It’s only welfare if others are getting it.

It’s only welfare if others are getting it. It is only called a freebie if someone else gets it. This attitude seems to tumble off the lips of a lot of Republicans today. I would like to tell you a couple of true stories about some people I know. One man served his country for 20 years and retired at half pay. He retired at the age of 39 or 40. His government pension is not vested. He did not contribute any money toward it. He will receive this money for the rest of his life. He lives in a military town because he got a job as a civilian contractor for the Government. He has held this job for the last 25 yrs. He will receive Social Security when he retires plus another private pension from his contractor. All these years he has received Tri-Care medical coverage for his family plus rations and housing while on active duty. He still shops at the local PX and commissary for food and cloths. He worries that the Government will cut some of his Social Security even though he votes for Republicans all the time. He does not see his military pension as welfare because he says he earned it. When I point out that is all tax money that we borrow to add to our debt total he just laughs at me. I know another married couple who were both teachers. They both lived off of tax payers’ money for over 35 yrs. each. They were vested in their retirement and contributed 12% of their income toward it while their schools gave another 14 %. They both receive subsidized, 75%, health care and vote Republican all the time. I do not begrudge either one of them any of their retirement benefits but do find it hard to take when they call the Affordable Care Act a socialist idea. They confuse me because they are for small Government and budget cuts just as long as they are not affected. When I try to tell my military family member that the Ryan budget will try and take money from his retirement he gets mad. How dare they! It’s only welfare or a freebie if someone else gets it. When I remind my teacher friends that they owe their life and retirement they just tell me they earned it. They do not see public education as a little bit of Socialism. All three view any Government health care plan as socialism. I guess as long as they are unaffected they could give a shit. Oh! Did I mention how holy they all are? They send me Christian e-mails all the time along with ones that make fun of President Obama. I am not sure that they have any empathy towards people of other faiths. I do not think they approve of mixed marriages or any tolerance of gay rights. It safe to say that when we meet at functions I usually find an excuse not to go or to leave early. There are just some people I can not suffer. I am ashamed of myself at times. Oh well