David Wood @ the Huffington Post

Well, Mr. Wood...  I read your article titled "Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade of War"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/defense-budget-cuts_n_2584099.html
and I have to say, you SORRY SON OF A BITCH...  You know what, if you can't stand with out troops, feel free to stand in front of them...

Your article made me sick to my stomach.  You criticize our military's pay, saying we have LAVISH salaries, stating facts of us making on average $50k a year, being able to save 30% at the base commissaries, having too many education benefits and other "perks".  And saying the government needs to reel it in on our pay and benefits and stating that mental health care and new research on PTSD could hault...  Really?  Our government throws us into a war, increases the ops tempo, sends many of us on back to back deployments, months and months away from family and you agree cutting mental health care is part of the solution?!  Are you really that stupid?  I am so beside myself with anger and hate right now (and I try to NEVER use the word HATE), but sir- I HATE YOU.

Let me start by addressing the pay:

I don't know where you got your numbers, but let me break it down- you can use GOOGLE to search military pay charts **** (*=year) and see the true numbers.... or here, you can search them all http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/militarypaytables.html

First off, we got pay increases because the leadership was trying to even out the GAP between the civilian sector and the military... The housing allowance, we get yes, if we stay on base, we don't see that money- we get quarters instead.  If we live off base, yes we get an allowance to HELP PAY our rent, mortgage, etc. And that price depends on where you are stationed- some places are higher in the $ due to the ummmm...  idk- HIGHER COST OF LIVING...  In DC it will cost more than living in MS. DUH.

Currently, 2013, an E5 with over 6 years gets $2499 a month, plus about $300 for food and money for housing (or they keep the housing money in exchange for government housing).  And since housing depends on location, we will leave that out for now...  So $2499 for 12 months=$29,988  plus food for the year= $3600.  So right now, we are at $33,588.  Now the issue of housing, let's pick a nice round number, say $1200- because that is around what a lot of places are at- minus the LARGER cities.  That brings the annual housing to $14,400.  Now we all pay taxes, so please take out an average of 25% off of the base pay= $22,491.  Now add all that together-
22491
14400
3600
--------
$40491

Now you addressed tax free combat pay- um, this should be a no brainer- I AM SURE THEY WOULD RATHER BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES THAN BEING IN A WAR ZONE.  So shove that statement up your ass.

Then you say that we are so lavishly paid, let me address this line for you:  Congress and the Senate make 6 figures, easy plus whatever they pigeon hole from the taxpayers for "business" trips and lobbyists.  They get a pension after serving 5 years...  They get full medical....  They get a whole lot more than the military.  And yes, they "run" the country, but our men and women fight to defend her EVERYDAY.  I think the pay our men an women receive SHOULD increase, their pay SHOULD be better, their housing SHOULD be nice and comfortable.  They SHOULD receive certain benefits such as base shopping and child care, why- because it helps make our lives just a smidge easier when our spouse is away fighting, it helps ease the stress just a little knowing the base and it's benefits are here to help and support us when we need them.

You may be one of those who think- oh it was a choice, they CHOSE to sign up...  Yes sir you are right.  But without the brave men and women of the military- YOU WOULD BE UP SHIT CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.  You sir, should be defending them and fighting for them, not against them.  Fight to cut CONGRESS' pay, fight to cut the SENATE'S pay and all their benefits...  Fight to put and END TO LAVISH BUSINESS TRIPS TO HAWAII and fight to END the 1st lady's LAVISH WARDROBE SPENDING SPREES WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY!
FIGHT FOR A CAUSE WORTH FIGHTING FOR!  Not one that will earn you hate and resentment.

USAF Veteran,
Katie Fulmer

There is so much more to say, but honestly, you are worth no more of my words.