Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!

gupsmom

Pay these Men & Women who defend our freedoms!  I'm sorry, but I have to vent!  Your congressmen/women are still getting their paychecks, they're  not taking any paycuts but we have men & women willing to risk their lives for them 24/7 and we (our govt) think they should only get half pay or no pay?


 I have a son currently serving and one who wants to enlist after he graduates. My son is putting his life on the line & one ready & willing to do so but they're not worth being paid?!  Gimme a break!  These politicians need to get their heads out of their a$$!!!

Proud Military Mom!

Navy Son, Soon to be Army Son & Retired Navy Chief - my FI

tayylor65

I agree its pretty crappy.  There was 1 congressman who publicly said he would take a cut in pay for the days the government's shut down though.  Hopefully others have/will follow suit and our media will hold them to it.  

kmmssg

gupsmom - thanks for your family's service!  We are also a military family and NOT pleased about the current situation.

I was thrilled today to see my paycheck next week is cut in half.  We are older and more established so we will be okay, but what about all these young families that are paycheck to paycheck?  when you have a deployed spouse your daycare bills can explode!! 

My husband posted on a forum today that we should take all 535 congress members, send them to Afghanistan, and randomly choose 535 Soldiers to come back and give the budget a try.  2 things are certain:  1.  The Soldiers certainly can't do a worse job than what Congress has done.  2.  Maybe Congress would gain a deeper appreciation of what they are asking those people to do!

Dh said someone came up immediately on the forum and asked if we could dress the congress members in pink so the Afghanistani's can tell who they are.

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:e5b481ef-53e8-4a2b-9107-db22c321cefe">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]Can I just say that while I totally agree about the military deserving their paychekcs, I think it's sad that no one's talking about the OTHER 800,000 people that nearly ended up with no income tonight as well.  ALL of our govt employees deserve to be paid for the jobs they do. 
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

<div>While un-popular I agree with this.  </div><div>
</div><div>Sure deployed (and some un-deployed) military personnel should get their paycheck, but just because they are military does not mean they are essential personnel.  </div><div>
</div><div>On the flip side, just because you are <strong><em><u>not</u></em> </strong>military and fighting a war does not mean your job is not essential either. KWIM?</div><div>
</div><div>If other agencies have to determine who is essential and who is not, I think it's only fair the military does the same thing. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

galewi9734

Lyndausvi, how are people in the military not "essential personal"?  I'm just curious as to why you think that.  I happen to think my fiance is an "essential personal" to our freedom, but that is just my opinion.  I do agree, that we should be thinking about everyone else that is government employed as well too, not just military.  Should any employer have the right not to pay its employers? 

And yes, I do know Congress has come to a decision now.

galewi9734

stagemanager14, I was simply addressing the fact that lyndausvi said that some military members were not "essential personel" which I respectfully disagree with.

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:34a168d0-7185-46c1-baff-5d7c83bd9192">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck! : While un-popular I agree with this.   Sure deployed (and some un-deployed) military personnel should get their paycheck, <strong>but just because they are military does not mean they are essential personnel</strong>.   On the flip side, just because you are not military and fighting a war does not mean your job is not essential either. KWIM? If other agencies have to determine who is essential and who is not, I think it's only fair the military does the same thing. 
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

Then they should get to come home. I haven't heard anything about deployed soldiers getting paid and non deployed soldiers not getting paid.
I had an arguement with some kid on fb today about it too. I think Obama needs to take a paycut and lead by example, If he was willing to I bet more congress would be willing to.

SamiJoeB

I'm just going out on a limb here. I normally ONLY post on the Military Brides, but this post caught my eye.

Do you think that I who am 3,000 miles away from my family, and 5,000 miles away from my husband should not get paid because I am a "non-essential" service member? I can assure that the pilots who take the jets from me, therefore trusting that I did my job in checking every inch of that jet for a deformity, a scrape, a bird strike, anything out of the ordinary, before they take off think I'm quite essential, just as I can assure you that thier families think I'm essential. Do you think that my husband, A Marine, serving in Japan (ie not deployed, but stationed there) shouldn't get paid for working 16 hours a day 6 days a week? We are away from each other, and our families, but yet some people are thinking that We as "non-essential" military personnel shouldn't have gotten our next paycheck. I can assure, that while I'm not manning an machine gun in the deserts, I do think that for my hours of work that I do deserve my paycheck, because not only am I serving my country, I am doing so VOLUNTARILY. I do think that my husband, for his hours of work, on foreign soil, in a country that hates who he is, his uniform, and resents the fact that he is even in thier country, deserves his pay check as well. My husband and I were spit at while walking around Hiroshima, just for being American. The Marines, Soldiers, Airmen & Sailors on his base are routinely refused service so often that they don't even leave base.  As servicemembers, we work hard for our country, for the freedom of America and her people. The Military as a whole is a fairly well oiled machine, no one person is more or less essential than anyone else in any branches.

