Republicans Think It's Your Fault That You are Poor

[vasuderatorrent]

Actually in 1998 they were tougher than they are now. I was doing recruiter duty then. Sorry but you are just plain wrong.

I'm 34, overweight, married with two kids and I own a house. Should I go try to join the army tomorrow?

btw. Which branch?

 

[TheNextEra]

I'm 34, overweight, married with two kids and I own a house. Should I go try to join the army tomorrow?

btw. Which branch?

You're comment was the standards are tougher now than in 1997. Sorry but the standards have lightened since then. Your bio has nothing to do with the standards.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

Actually in 1998 they were tougher than they are now. I was doing recruiter duty then. Sorry but you are just plain wrong.

I was an 18 year old goody two shoes in perfect health with no financial obligations. I guess it just seemed easy looking back.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

Your bio has nothing to do with the standards.

I just wanted your professional opinion. Is it worth a shot, or am I wasting my time?

 

[TheNextEra]

I was an 18 year old goody two shoes in perfect health with no financial obligations. I guess it just seemed easy looking back.

It is, trust me I'm the same way. But the standards are the standards. They have loosened up since I was in basic and since you were in. I remember getting shoved into the locker by the drill sergeant when my boots weren't shined to his satisfaction. That can't happen now, at least legally.

Times change and in some ways I don't think it's better for the military but then some things I think are. I won't pretend to understand the mindset of those creating the rules and standards but they are easier than they were when I was in and in 1998 when I was a recruiter.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

join the military.

use the G.I. Bill

It cracks me up when conservatives suggest bumming off of the government in order to avoid bumming off of the government.

NEWS FLASH: The government pays more to government employees than they pay to welfare recipients. Government employees are a huge burden to the taxpayer. Anybody recall the February 2013 Sequester??

Bumming off of the government is bumming off the government. One type of lazy bum isn't superior to another type of lazy bum. Go get a real job. Stop relying on government handouts while you sit up on your moral high horse.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

I remember getting shoved into the locker by the drill sergeant when my boots weren't shined to his satisfaction. That can't happen now, at least legally.

I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing. I suppose I should have said, "qualifications for enlistment".

 

[TheNextEra]

I just wanted your professional opinion. Is it worth a shot, or am I wasting my time?

I honestly don't know the max age, I thought it was 34 for regular army. If it is, then if you make the standards (it was 60% when I was a recruiter (regular standard was 70% passing)), then you might be taped and have to lose weight which will happen in basic. It all depends on your MOS that you choose and if it is a much needed one. I doubt you would be infantry.

The best advice I can give is ask a recruiter and try to get a much needed MOS and then work from there with some research.

 

[TheNextEra]

It cracks me up when conservatives suggest bumming off of the government in order to avoid bumming off of the government.

NEWS FLASH: The government pays more to government employees than they pay to welfare recipients. Government employees are a huge burden to the taxpayer. Anybody recall the February 2013 Sequester??

Bumming off of the government is bumming off the government. One type of lazy bum isn't superior to another type of lazy bum. Go get a real job. Stop relying on government handouts while you sit up on your moral high horse.

I don't think joining the military is "bumming off the government"

 

[opendebate]

unless things have changed recently, i don't believe a GED will be adequate to allow for a new enlistment
and as the military begins to shed its numbers, the eligibility criteria would be expected to elevate

I have a question for you bubba. I don't want to get in a pissing contest with anyone so I would rather ask you, you always seem reasoned in your responses. How does anyone that claims the poor are poor because they are not working hard enough know that? What do they base a statement like that on? How could they claim to know enough about the work ethic of what is it now 16% of the US population? It seems more anecdotal, if that is the case how does one base decisions they support concerning such enormously complicated issues on nothing more then their own limited experiences? Help me out here

 

[vasuderatorrent]

I don't think joining the military is "bumming off the government"

Which costs more? Giving a single mom $350 a month for food stamps or providing a $60,000 per year lifestyle for an E-3?

Taxpayers pay more for the military than they do for the single mom. Some people just love to sit up high on their high horse. I enjoy smacking them back into reality. It's fun as a mother f***er.

 

[reinoe]

I don't think joining the military is "bumming off the government"

It can be when the benefits start outweighing the value of service.

 

[TheNextEra]

Which costs more? Giving a single mom $350 a month for food stamps or providing a $60,000 per year lifestyle for an E-3?

Taxpayers pay more for the military than they do for the single mom. Some people just love to sit up high on their high horse. I enjoy smacking them back into reality. It's fun as a mother f***er.

