More so Somer - Kids in Iraq

[Scav]

You fail to understand that GOING INTO THE ARMED FORCES is a CHOICE. They HAVE a choice to go, just like I had a choice to go to college. Who are normal people like you and I to bitch and complain about something we have LITTLE clue about. Iraq is better for us being there, people in this country expect things to be fixed in hours because 95% of this country is spoiled rotten, and I don't mean with money or love, but I mean with freedom. Rome wasn't built in a day.

And while people bitch about being there, you better believe I would be bitching to the camera if I was there also, matter of fact, I bitch about going to work (which is what they are doing) every single day. Furthermore, they are compensated for their time and service, with SERIOUS pension plans (my old boss was a 20 year army vet and was taking home like 80k a year TAX FREE just from that ON TOP of his 55k salary) and get their college education PAID FOR IN FULL.

Yeah i'm glad these kids are protecting our freedom and getting rid of the invisible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I'm sure they enjoyed signing up to serve this country and sent to a country that shouldn't have been invaded.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Yeah i'm glad these kids are protecting our freedom and getting rid of the invisible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I'm sure they enjoyed signing up to serve this country and sent to a country that shouldn't have been invaded.

I don't disagree with this, but you sign up for this, you make that decision to let someone control you. They don't put a gun to your head and say you must sign up or FORCE you like OTHER COUNTRIES.....

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Yeah i'm glad these kids are protecting our freedom and getting rid of the invisible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I'm sure they enjoyed signing up to serve this country and sent to a country that shouldn't have been invaded.

Let me ask you this though Pillow, in all seriousness, do you think this world is a better place without Saddam. I am not sure how many American's have died, but they have probably saved more inhumane torture and killings in getting that piece of crap

[whorstman]

Originally Posted by Scav

You fail to understand that GOING INTO THE ARMED FORCES is a CHOICE. They HAVE a choice to go, just like I had a choice to go to college. Who are normal people like you and I to bitch and complain about something we have LITTLE clue about. Iraq is better for us being there, people in this country expect things to be fixed in hours because 95% of this country is spoiled rotten, and I don't mean with money or love, but I mean with freedom. Rome wasn't built in a day.

And while people bitch about being there, you better believe I would be bitching to the camera if I was there also, matter of fact, I bitch about going to work (which is what they are doing) every single day. Furthermore, they are compensated for their time and service, with SERIOUS pension plans (my old boss was a 20 year army vet and was taking home like 80k a year TAX FREE just from that ON TOP of his 55k salary) and get their college education PAID FOR IN FULL.

I feel ya Scav, I got a buddy that has been in Kuwait for about 3 years contracting. He was in military. He is pulling about 200k a year. He gets mad pu-nany too! He has a fat assed house here, drives a fully loaded Escalade. He is doing pretty damn good! I'm considering going myself. I think he can get me a job over there. I could do 6 mos. and make probably 50k.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Scav

Let me ask you this though Pillow, in all seriousness, do you think this world is a better place without Saddam. I am not sure how many American's have died, but they have probably saved more inhumane torture and killings in getting that piece of crap

Again...get off your little personal attack...I was NOT making any political point, I was merely saying that it's a cruel world...I resent your stupid assumption!

Originally Posted by Scav

I don't disagree with this, but you sign up for this, you make that decision to let someone control you. They don't put a gun to your head and say you must sign up or FORCE you like OTHER COUNTRIES.....

They take advantage of poor kids by promising them they'll pay for college. By the time these kids finish their 3rd tour in Iraq what are the chances of them getting a degree? These guys and gals are coming back with severe mental problems.

I hate talking about this ****. God damnit I hate this administration.

Originally Posted by whorstman

I feel ya Scav, I got a buddy that has been in Kuwait for about 3 years contracting. He was in military. He is pulling about 200k a year. He gets mad pu-nany too! He has a fat assed house here, drives a fully loaded Escalade. He is doing pretty damn good! I'm considering going myself. I think he can get me a job over there. I could do 6 mos. and make probably 50k.

Yeah Blackwater, Halliburton and the other ******* corporations that are robbing the treasury and are being protected by our troops who are making jack ****.

Arghhh

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

They take advantage of poor kids by promising them they'll pay for college. By the time these kids finish their 3rd tour in Iraq what are the chances of them getting a degree? These guys and gals are coming back with severe mental problems.

I hate talking about this ****. God damnit I hate this administration.

I hate it also, I could care less about politics which is why I don't vote becuase my opinion means nothing when it comes to country politics. Local politics, I actually mean something.

While I can understand what you are saying about less fortunate people being targeted, if those people were to educate themselves, they would understand that the college system is set up for them to go to SCHOOL FOR FREE. Hell, even I got my first two years paid for with FEDERAL PELL GRANT money and my parents are pretty well off.

Back to handicapping PENN NATIONAL. **** politics

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Scav

Let me ask you this though Pillow, in all seriousness, do you think this world is a better place without Saddam. I am not sure how many American's have died, but they have probably saved more inhumane torture and killings in getting that piece of crap

Yeah, now the torture's being carried out by our side.

Scav, if it were just Afghanistan, I'd be agreeing with you completely, as I do think going in there was the right thing to do. But the men and women who enlist do it with the belief that the President isn't going to send them into danger unless there is no other option. And Iraq wasn't necessary- in fact, we've made things worse for ourselves, by completely destabilizing the region and taking away the one nation keeping Iran under control.

