"Army now includes applications for food stamps in its orientation ......"

[donsu]

http://www.progressive.org/april04/ehren0404.html

Bush's Odd Warfare State

Here's one way our President proposes to "support our troops": According to his 2005 budget, the extra pay our soldiers receive for serving in combat zones--about $150 a month--will no longer count against their food stamp eligibility. This budget provision, if approved, should bring true peace of mind to our men and women on the front lines. From now on, they can dodge bullets in Iraq with the happy assurance that their loved ones will not starve as a result of their bravery.

Military families on food stamps? It's not an urban myth. About 25,000 families of servicemen and women are eligible, and this may be an underestimate, since the most recent Defense Department report on the financial condition of the armed forces--from 1999--found that 40 percent of lower-ranking soldiers face "substantial financial difficulties." Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, reports hearing from constituents that the Army now includes applications for food stamps in its orientation packet for new recruits.

The poverty of the mightiest military machine on Earth is no secret to the many charities that have sprung up to help families on U.S. military bases, like the church-based Feed the Children, which delivers free food and personal items to families at twelve bases. Before 9/11, trucks bearing free food from a variety of food pantries used to be able to drive right on to the bases. Now they have to stop outside the gates, making the spectacle of military poverty visible to any passerby.

-snip-

Or possibly the proposed new immigration plan, which would bring Mexicans in to work at substandard wages, could be used to restock the U.S. military with bracero-soldiers to whom $16,000 a year and a $12,000 death benefit will look like a major fortune. If the citizens get too demanding, you can always resort to an army of foreign mercenaries.
-snip-
-----------------------------

when is the US military going to wake up and stop supporting the criminal bloody hands bushgang.

do they like losing legs, eyes, and their peace of mind? are they sheep? too stupid to know up from down? didn't their mothers ever tell them "if your friends want to stick their heads in the fire does that mean you have to too?" or words to that effect. but then, boys are taught to not listen to what women say.

Bring The Troops Home NOW

[redqueen]

1. "Support the troops" indeed!

:puke:

[newscaster]

2. Not only are troops getting food stamps....

but Bush and Company are also closing PX's at many military bases where food and other items are available at prices more in line with military pay scales.
Whatta guy! Especially one who wants us to think he is such a fan of our men in uniform.

[JohnyCanuck]

4. No doubt the PX's take business away from the neighborhood Wal-Mart.

The Waltons probably threatened to cut off their donations to Bushco unless something was done about such an unfair travesty of justice against the downtrodden Wal-Mart's profit making ability.

[Zookeeper]

3. And this is how Bush treats his "friends!"

These are the people in Iraq fighting his war for oil, for lining the pockets of his cronies. The best he can do for them is food stamps??

[bedtimeforbonzo]

5. old news

I remember articles on this subject from a decade ago. Even the article quotes poverty rates as of 1999. Maybe they should leave that date out.

[LagaLover]

6. Especially since military pay is NOT as bad as some would have you

believe. Yes, SOME military folks need food stamps. That's what happens when you have three kids before you are an E-2 and can't afford them.

[donsu]

7. aren't you special

low estimate is 25,000 military families need food stamps

so you want to blame them for the govs. low pay.

[Ivote]

9. Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

MERCENARIES are getting paid $4,000.00 a MONTH. Outrageous

[LagaLover]

11. Out of curiosity, show me the data

upon which that estimate is derived...

[ender]

8. how the f do you get out of bootcamp, and not be an e2?

[LagaLover]

10. Why the f would you have three kids

at 18??

[redqueen]

12. Because they're fundamentalist Christians?

And only have sex to procreate?

Just a guess.

:puke:

[LagaLover]

13. Really?

What an insight!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Some people make mistakes when they're young

which is why birth control and sex education classes are essential.

[LagaLover]

15. I agree with you there! N/T