I am very sorry for the thousands of people who will be working for half pay, or no pay at all, It really does break my heart for them, my parents are 2 of those said people. I think it is pathetic for people to complain and assume that the military shouldn't get paid because the government couldn't come to an agreement. I have even heard that retirees shouldn't get thier pay, when they dedicated some/half/most of thier adult life to protect your freedoms.  I don't pretend to know everything about what has gone on with congress and the budget. I only know what I've read and seen on tv. I think that unless you are in the military, married to the military or in some way close to the military (a parent of a service member) and actually know what you're talking about, you should probably not even attempt to suggest that any of us are non-essential.

I'm glad that this budget crisis is over for now, but it really shows you how unsupportive, and unpatriotic some people in this country are...

SamiJoeB

And thank you to those on this post that stood by the military.

kmmssg

Well, I'd like to clear up a couple of things.

1. first off, deployed Soldiers paychecks were cut in half just like mine.  I found out about the whole thing be being contacted by a couple of buddies in Afghanistan.  As I said before, my family would survive that fine, but many other younger ones would surely have a tough struggle.  There is no "tiered" pay system.  If they cut our pay, everyone gets it.  Thankfully, these younger families don't have to worry about it, because I'm being told they have time to adjust the checks back to normal.

My one buddy has a couple of allotments taken out of his check and found out yesterday his take home would be just over 300,00.  He wasn't looking forward to emailing his wife!

2.  I could not agree more about the 800,000 who would have also been affected.  They are vital, and they have bills to pay, families to feed, etc.  This is just as unfair to them.

The two groups don't have to be mutually exclusive.  They just thappen to be all be at the whim of 565 elected officials who couldn't get their act together!!

mkrupar

Sami are you off your soapbox now?

Good, come down to the level of normal people. Because it seems to me tha because you're military you've places yourself above the thousands of other "peons" who had the potential to lose jobs and pay. It's not up to us here on a message board to determine who in the military is essential and who is non essential. That's on them. But, to pretend that you and your husband will be MORE impacted than say the mother about to deliver twins who would not get paid if the government were on furlough (even though her position is "essential"), or the single mother who struggled for years and finally, finally secured a stable job. who, because she's still in the probationary period would have been laid off at 12:01am had this not gone through, (That's right, not just not paid, laid off!) is just ridiculous.

I applaud all military personnel, deployed or not. I know many military personnel, current and fomer. The point that Stage and Lynda were trying to make is that just like any othe job out there, there are essential workers, and non essential workers. And maybe, just maybe, people could have paid a little more attention to all 800,000 federal workers' stories, not just the military ones.

I realize this is all null and void since they reached a budget deal, but I felt it had to be said.

galewi9734

And stagemanager14, I can address you if I so choose too.  Even if you may not want my opinion.  Whether or not you were addressing me you, as a part of this thread obviously, can be responded too.  So please, don't feel the need to be rude.  Part of a somewhat "debate" thread such as is is for people to talk.

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:80690885-bf56-465f-8e84-da76d55c7ee2">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]Lyndausvi, how are people in the military not "essential personal"?  I'm just curious as to why you think that.  I happen to think my fiance is an "essential personal" to our freedom, but that is just my opinion.  I do agree, that we should be thinking about everyone else that is government employed as well too, not just military.  Should any employer have the right not to pay its employers?  And yes, I do know Congress has come to a decision now.
Posted by galewi9734[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I can't comment on who is essential and more than I can comment on any more that I could at any other company. I'm not close enough to the ends and outs to even know.  I do not think it not outside the realm of possibility that the military might have some non-esstenial jobs.

</div><div>
</div><div> I was more  pointing out that the military is not the only essential jobs in the government.  Those people should have people supporting them also, not just the military. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>fwiw - I've always been and will continue to be pro-military.  </div>

galewi9734

lyndausvi, I agree with you  that everyone was important in this budget crisis.  EVERYONE.  I just don't agree with that statement, but that is probably because my whole family (as well as my future husband) are/were military.  So I seem them all as very essential.

