What's a Military Family Worth?
 

What's a Military Family Worth?

by Rush Limbaugh,
March 11, 2002

I think the vast differences in compensation between the victims of the September 11th casualty, and those who die serving the country in uniform, are profound. No one is really talking about it either because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11th.

Well, I just can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country.

If you lost a family member in the September 11th attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable. Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people that are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough.

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11th families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well. You see where this is going, don't you?
Folks, this is part and parcel of over fifty years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad.
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." --Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.
Every time when a pay raise comes up for the military they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low rent housing. However our own U.S. Congress just voted themselves a raise, and many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one-time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month and most are now equal to be millionaires plus. They also do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system.
If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7 you may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed you in harms way receive a pension of $15,000 per month. I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.

Thanks for the post JD, it is so true. If only the rich and powerfull would step aside and let the people run this country as the Framers of the Constitution envisioned. Greed rules.

Oh I get it now, the more notable your involvement, the more money you get for it.
What a shame there are many more behind the scenes people that have accomplished significantly more for our country, yet have to retire (if they are lucky to live long enough) on our meager social security benefits.
Very good article.
Thanks for posting it JD.

I agree 100%. As a former military person myself with and interest in military affairs it disgusts me that things have changed little.

On one of the sites I check out I ran into a woman whose ex was badly burned in the Pentagon crash. He was been interviewed several times yet has recieved no help at all financilly for him or his family. It appears he will be given an early retirement and nothing else.


I saw a post recently on another site that gives a reason I believe valid. Modern day Americans tend to worship the wealthy and famous. Movie stars, business moguls, race car drivers and the like.

The poster went on to say that probably half of Americans could identify a picure of Jeff Gordon, but probably less than 1 in 100 even knew of an Army Master Sergeant by the name of Gordon that was one of the last recipents of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I stated that I doubted it was even 1 in 100. Regardless of the actual statistic I'm glad my priorities are straight when it comes time to use the label "hero".

Semper Fidelis

I have been in the military for 10 years and am stuck indefinately due to the war on terror. It didn't get put into perspective until I looked at what I what I was making and what my civillian counterparts are making. I have a college degree and when you consider the verifiable amount of unpaid overtime I put in I make substantially less than a beginning rookie police officer in this area. My wife does not have a degree and has been doing her job for less than 7 years and makes as much as I do. Reenlist?????? I think not. :(

everyone should be required to serve one tour of duty in the military . I am proud to have served my country . I did not enlist for money , or fame , or any notion of being a hero. (i did it for the free ammo :p j/k)

To those that stand , those who have stood , those that have fought , & those that have fallen in the name of Freedom ... I salute you ... I will never forget you... and if ever you need me , I'll be there...

The ONLY way this will stop is if we stop voting these fat cats into office (Rush included) It is the public that votes these hypokrites into office! It is the public that can get them out!

I believe that once more of the chicken hearted baby boomers retire/die we might see some changes to the old face of government and maybe we will see some of what the constitution really stands for!

I know blah blah blah!

Peace-