Over the last few weeks, those of us at the MCM have been writing diaries about protecting military pensions. Sometimes, we get questions like these:
why is it OK to snatch away pensions from teachers, firefighters, auto workers, janitors, etc etc but NOT military vets?
IF someone is leaving the military at age 42 after 20 years of service, why can't that person continue working at a civilian job, until normal retirement age?
I came to DailyKos to help fight misperceptions of the military community. I wanted those on the left to better understand a population that is increasingly misunderstood by Democrats and Republicans alike. Questions like those above just scratch the surface. There is obviously a lot of anger... an anger that those in power would love to exploit. If I can't convince the people here at DailyKos to support military pensions, I sure as hell won't change minds elsewhere.
I felt the person who asked those questions deserved an answer slightly longer than the one I originally gave in the diary where it was written. I'm hoping that he or she or people who feel the same will read this and consider helping us fight at the end of the day.
Let me make this first point very clear:
IT IS NOT OK TO SNATCH AWAY PENSIONS FROM ANYBODY!
So when I ask you to help us save our military retirement, I am not asking you to take away anyone else's pension. I have not stood by and watched from afar as the pensions of millions are obliterated. I have recommended diaries, made comments and conversations, shared items on my Facebook page, called and written my members of Congress about the social safety net that exists in the US. I vote in ways that I hope will help prevent further degradation of the system.
Many Military Community Members have done the same. Remember, most of us come from middle class and poor families. We know what it means to struggle. We know what it means to save money. We know what it means to not have enough. We are on the same side.
As to the why we can't continue working after 20 years of service? We can and do. I know very few people who 'retire' with their military retirement. Actually, I know three. One is a retired MSgt. He is unmarried. He has no children. He lives in a small apartment and enjoys needlework. He rarely travels. He lives frugally. He lives off his military retirement and social security check just fine.
The other two are married to each other - dual military, both retired. They have no children to support. Add their two pensions together, and they are able to afford a retired life without work. Again, they live frugally. They travel, but mostly by bicycle. They live a simple life and are very happy.
Everyone else I know gets a job. They get a job so that they can afford to support their kids, buy a house, and settle down into a middle class American life. Many go into jobs that don't pay a lot of money because they can afford to do so - think of Troops to Teachers. My own husband has talked about working for a non-profit when his career is finished. He would love to continue to serve the public good but not in a government role.
Retirement from the military doesn't make anyone rich. If you think otherwise, please let me know why.
So, now for the good news in this fight. The Pentagon got a little worried that they were losing control in the messaging battle. Secretary Panetta is backing off and claiming that currently serving troops won't be affected. Of course, at the end of the day, this isn't his decision to make. It will be made by Congress but we assume they will listen to his guidance.
The bad news is that the plan is still in motion for newly incoming troops. What's the big deal, you say? If you believe that our nation needs a military, then you also believe we need to recruit and retain the best and the brightest. Although pensions are rarely used to recruit, they are definitely used to retain. The comments on articles about this change are all on the same page - if you take away the current pension system and replace it with a 401k plan at an 85% cut in benefits, we are guaranteed to loose the best and the brightest. People will refuse to consider staying. Public service is all good and well and people do join only to serve their country. But after 10 years in service, with a spouse by your side and kids to put through college, multiple deployments under your belt and more to look forward to, priorities have a way of changing.
If the military succeeds in making this change to retirement, it puts us a few steps closer to doing so for Social Security. You know how Congress is... they work in baby-steps. They are toddling closer and closer to privatizing all retirement programs.
We have the chance to nip this in the bud. Normally, I ask you to call your Congressman at the end of these diaries. But today, I have a simpler request - a signature. Would you please join me in signing this petition from VoteVets.org.
Dear Secretary Panetta,
We are concerned about the proposed plan to cut and privatize military retirement. Not all careers are created equal, and our troops deserve a retirement system that respects their sacrifice, both now and in the future. The Pentagon budget should not be balanced on the backs of servicemembers and their families. We should not do so, especially, when we are overpaying for unnecessary defense contracts and extending our commitment in wars that aren’t making us any safer. It is simply unacceptable to ask troops to today or in the future to throw their pension on a Wall Street roulette wheel. Additionally, by gutting the guaranteed pension program, we destroy one of the key programs that helps the military recruit and keep its best and brightest. If we end the pension system as we know it down the road, we almost certainly will lose many men and women who would otherwise make a career of military service. For these reasons, we find this proposal unacceptable and ask that you keep the current retirement system that respects the sacrifice of the men and women who defend this nation.
If you won't sign this, do me a favor and let me know why in the comments below. I want to understand where you are coming from. I am doing my best to convince you all that we need your help. If my convincing isn't working, I really do want to know why.