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:a7fd9caf-79e1-4ad6-8b62-4a6f922a67f8">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]lyndausvi, I agree with you  that everyone was important in this budget crisis.  EVERYONE.  I just don't agree with that statement, but that is probably because my whole family (as well as my future husband) are/were military.  So I seem them all as very essential.
Posted by galewi9734[/QUOTE]

<div>Military or not it's human nature to justify why your  job is essential.  It's a very normal reaction. </div><div>
</div><div>Just because some civilian might 'question' it does not mean they are not supportive.</div><div>
</div><div>I just hate this 'us' against "them" attitude.  </div><div>
</div><div>For example -  we have boarder patrol, Immigration and Customs officers that are in the same position.  Their jobs are pretty damn important to the safety of our boarders  and no one seems to care about them or their families who are/were in the exact same position.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

Manwaithiel

For the love of all things holy.

Congress and the President cannot not get paid. They can bluster and posture about it all they want, but it's illegal, unconstitutional, and ridiculous. And it doesn't solve anything to sit here and complain about them not getting paid. I don't like it anymore than you do, but it's just not a possibility. Please figure that out right now and argue about something constructive. If they were unable to come to an agreement last night they sure as hell weren't going to amend the constitution any time soon. Geeze.

Onward. There are plenty of people in the same situation. Being military doesn't make you any more special than them. I don't know how you can sit there thinking it does.

kmmssg

Actually the President and Congress DO continue to get paid in the event of a budget impasse.  While the military and federal employees are paid from appropriated funding, the President and Congress are paid from "mandatory" spending - the money is already for them...just not the rest of us.

Yesterday, Sens Barbara Boxer and Bob Casey introduced a bill that would prevent Congress or the President from continuing to receive their paycehcks in the event of a gov shutdown.   They felt that if other federal employees weren't going to be paid, they shouldn't either.

http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2011/02/senators_no_pay_for_congress_p.php

It doesn't take a constitutional amendment for Congress and the President to continue to be paid during a shutdown since they aren't paid from appropriated funds.

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:c02c8982-9085-4c8b-8e57-144a1dd31375">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck! : ::headdesk:: Then you haven't been paying attention A) Yes, deployed soldiers were always still going to get paid.  Like Congress, they continue to be paid because they are not in a position to be able to 'shut down', what with being in hostile territory and it costing more and being more dangerous to pull them all out than to pay them.  B) This massive budget debacle and stalemating has nothing to do with Congress or Obama or anyone taking a salary cut.  It's about spending in social programs, particularly Planned Parenthood. C) Obama literally CANNOT take a paycut.  His salary is set by Congress, so he literally cannot refuse to take part of it, and it involves a whole bunch of legislation to change it. 
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

I'm not going to lie. I was KUI. But I'll clarify.
IMO, How can the president and congress say that it's okay for military peoiple to not get paid at all? (or any of the federal employees for that matter)  Yea, they'll get backpay eventually..but that doesn't put food on the table for thier kids then. Alot of young military families live paycheck to paycheck. As was already mentioned in post.  I'm sorry, but it's just not okay.  IMO,If they're not going to get paid they shouldn't work if no agreement is reached after the 5-6 day temporary period.
I'm well aware this is all over social porgrams such as planned parenthood. Which I think makes the thing all the more ridiculous. Education all over the country is being cut because no one's getting the federal dollars they need, but we're going to fight over Planned Parenthood? It just doesn't make sense.

trix1223

Getting retroactive pay for Fed. employeeswas not a given.  Our DD and her roomie are both employed by the Fed. Government.  They were within minutes of being out of work last night.

When I asked DD about retroactive pay, she said that in their positions, they'd only receive it if congress voted to give it to them.  It's not a guarantee for all fed. employees.

I'm with those who decry the "us against them" mentality.  I think it's wrong for anyone, military or civilian,  who is doing the job they were hired to do to be put out of work because of political posturing.  Please don't even go to a place where one is more important than another.  Because that's just wrong.

Manwa and stage, thanks for clarifying the issue of congressional and presidential pay, and to kmm for adding even more clarity.  Whilecongress and the president apparently can't NOT get paid, I would have liked to see every single one of them tell us that any salary they received during a government shutdown (that they caused) was going to be donated to a homeless shelter....soup kitchen.....emergency clinic....etc.

I find it unconscionable that they would even think of accepting a paycheck if they put roughly 1 million people out of work.

galewi9734

stagemanager14 obviously you don't understand what "jumping down one's throat is".  I never jumped down your throat as you are doing to me now.  The difference between us is I don't care.  You can have your opinion and I can have mine.  Thats what a "discussion board" is about.  I don't understand why you are being so defensive of yourself, because I could honestly care less on my end.

