No military retiree COLA this year.

[Toronado3800]

I'm sorry, Toronado. Every time I see your name, I think you've mispelled "Tornado".

Just thought I'd share.

lol, I get that on most non automotive boards I belong to.

See I just drove this overly complicated little touch screen having V6 Oldsmobeater between 97 when I got it with 94k miles and 09 when had 282k miles. Then I drove it 90 miles to trade in on my new to me 98 Lincoln. Just my way of honoring that odd little car that was soo good to me.

 

[AllieBaba]

Omg, you're talking car language.

My dad had a toronado like the one in the Eastwood film.

And I drove an Olds for several years. It had many, many miles on it and the tranny was on the way out...my sister gave it to me because it was really not any good for freeway driving. At that time, I just needed something to get me around town. And it did GREAT for years, with virtually no upkeep.

For some reason, I don't remember what happened to it. I remember my son put a great stereo system in it...which was stolen during a smash & grab about 8 years ago. Someone threw a huge chunk of concrete through the driver's side window and ripped out the stereo...but I don't remember driving it after that. I think maybe it was parked because it wasn't running well (only in reverse? I can't remember), and I may have just let the city tow it off the street.

But now I'll think of you as Toronado Tornado.

 

[California Girl]

Personally, I think it's a disgrace that we can find money for just about any fucking crap that Obama loves - billions after billions thrown away on his little pet projects - and we can't fund increases for people who served this nation with honor?

One of the very many reasons why I despise politicians.

 

[Toronado3800]

Yeah. What's your point? Dems tossing tablescraps to people who actually earned their money or actually need SS to survive so they can put the front on another exercise n mediocrity program that'll be bankrupt before the tires meet the street.

My point was if you think retired military personal deserve more money say it. It is a very valid opinion. Don't say they need a COLA because of inflation. Same with Social Security.

 

[uscitizen]

Yeah. What's your point? Dems tossing tablescraps to people who actually earned their money or actually need SS to survive so they can put the front on another exercise n mediocrity program that'll be bankrupt before the tires meet the street.

My point was if you think retired military personal deserve more money say it. It is a very valid opinion. Don't say they need a COLA because of inflation. Same with Social Security.

Yepper, where I am on this too.

 

[California Girl]

Yeah. What's your point? Dems tossing tablescraps to people who actually earned their money or actually need SS to survive so they can put the front on another exercise n mediocrity program that'll be bankrupt before the tires meet the street.

My point was if you think retired military personal deserve more money say it. It is a very valid opinion. Don't say they need a COLA because of inflation. Same with Social Security.

I'll say it. I think that retired military personnel deserve more money.

 

[rightwinger]

Isn't a Cost of Living Adjustment granted when there is an increase in the Cost of Living?

 

[SFC Ollie]

Cuz cost of living hasn't gone up, right dickhead? Fuck off and die.

Calm down. Why say such things you'd be embarrassed if your mother or children read them?

Current Inflation Rates | Monthly and Yearly Chart, Graph and Table: 2000-2009 Data - US Inflation Calculator

I'm sure product x went up and product y went down in cost. I have never analyzed the formula used for determining either the SS or Military Retiree COLAs.

Personally I support our retired veterans and have a certain amount of a soft spot for the elderly. If you have a beef with the way the COLAs are calculated and want me or your representatives to vote for an increase use all that beautiful energy finding some stats saying "groceries went up, house prices went down" or similar. Cussing me out is just going to make folks think you're 12 or worse.

Please see post #2 in this thread........

 

[namvet]

no COLA for medicare either

 

[Charles Stucker]

The problem with COLA is that while it works (more or less) for working people, retirees are often assumed by the Powers That Be to own their homes, and have little need to drive. Hence they can get by on less.
That makes a certain amount of sense for a number of retirees. But if you go with that hypothesis then any COLA calculation should reflect that hypothesis.
Home prices dropped dramatically. That led to a drop in the cost of living.
But only if you were trying to purchase a home.
Otherwise it had no effect
Food prices went up.

Funny - few people grow their own food, so their cost of living went up.

But it does save government money to not give COLA on the excuse that home prices went down. Money that can be better spent elsewhere, like pork.

 

[PatekPhilippe]

The problem with COLA is that while it works (more or less) for working people, retirees are often assumed by the Powers That Be to own their homes, and have little need to drive. Hence they can get by on less.
That makes a certain amount of sense for a number of retirees. But if you go with that hypothesis then any COLA calculation should reflect that hypothesis.
Home prices dropped dramatically. That led to a drop in the cost of living.
But only if you were trying to purchase a home.
Otherwise it had no effect
Food prices went up.

