Got this in an Email

[D.Schwartz]

so sad, but soooooooooooo true.

By Rush Limbaugh:

I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our 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 11. Well, I 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 11 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 fam ily 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 who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harm's way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.

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 11 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 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time 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. Make sense?

However, our own U.S. Congress voted themselves a raise. 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 being millionaires plus. They 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, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receive a pension of $15,000 per month.

I would like to see our elec ted 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.

[disk-ofreak]

[elevatedflow]

This just goes to prove that regardless if your an oxy~lovin freak, you can still come to rational conclusions

[exit24e]

Service members also have to option of SGLI which is $250,000 if you die in the line of duty. It costs us $11.25 a month.

[crobarphil]

While I agree our armed forces and their families do deserve better. I take issue with him drawing a parrallel to the victims of Sept. 11th. They are non-comparable, one group are civillians, the other military. And while any death of an american citizen is tragic, soldiers know they are going to be someplace their life will be in danger. The people in the twin towers didn't go to work everyday prepared for jets crashing into the buildings.

So yes, our government should be doing something about taking care of the families of those soldiers who give their lives. Of course then you can get into the fact that over 200 years since the founding of America our enlisted military is still over 90% comprised of young men and women that come from the poorest families in the country, yet those who make the decisions about their welfare make up the top 10%. But this is a clubbing message board and I won't get into it.

Oh and I take serious issue with Rush Limbaugh saying "Our Sons and Daughters" exactly how many of his family or even close friends are enlisted in the armed forces and serving in a forward position like Iraq or Afghanistan??

[laurenballs]

QUOTE]

Factory-Phil?