As to no one forcing anyone into the Armed Forces- well, that's a pretty recent development on our part, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it go away if we don't get out of Iraq soon-- does it feel a bit drafty in here, anyone?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Yeah, now the torture's being carried out by our side.

Scav, if it were just Afghanistan, I'd be agreeing with you completely, as I do think going in there was the right thing to do. But the men and women who enlist do it with the belief that the President isn't going to send them into danger unless there is no other option. And Iraq wasn't necessary- in fact, we've made things worse for ourselves, by completely destabilizing the region and taking away the one nation keeping Iran under control.

As to no one forcing anyone into the Armed Forces- well, that's a pretty recent development on our part, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it go away if we don't get out of Iraq soon-- does it feel a bit drafty in here, anyone?

Everyone always screams about the draft, it is never happening. It would never get approved, never. Vietnam stories alone would prevent that

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Scav

Everyone always screams about the draft, it is never happening. It would never get approved, never. Vietnam stories alone would prevent that

My point is, though, we're barely what, barely 30 years away from when we had obligatory military service, too, if the government dictated it. Yes, I think the threat of a draft would bring Iraq to a close quickly, but with this awful Adminstration, I also say never say never.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Scav

You fail to understand that GOING INTO THE ARMED FORCES is a CHOICE. They HAVE a choice to go, just like I had a choice to go to college. Who are normal people like you and I to bitch and complain about something we have LITTLE clue about. Iraq is better for us being there, people in this country expect things to be fixed in hours because 95% of this country is spoiled rotten, and I don't mean with money or love, but I mean with freedom. Rome wasn't built in a day.

And while people bitch about being there, you better believe I would be bitching to the camera if I was there also, matter of fact, I bitch about going to work (which is what they are doing) every single day. Furthermore, they are compensated for their time and service, with SERIOUS pension plans (my old boss was a 20 year army vet and was taking home like 80k a year TAX FREE just from that ON TOP of his 55k salary) and get their college education PAID FOR IN FULL.

In order for him to be taking home that kind of retirement money he was way up in the officer core. Not sure how it's done tax free, but that doesn't matter. Now I'm not saying it's a bad gig, (I was in the Air Force for 8 1/2 years) but the majority of the 1st and 2nd term soldiers live below or barely at the poverty line. The only thing serious about the pension plans are the lengths people and their families go through to get them. I think your perception of the "pension" plans is way off.

[Danzig]

i wonder tho if the montgomery gi bill was put in place to 'get the poor kids' or was started as yet another thing that ALL vets should get because of their service. if anyone deserves help getting higher education, it's those who put their lives on the line, so the ones who chose not to don't have to!
i seriously doubt anyone joins simply to get the education--those who are considering it might tilt over the line due to that fact, but there's no way anyone is driven soley for that reason. and there are many who join without any consideration about college, they WANT to be a soldier. just because a person doesn't find joining the military appealing, doesn't mean NO ONE else does either!!

as for me, i never gave the higher ed a thought, and didn't ever check into the gi bill.
now, the VA loan for the house--that was nice.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i wonder tho if the montgomery gi bill was put in place to 'get the poor kids' or was started as yet another thing that ALL vets should get because of their service. if anyone deserves help getting higher education, it's those who put their lives on the line, so the ones who chose not to don't have to!
i seriously doubt anyone joins simply to get the education--those who are considering it might tilt over the line due to that fact, but there's no way anyone is driven soley for that reason. and there are many who join without any consideration about college, they WANT to be a soldier. just because a person doesn't find joining the military appealing, doesn't mean NO ONE else does either!!

as for me, i never gave the higher ed a thought, and didn't ever check into the gi bill.
now, the VA loan for the house--that was nice.

Oh I think you would be very surprised. There are a lot of people that join simply for the G.I. Bill. In fact, I know several people personally that accepted Academy appoitments just for the education and as soon as they paid back their active duty commitment, they were gone. Oh and believe me that doesn't sit well with the branches either. But hey, they got their education, they gave it back 2 for 1 in active service and they got out of dodge.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Samarta

Oh I think you would be very surprised. There are a lot of people that join simply for the G.I. Bill. In fact, I know several people personally that accepted Academy appoitments just for the education and as soon as they paid back their active duty commitment, they were gone. Oh and believe me that doesn't sit well with the branches either. But hey, they got their education, they gave it back 2 for 1 in active service and they got out of dodge.

i just know personally, my husband, myself, my cousin, and now my son--none of us did it for the college. but like i said, if anyone should get a higher education, it's the veterans!

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i just know personally, my husband, myself, my cousin, and now my son--none of us did it for the college. but like i said, if anyone should get a higher education, it's the veterans!

and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I had my education prior and ended up in the Air Force basically on a whim. Long story short my roomate at the time was interested in OTS and I needed to go to the mall, so we were rode together he went to the recruiter, I returned a shirt, ended up listening to the recruiter's speech from the other side of a cubicle and next thing you know I was raising my right hand. It was crazy, but an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. Have seen and done things that most people would never imagine. No crazy combat stuff, just really cool travel, breaking bread in remote parts of the world with people that I had absolutely nothing but mankind in common, and providing services that truly humbled me.