Funny - few people grow their own food, so their cost of living went up.

But it does save government money to not give COLA on the excuse that home prices went down. Money that can be better spent elsewhere, like pork.

Thanks for this post Charles Stucker!!!! Thank you!!!

Now...any other of you buffoons got any questions?

 

[Toronado3800]

I feel the money for Pork for bridges to no where ends up the same place money in a retiree's pocket ends up. Circulating around the district of some representative. The money spent to build the bridge even has to circulate around the economy once more before it has a chance to be spent on something imported.

If the pork project is at least useful, like infrastructure or science, then it is better for the economy since it will facilitate Americans being more productive.

****************

Back to the point about what the COLA should be tied to.... Is the Consumer Price Index a good number for retirees?

 

[Charles Stucker]

I feel the money for Pork for bridges to no where ends up the same place money in a retiree's pocket ends up. Circulating around the district of some representative.

Perhaps you would care to send me some of your money. I guarantee it will end up circulating in some congressional district. Which will help the economy.

Oh, I forgot, I don't have a (metaphorical) gun to your head to force you to send money.

Your logic would support telling military retirees that the rules have changed and they no longer get their retirement.

 

[Toronado3800]

Perhaps you would care to send me some of your money. I guarantee it will end up circulating in some congressional district. Which will help the economy.

Oh, I forgot, I don't have a (metaphorical) gun to your head to force you to send money.

Your logic would support telling military retirees that the rules have changed and they no longer get their retirement.

Don't worry Charles, we're enjoying the benefits of eachother's tax money whenever the FDA looks into any drug we're taking or the roads get paved or the military chases the terrorists around and so on.

Seems a way better arrangement than living in Mexico behind bars meant to keep the poor from kidnapping my kids for ransom.
*********
Perhaps I should word the first part differently....kicking a hypothetical 500 million bucks into the economy through deficit spending increases in retiree pay or through an equal investment in roads has a similar effect.

One the retirees spend more on common items thus lubricating the supply chain and probably lowering prices more than competition for goods causes inflation. (we'll figure they don't buy too many Chinese items)

The other a paving company gets 500 million pork bucks and builds a road the next generation will need. That 500 million is redistributed to the economy through it's employees and subcontractors at grocery stores and Walmarts nation-wide. While we have an improvement in infrastructure working class folks probably buy more Chinese made Blue Ray players.
*************
Once again, I intend no disrespect to military retirees. The souls who fought at Osan and elsewhere have earned a fair retirement. If you want to start collecting signatures saying the COLA should be attached to the Consumer Price Index instead of generic Inflation or whatever you can make a case for I bet could probably get my signature. Folks aren't too stupid to understand that.

 

[AmericasBrave58]

There will be NO military retiree COLA adjustment to our monthly checks ladies and gents....

Maybe next year....

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

 

[SFC Ollie]

There will be NO military retiree COLA adjustment to our monthly checks ladies and gents....

Maybe next year....

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

Being I get my Military retirement and Social Security, I get nothing more either way. My question is how can Obama predict this 2 years out?

 

[namvet]

There will be NO military retiree COLA adjustment to our monthly checks ladies and gents....

Maybe next year....

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

Being I get my Military retirement and Social Security, I get nothing more either way. My question is how can Obama predict this 2 years out?

Pelosi came to him in a dream

 

[SFC Ollie]

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

Being I get my Military retirement and Social Security, I get nothing more either way. My question is how can Obama predict this 2 years out?

Pelosi came to him in a dream

LOL, that would be a nightmare.

 

[Toronado3800]

There will be NO military retiree COLA adjustment to our monthly checks ladies and gents....

Maybe next year....

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

Being I get my Military retirement and Social Security, I get nothing more either way. My question is how can Obama predict this 2 years out?

Have Cost of Living increases always been calculated every other year or is this a new thing?

 

[PatekPhilippe]

There will be NO military retiree COLA adjustment to our monthly checks ladies and gents....

Maybe next year....

That's totally messed up, so this is the thanks we get for serving and protecting this country? Social Security, for Seniors and the Disabled, got shanked also, and they won't get another COLA increase, for 2 more years.

Being I get my Military retirement and Social Security, I get nothing more either way. My question is how can Obama predict this 2 years out?

He can't. This is all about manipulating the budget to justify spending 2 trillion dollars on healthcare. If he can eliminate a military retiree COLA and a SS COLA he just added maybe 80 billion dollars to his pocket to spend on socialist crap.

and military COLA's have ALWAYS been calculated yearly.