Lyndausvi, I could not agree more with you.  Also, I never thought you were anti-military (and I do not think you are).  I suppose I am just more inclined to take any military side because of my close elationship with it and maybe that is a fault of mine, but it is who I am.

mkrupar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:7055aba5-2a8e-48f6-8ed4-85867e585ec7">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]stagemanager14 obviously you don't understand what "jumping down one's throat is".  I never jumped down your throat as you are doing to me now.  The difference between us is I don't care.  You can have your opinion and I can have mine.  Thats what a "discussion board" is about.  I don't understand why you are being so defensive of yourself, <strong>because I could honestly care less on my end.</strong> Lyndausvi, I could not agree more with you.  Also, I never thought you were anti-military (and I do not think you are).  I suppose I am just more inclined to take any military side because of my close elationship with it and maybe that is a fault of mine, but it is who I am.
Posted by galewi9734[/QUOTE]

Aw that means you do care or could care a little. I believe the phrase you were looking for is couldN'T care less. That means you could not care any less than you care right now. And I'm pretty sure Stage doesn't care either, but reading the thread and seeing the posts, she wrote something in response to someone else, and you seemingly took offense to that. That's what she was referring to because in her post TO SOMEONE ELSE, you responded like she was addressing you.

mkrupar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:0166f2a6-c8f6-4552-bc30-3c9269e25548">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Actually the President and Congress DO continue to get paid in the event of a budget impasse.</strong>  While the military and federal employees are paid from appropriated funding, the President and Congress are paid from "mandatory" spending - the money is already for them...just not the rest of us. Yesterday, Sens Barbara Boxer and Bob Casey introduced a bill that would prevent Congress or the President from continuing to receive their paycehcks in the event of a gov shutdown.   They felt that if other federal employees weren't going to be paid, they shouldn't either. <a href="http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2011/02/senators_no_pay_for_congress_p.php" rel='nofollow'>http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2011/02/senators_no_pay_for_congress_p.php</a> It doesn't take a constitutional amendment for Congress and the President to continue to be paid during a shutdown since they aren't paid from appropriated funds.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]

I believe this is what Manwa said in that post ^^^^ right above yours.

kmmssg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:f90c9700-40cc-441e-895e-52e27ab61567">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck! : I believe this is what Manwa said in that post ^^^^ right above yours.
Posted by mkrupar[/QUOTE]

I think you are right!!  That would be known as knotting at work and making sure you don't get caught (my systems were down, just for the record!), but I read it too quickly.

My apologies Manwa.

galewi9734

mkrupar, please do excuse my non-clarity .  I could NOT care less.  Better?  Good. I responded as if I wanted to discuss this topic with her as well, which I attempted too until she decided to take offense for some odd reason. 

Manwaithiel

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:5e2f1094-e08e-47d1-833b-d5a5517484c2">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck! : I think you are right!!  That would be known as knotting at work and making sure you don't get caught (my systems were down, just for the record!), but I read it too quickly. My apologies Manwa.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]

No prob!

gupsmom

Wow, remind me not to post on this board after this one.  Holy Cow! I didn't mean to start an uproar.  I was simply venting.  My son called and told me he got word that he was only getting 1/2 a paycheck.  He's 20 years old, has missed every holiday from hom since right out of h.s. and YES, it was his choice to enlist & serve but he does make sacrafices most 20 yr old don't even have to think about.  I'm off my soapbox and this board - the govt reached an agreement - till next time and my views wont change - pay'em. 

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_off-topic-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:6ddc5d9f-5c80-4a70-89f0-7ab15617f615Post:142b562f-feda-46f4-b00d-5a97b774798d">Re: Off Topic - Our Military They Deserve a PayCheck!</a>:
[QUOTE]Wow, remind me not to post on this board after this one.  Holy Cow! I didn't mean to start an uproar.  I was simply venting.  My son called and told me he got word that he was only getting 1/2 a paycheck.  He's 20 years old, has missed every holiday from hom since right out of h.s. and YES, it was his choice to enlist & serve but he does make sacrafices most 20 yr old don't even have to think about.  I'm off my soapbox and this board - the govt reached an agreement - till next time and my views wont change - pay'em. 
Posted by gupsmom[/QUOTE]

<div>gups...  I think you miss understood the replies.  No one denied your son  didn't deserve to be paid.  </div><div><span style="font-size:10.8333px;" class="Apple-style-span">
</span></div><div><span style="font-size:10.8333px;" class="Apple-style-span">We were simple saying "the Military deserves a paycheck" de-values the jobs of other federal employees do.  </span></div><div>
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