John McCain hates the armed forces, firemen, policemen, and EMTs

The GI Bill used to be a fine reward for service. Go into the military, and when you get out, you get to go to college. Hell, that used to be about half the selling point for getting recruits. Now, according to a former student of mine, it doesn't even cover half his tuition, let alone books, fees, living expenses (if he had chosen to live in campus). And this is at a school with one of the cheapest in-state tuitions in the whole fucking country! He spent 2 years in Iraq, getting shot at so he could fix radios, and now he's slowly going broke because he wants an education.

Nice way to say "thanks for almost getting your ass blown away."

Mostly I was commenting on how the current GI Bill sucks and doesn't need some sort of bandage measure. But it is what came to mind. Sorry that I didn't make that clear. Is Bush planning to veto the better bill (not McCain's).

So, I just realized that I have no idea why John McCain, or any Republican, does things like this.

Any McCain supporters care to tell us why this was an awesome move on his part?

Seriously? That's it? It just seems so insufficient an explanation for stabbing soldiers in the back.

Never mind the fact that McCain is running for president and would probably have to spend twice as much as a proper G.I. Bill would cost him to earn half as much goodwill as supporting the troops would.

I think maybe, just maybe, soldiers are leaving the military because 2-3 tours worth of getting shot at is enough. And since GI benefits (like the GI Bill) only are available to those who get an honorable discharge, the idea that soldiers would flee the military is about as dumb as anything that has ever come out of D.C.

Also the fact that the 'benefits' are so shitty doesn't provide much incentive.

The post-WWII GI bill was one of the key forces that helped drive the US economy well into the 70's. We went from a small percentage of the population being college educated to where we are today.

McCain's bill is a joke while the Webb/Warner bill is brilliant.

Yeah. If they even let them out. Don't they have that whole 'stop loss' policy still going, where they won't let service members resign, even if their term of service is fulfilled?

I saw a movie about that!

The movie said it was a bad thing.

My point precisely.

Isn't the military one of the largest Republican constituency bases? Or should I say didn't it used to be?

It's really not though. I don't know about the other services but the Army isn't having problems getting new recruits, their having problems keeping them. The Army is hemorrhaging soldiers because of pleasure with regard to pay, housing, multiple deployments, and extended deployments.

I'm getting out regardless, but this bill - if it passes - really will make it more lucrative to leave the military than to reeinlist.

Still, I hope it passes. I need some money.

Stop loss is more complicated than that. I'm stop lossed right now.

I signed up for 4 years active duty. In addition to that 4 years of inactive reserve is on my contract. It means if they need you, they call call you back to reserve duty or active duty if numbers gets too low. In peacetime, it doesn't matter because you don't have to go to drill or anything like the normal reserves. But we're at war so people can be stop lossed.

Put simply, the military cashes in on that inactive reserve time without letting you go first.

Thanks for clarifying

That's the case with a lot of people who are already past their first reenlistment. I hear, "I've already given the Army 8/10/12 years of my life, I may as well finish my 20 and get my benefits."

The benefits package for retirees is much better than that of prior service or even veterans. I think that for many having a huge GI Bill would negate that argument.

Still, I support the bill. There's plenty of people like me who will join out of desperation or rebellion and fill the ranks.

fuck 'em. Firemen have always been the double-edged sword in the political area. When something tragic happens...we're "The Nation's Heroes"......then that fades and we're just fat, overpaid oafs who do nothing but sit on our asses watching TV.

We've valuable when you need us...but when you don't....we're leeches.

^^^ 'tis true. Giuliani was all about the heroes, except when it came time to negotiate a new contract. IIRC there is some CA city not far from SF going bankrupt; the city government is blaming cops and firefighters overtime for sinking the budget yet they haven't hired enough of them to provide full staffing without expensive overtime.