October 5, 2024

A Soldier’s Wage

They reported on what I thought was something odd: the Red Cross is having a hard time meeting demand for aid for the families of the troops overseas. Now it’s a good thing that the Red Cross exists and is helping these families; however, it’s a sad commentary on the state of this country’s priorities that a large percentage of the families of fighting men must depend on charity to make ends meet.

The fact is that these guys and gals earn about squat as a base salary. I understand there’s a hazardous duty pay standard, at least I would hope that there is, but I seriously doubt that it’s appropriate compensation for having bad guys shooting at you. Am I the only one who’s noticed this? I’m hardly that observant, so what’s the deal?

Also consider those men and women who are in the reserves. They leave behind jobs that undoubtedly pay much better than their job on the front lines. But which role is more important, fighting a terrorist nation or reconciling balance sheets for big oil? There’s something wrong with this picture.

marc

Marc is a software developer, writer, and part-time political know-it-all who currently resides in Texas in the good ol' U.S.A.

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