Please show me where an E-3 makes $60,000 a year.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

How could they claim to know enough about the work ethic of what is it now 16% of the US population?????

It makes them feel better about themselves. It has nothing to do with reality. Relax. These people never run for political office.

 

[TheNextEra]

It can be when the benefits start outweighing the value of service.

When you join the military then come talk to me ok? Being on call 24 hours making less than 30k a year then tell me what service isn't being provided.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

Please show me where an E-3 makes $60,000 a year.

Base pay = $2,034.90
2014 Military Pay Scale - For US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines

Housing allowance for Camp Lejeune = $1,104.00
2013 BAH Rates for CAMP LEJEUNE (NC178)

BAS = $357.55
2014 BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) Rates | Military Benefits

Average cost of health insurance = $328 per month
$328: Average Monthly Health Insurance Cost Under the Affordable Care Act | NBC4 Washington

My estimate was slightly off. It comes out to be $45,893.40.

A single mom that doesn't bum off the government can expect to earn $15,080 per year with no benefits. I still believe that $350 per month in food stamps is cheaper than a "low paid" government employee that costs the taxpayer $3,824.45 per month. Does that Lance Corporal worker harder than that single mom? Before you answer remember I was in the military. I know what goes on after boot camp is over.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

When you join the military then come talk to me ok?

July 22, 1997 - July 21, 2002 Honorably discharged. United States Marine Corps. Just because I was in the military doesn't make me a professional whiner/liar.

I joined the military to serve my country not to f*** over my country. THat is the attitude of most volunteer enlistees. The whining liars get the media coverage.

 

[TheNextEra]

Base pay = $2,034.90
2014 Military Pay Scale - For US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines

Housing allowance for Camp Lejeune = $1,104.00
2013 BAH Rates for CAMP LEJEUNE (NC178)

BAS = $357.55
2014 BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) Rates | Military Benefits

Average cost of health insurance = $328 per month
$328: Average Monthly Health Insurance Cost Under the Affordable Care Act | NBC4 Washington

My estimate was slightly off. It comes out to be $45,893.40.

A single mom that doesn't bum off the government can expect to earn $15,080 per year with no benefits. I still believe that $350 per month in food stamps is cheaper than a "low paid" government employee that costs the taxpayer $3,824.45 per month. Does that Lance Corporal worker harder than that single mom? Before you answer remember I was in the military. I know what goes on after boot camp is over.

Since you were in the military you damn well know it wasn't a 40 hour a week job. So therefore comparing civilian wages to military wages is not compatible. For 3 years out of my military career I remember extensively working 90 hours a week. Show me how that compares to civilian wages.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

When you join the military then come talk to me ok? Being on call 24 hours making less than 30k a year then tell me what service isn't being provided.

Go talk to any honest military member. Most of them are honest. It's a sweet deal.

 

[TheNextEra]

July 22, 1997 - July 21, 2002 Honorably discharged. United States Marine Corps. Just because I was in the military doesn't make me a professional whiner/liar.

I joined the military to serve my country not to f*** over my country. THat is the attitude of most volunteer enlistees. The whining liars get the media coverage.

No it just makes you a shammer then. If you didn't provide quality service that was deserving you were shamming. Yes, we did have a few of those as well.

That is by YOUR admission if you weren't providing quality service to your pay.

 

[TheNextEra]

Go talk to any honest military member. Most of them are honest. It's a sweet deal.

I guess I don't call the 90 hour work week for 3 years as a sweet deal. Maybe your experience was different. Did you sham a lot?

 

[vasuderatorrent]

For 3 years out of my military career I remember extensively working 90 hours a week.

I didn't have that experience while I was in. I probably worked that many hours in a year.

Show me how that compares to civilian wages.

They send you home at 39 hours to avoid paying over time. Have you ever had a civilian job? You aren't going to work 90 hours a week in a civilian job.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

No it just makes you a shammer then. If you didn't provide quality service that was deserving you were shamming. Yes, we did have a few of those as well.

That is by YOUR admission if you weren't providing quality service to your pay.

Go join a union. You have the hyperbole down pat.

 

[TheNextEra]

I didn't have that experience while I was in. I probably worked that many hours in a year.



They send you home at 39 hours to avoid paying over time. Have you ever had a civilian job? You aren't going to work 90 hours a week in a civilian job.

Actually for the next 3 years after I retired from the military I worked 85 hours a week for two years so yeah it was comparable. And you want to tell me the standards have relaxed since you were in lol

What you are telling me is the work ethic of you and others are what has relaxed.

 

[vasuderatorrent]

Did you sham a lot?

Sorry for exposing your secret.