$7.50 An Hour To Die In Iraq

[sandnsea]

Yes that’s right. That’s what these troops, who George Bush and this Republican Congress claim to respect, earn. E1 salary is just $1300 a month. That’s minimum wage in my state. How dare they pretend they care about the troops.

When they leave the military and want to go to college, since only 7% of enlistees have degrees, they’ll be in for another rude awakening. They will only receive $8400 a year which is barely enough to cover state tuition, books and fees; let alone living expenses. Respect the troops??

We’ve lost 103 troops in Iraq this month. Bush didn’t care enough to change course because of all these lives lost, he only became ‘flexible’ when he was losing in the polls. When is George Bush going to apologize for their disgraceful treatment of the troops and these needless lives lost?

The bottom line Bush has gotten our troops stuck in Iraq and we need to vote Democratic to get them out.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/

[ThomCat]

1. I don't understand why people join the military.

The risks and losses just don't seem to match the benefits unless you're an officer.
:shrug:

And it's not like their actually being used to defend the US. :grr:

[ewoden]

2. Positives: Training, three squares a day,

promises of technical experience, family tradition (partly my case and my son's), the uniform, the adventure, patriotism

The negative attractions (not the majority mind you): weapons falimiarity (gangs love this), opportunities to sell drugs, opportunities to steal: opoportunity to kill, the unifrom, the adventure, patriotism

[ThomCat]

4. I'm the only guy in my family who didn't join the military.

I was even born on a military base.

I still think the only way someone can decide to join the military is to ignore all the negatives. The pay sucks, it's a myth that they'll be defending the US, the military promotes bigotry, there's a real chance of getting killed for nothing when bastards like Bush are in charge, and the military has total control over your life. How many people actually get the training that the recruiters promised?

[primative1]

15. Lol.. Military Training ...

I suigned up to be an Avionics technician and wound up painting barrels .... What a hoot.

[USMA Dem]

3. You don't join the Armed Forces for money....

My brother an I will be getting the same degrees. He'll be working for Goldman Sachs making bank and I'll be making an O-1's pay. Its duty over monetary ambition.

[ThomCat]

5. Duty to what?

You'll be working for Halliburton, Exxon-Mobile, and other mega-corporations. You'll never do anything that actually serves or protects the people of the US. You'll be participating in mass murder against civilians for corporate gain.
:shrug:

[USMA Dem]

6. Duty to my Country

If you want to see change in the world, then you must be that change!

[ThomCat]

7. Will you be in any position to make changes

or will you just be following orders?

That's the big problem with changing a system from the inside. You need authority to do it.

[Josh]

10. Gandhi?

nt.

[sandnsea]

8. You're an officer?

Completely different. And if you're not - it's funny you're talking about the degrees and money you'll be making and not 'duty'.

[ewoden]

9. O-1 : Second Louie or Ensign

[sandnsea]

11. Wish he'd respond

I'd like to know why he isn't willing to do his patriotic duty for $7.50 an hour.

[The Anti-Neo Con]

12. Well, I guess it's a better option for some.

I know for some people, it would beat competing with illegals for $5.15/hr. no benefits jobs.

You can thank Bush's economy for that. There just aren't too many options for poor & working class young people anymore. No amount of $ is worth dying for though.

[crim son]

13. No amount of money is worth dying for AND

speaking of "duty", isn't it our moral duty to stay the hell out of the military whilst the Pretzel is in office? Joining now would be a failure to act according to duty, IMO.

[sandnsea]

14. You pay people to put their lives on the line

If you truly respect them. Obviously this Republican Congress doesn't and is a lot better at waging wars of words than wars where real lives are on the line.