When you sign a contract, the deal is finalized. That's the way I learned it years ago. If you are signing a contract about your life, the deal takes on special significance. If you contract to go where they send you, do what they ask of you, endure hardship and separations, and possibly pay with your life, they must deliver on their terms later, regardless of whether or not it is politically expedient in a changed environment.
The deal was free healthcare if you were in the military. And, free healthcare for life when you retired, if you lived that long and endured. There was no exception clause. It was simple and clear to all who joined.
Then, they waffled. They set a cut-off date retroactively and that left a lot of us out in the cold. The new program was called Tricare. It created some options, but since it was replacing free for life, all of the options were going to be something less. It applied to active duty as well as to retirees who were not yet Medicare candidates. We paid if we wanted healthcare coverage. We paid more if we wanted healthcare coverage that might be necessary if our local military installation couldn't provide it or if we didn't have a local military healthcare facility. It wasn't a lot, so it became the norm, but the promise had been broken.
When a military retiree hits 65, you go on Medicare like the rest of the folks who didn't serve or get shot at. But you also got TFL; Tricare For Life. TFL is a pretty good deal. It's a supplement without a premium. It includes a Part D benefit and covers co-pays and services beyond Medicare at any facility that accepts Medicare.
Now, after we've just watched the Panderer's Express confound the legislative process and establish a national healthcare magical system which is going to offer everything for everyone for less, it is time to see the shark's come circling for the blood in the military retiree's water.
Means Testing, Premium Increases, Breaking the Promises Part III
Throughout our history the government has regularly called on citizens to defend the Republic and we have always responded without too much regard for the promised compensation. A number of times though, the government has reneged. And if we look back at the results, it was usually a violent response from those who had answered the call but now would not be insulted and denied by a government with a short memory.
Oh yes, "you can bet that Tommy sees."
3 comments:
Sacred promises to military broken since the time of Clinton. The DADT kabuki theatre as Obama drives to enact it. Soon the bonds of duty and loyalty will be tested to the breaking point. I really do not want to get there. Lets hope the new House puts brakes on this idiocy.
A nation that takes it's veterans for granted, scorns and abuses them, will soon find itself without the means of self defense.
"God and the soldier all men adore.
In time of trouble and never more.
For when war is over
And all things are righted
God is neglected
The old soldier slighted." ANON
The Bonus Army (albeit attempting to collect bonus money earlier than allowed by "law") was fired upon by active duty soldiers (Doug McArthur, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton et al) attacked with tanks and cavalry and gassed with adamsite.
Six, I respectfully disagree.
As the republic continues to descend into the toilet bowl of Empire, more and more non-citizens will be hired as mercenaries or offered citizenship for their "service" and as the economy implodes, more and more "disadvantaged youths" and men trying to feed their families will join up.
It happened before in Rome and England. It will happen here.
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