The geniuses of motivational science modified the 'support the troops' model for use in the media's role-playing skit, loosely titled as the 2011 government shutdown threat. The Army Times front page report (yesterday) howled:
No death benefits for military during shutdown.
So many questions pop to mind. How many soldiers are expected to die during the next days, weeks, or months of shutdown? Where are the numbers? Why was this dreadful threat scenario introduced to the military families? Are we to believe that soldiers will not receive proper burial due to lack of insurance money?
Where are the Not One More spokespersons?
To buttress the shocking news of being unable to bury fallen heroes, the following headline was also broadcast:
Government shutdown would delay military paychecks.
Now there's news to get the rank and file up in arms. Enlisted military often have financial obligations in the form of allotments which, if not timely met, will result in hefty charges per account and for some, repossession of their vehicles and other high-ticket goods. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates feels the pain and can relate -- as we see from a CBS news report.
Over at USA Today, foghorn leghorns of Congress pimp their measures, bills, calls, and efforts, carelessly shattering the illusion of equality between those who fight and those who order the fighting. John Boehner and friends vowed to return their pay to the Treasury, while others vowed they will donate their salaries to charity. The latter shouldn't be too much of a paperwork problem because by necessity those with a $174,000++ salary maintain charity relationships.
As to the question of how many soldiers will die, we can only estimate based on the Department of Defense's official press releases, which require us to do our own tallying. Based on these under-reported casualties, congressional salary donations would more than cover the funeral expenses of soldiers killed during government shutdown.
Suggestion: Those protected by a generous interpretation of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment donate their salaries to enlisted military personnel and their families who require assistance with burial expenses, or for other emergency funds to float them in case their salaries are interrupted by government incompetence.
So, dear Congress members: Pick up a crowbar and use it on your money boxes. Start a fund for just such a purpose as assisting the enlisted personnel who fight and die for you but do not get paid when you fail to do your job in a timely manner. There's always room for slush and it will look good on your bios.
No death benefits for military during shutdown.
So many questions pop to mind. How many soldiers are expected to die during the next days, weeks, or months of shutdown? Where are the numbers? Why was this dreadful threat scenario introduced to the military families? Are we to believe that soldiers will not receive proper burial due to lack of insurance money?
Where are the Not One More spokespersons?
To buttress the shocking news of being unable to bury fallen heroes, the following headline was also broadcast:
Government shutdown would delay military paychecks.
Now there's news to get the rank and file up in arms. Enlisted military often have financial obligations in the form of allotments which, if not timely met, will result in hefty charges per account and for some, repossession of their vehicles and other high-ticket goods. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates feels the pain and can relate -- as we see from a CBS news report.
Over at USA Today, foghorn leghorns of Congress pimp their measures, bills, calls, and efforts, carelessly shattering the illusion of equality between those who fight and those who order the fighting. John Boehner and friends vowed to return their pay to the Treasury, while others vowed they will donate their salaries to charity. The latter shouldn't be too much of a paperwork problem because by necessity those with a $174,000++ salary maintain charity relationships.
As to the question of how many soldiers will die, we can only estimate based on the Department of Defense's official press releases, which require us to do our own tallying. Based on these under-reported casualties, congressional salary donations would more than cover the funeral expenses of soldiers killed during government shutdown.
Suggestion: Those protected by a generous interpretation of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment donate their salaries to enlisted military personnel and their families who require assistance with burial expenses, or for other emergency funds to float them in case their salaries are interrupted by government incompetence.
So, dear Congress members: Pick up a crowbar and use it on your money boxes. Start a fund for just such a purpose as assisting the enlisted personnel who fight and die for you but do not get paid when you fail to do your job in a timely manner. There's always room for slush and it will look good on your bios.
