User
                        • Aug 2003
                        • 484

                        #12
                        Originally posted by tyrion2323
                        Vote Liberal.
                        You misspelled it.

                        vote liberTARIAN. ;-)
                        Brian Lojeck, [email protected]
                        Webmaster: http://www.WhatBrianThinksAboutLasVegas.com
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                        • cphilip
                          Former Moderator

                          • Jun 2026
                          • 16216

                          #13
                          Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
                          There was a special master appointed to administer the fund.

                          The Liberty Fund was not the compensation to the victims. THat was where the donations went. That fund covered emergency infrastucture, victim grants, emergency meals, etc...

                          Check out that link for more. THe airline/government money was a seperate payout.

                          AH... good stuff. Thats the kind of stuff I was looking for... reading it now.


                          AGD, where we are so good we can do it with only ONE tube!

                          cphilip.com

                          Comment

                          • 1stdeadeye
                            Still around????
                            • Jun 2002
                            • 8501

                            #14
                            Originally posted by CasingBill

                            Social Security could be very good if only one small
                            change were made. And that change would be to jerk
                            the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the
                            Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social
                            Security plan with the rest of us and then watch how
                            fast they would fix it.

                            I really like this idea!!!

                            Comment

                            • Jeffy-CanCon
                              veteran rec player
                              • May 2003
                              • 1309

                              #15
                              I agree with Limbaugh that it doesn't seem right that civilian victims lives are worth more than those of volunteer soldiers. But if it's not government money, what can you do?


                              I was shocked and appalled at what he is saying about the congressional retirement pension,
                              but apparently he is full of BS:

                              US congressional retirement plan

                              "As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.

                              Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Member's of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

                              The amount of a Congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.

                              Data compiled in 20034 showed 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service. The average age of those retiring under CSRS was 75.5 and had at least 20 years of federal service. Those who retired under FERS had an average age of 68.3 years and 21.6 years of federal service. Their average retirement payment was $3,909 a month."

                              Jeff P
                              Secretary
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