Military, Welfare, and Tricky Dick

J.D. Pendry writes a blog from the perspective of a retired Command Sergeant Major. There are fools in the Army, but as a general rule they do not become Command Sergeant Majors. I enjoy J.D.’s writing and have cited it on this blog occasionally.

Recently, J.D. crushed his heel and went in for surgery. One of his readers, Will, took him to task for criticizing government social programs when J.D. himself benefited from government pay and benefits. J.D. wrote back:

You know Will, when I was working those long hours, holidays and weekends and moving my family lock, stock and barrel around the world every few years existing pay-day to pay-day and often on wages less than some received in welfare payments, I did not see it as participating in a “social” program. Although, I must admit, many politicians sharing your worldview attempted to make it so over my 28 years. I assure you, that the average American Warrior facing down our (your) enemies does not view his service as a social program.

But Will persists in the notion that any check from the government is a social program. According to Will:

Also I am sure you receive a monthly retirement pay check from the U.S. Government for you years of service to this wonderful country. Of course that again is another social program given freely by the tax payers for your service. I do remember you stating you have over 20 years in the military, I thank you for that, I also believe the taxpayer gladly paid you for that service with pay increases ..cost of living or promotions… Again the military is just another socialized program to take care of the men and women such as yourself for doing the service you have provided.

So all government workers are indistinguishable from welfare recipients, be they military personnel, FBI agents, Forest Rangers, judges, or members of Congress. (Well, okay, you can only take sarcasm so far.)

But if Will is right, and it’s all the same thing, then I’m sure he would have no objection to the government attaching a work requirement to all government benefits. Which puts Will in the same camp with Richard Nixon as an advocate of workfare.

So, it’s Friday, and I propose a get-well toast to J.D. The drink for today is