Troops pay baggage fees on way to war zones

Cosmo

know1 wrote:

Blah, blah, blah. The point is, why should a private company be denigrated for not offering them services for free?

...
Who said anything about a Private Company footing the bill? Not me.
I want YOU... as a motherfucking taxpayer to foot the goddamn bill. Use our tax dollars to cover whatever the costs. This is OUR war... whether you support it or not.

OffHeGoes29

You can file a travel voucher when you get back state side and get your money back. Now the military gives troops "government travel cards". Basically its a credit card that you use to travel for offical trips, and the gov. pays the bill. As long as the card holder is not an idiot and buys a big screen with it......like so many people have done before. They usually get in A LOT of trouble for shit like that.


Now enough with the neg. and hate, the conversation can end.

OffHeGoes29

Cosmo wrote:

...
If they didn't voluenteer... the Pentagon would draft people.
Like it or not, the reality is Man will wage war. That is Man's nature.
The only way Man will not wage war would be if greed, selfishness and needs did not exist... along with the abolishment of all Governments, Religions, Monetary Systems or Nations. Good luck with that happening soon.
In the meantime, those things do exist, so man wil wage war. And if we, as a nation, are going to ship our soldiers off to fight in our name, we need to be responsible for them. But, we are not.

Good point....

OffHeGoes29

Heres another question, not to get off topic. Is there any way to go back and see any anti-war threads prior to March 17, 2003?

tybird

Cosmo wrote:

...
Who said anything about a Private Company footing the bill? Not me.
I want YOU... as a motherfucking taxpayer to foot the goddamn bill. Use our tax dollars to cover whatever the costs. This is OUR war... whether you support it or not.

Amen....well said.....I also enjoyed your "Fuck" post. :cool:

OffHeGoes29

know1 wrote:

Shocking!!! I'll bet they even had to pay for their gas on the way to the airport. Or their lunch at the snack bar.

Point is - where do we draw the line at what they receive free?

Oh, I forgot....the gov. pays for your gas to the airport or a taxi...what ever works. ANYTHING travel related is covered.

slightofjeff

know1 wrote:

And that's your prerogative. But how would you like it if you decided not to give them the car wash and the media blasted you for it?

Dude, I'm a total free-market guy, and on the whole I think corporations get a bad a rap. Hell, I've even defended Exxon-Mobil on this forum before.

But there's just no fucking defending this. Let the soldiers carry their war supplies for free, for God's sake. It's the right thing to do.

tybird

I hope that issue gets brought up next time the airlines march up to Congress begging for another trillion dollar bail-out.

Cosmo

tybird wrote:

I hope that issue gets brought up next time the airlines march up to Congress begging for another trillion dollar bail-out.

...
If we, as a collective whole, had to shoulder some of the work in a war.... such as feeling the financial pains of the costs of war... then, maybe we wouldn't be so quick to support a war of choice made by our government leaders.
And if little pansie civilians had to pay for the costs of the bullets, bombs, laser guided missiles, jet fuel burned by F-15s and medical costs for our wounded veterans... then I bet they would be so damn Gung Ho about going over to bomb someone on the other side of the planet... just because we can.

Anon

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

You can file a travel voucher when you get back state side and get your money back.

Assuming they come back.....

I just think it's ridiculous it even gets to that stage, but i don't see any point in blaming the airlines. I'm guessing the military organize the flights for the people, they know what items they will be travelling with. Everyone will taking similar amounts of gear. It's not like they are going on vacation and taking their x boxes and guitars. Pay the extra costs at the time of making the booking. Surely it's not that hard.

OffHeGoes29

Pj_Gurl wrote:

Assuming they come back......

That’s a little too much. Your chances of dieing on the way to work here in the states are greater then getting killed over in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Anon

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

That’s a little too much. Your chances of dieing on the way to work here in the states are greater then getting killed over in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I disagree. Surely we have a better chance than one in 96 at being killed on the way to work.
With a total casualty count of 11,601, and a permanently deployed force of 130,000, the chances of U.S. doldiers being killed or wounded in the conflict have been reduced to one in 11.

The latest death toll also sees the chances of soldiers dying in action reduced below one in 100. Based on the permanently deployed force number, and the death toll at 1,349, the chances of U.S. soldiers being killed in battle in Iraq stands at one in 96.

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php?sid=60704

know1

Cosmo wrote:

...
Who said anything about a Private Company footing the bill? Not me.
I want YOU... as a motherfucking taxpayer to foot the goddamn bill. Use our tax dollars to cover whatever the costs. This is OUR war... whether you support it or not.

The article is about the airline charging them. It has nothing to do with me paying the bill for their extra baggage. Is there anything else you'd like me to pay for of their as well? How about their house payment while they're away? Cable Bill? Daycare?

know1

slightofjeff wrote:

Dude, I'm a total free-market guy, and on the whole I think corporations get a bad a rap. Hell, I've even defended Exxon-Mobil on this forum before.

But there's just no fucking defending this. Let the soldiers carry their war supplies for free, for God's sake. It's the right thing to do.

Then let the government reimburse them. I just think you don't badger a business through badly spun propaganda into feeling shameful for not giving away services for free.

know1

Cosmo wrote:

...
If we, as a collective whole, had to shoulder some of the work in a war.... such as feeling the financial pains of the costs of war... then, maybe we wouldn't be so quick to support a war of choice made by our government leaders.
And if little pansie civilians had to pay for the costs of the bullets, bombs, laser guided missiles, jet fuel burned by F-15s and medical costs for our wounded veterans... then I bet they would be so damn Gung Ho about going over to bomb someone on the other side of the planet... just because we can.

We are shouldering it through taxes. If you want to do more, go for it. As for me, I don't support it.

tybird

Cosmo wrote:

...
If we, as a collective whole, had to shoulder some of the work in a war.... such as feeling the financial pains of the costs of war... then, maybe we wouldn't be so quick to support a war of choice made by our government leaders.
And if little pansie civilians had to pay for the costs of the bullets, bombs, laser guided missiles, jet fuel burned by F-15s and medical costs for our wounded veterans... then I bet they would be so damn Gung Ho about going over to bomb someone on the other side of the planet... just because we can.

Yo! Brotha', I'm on your side.

puremagic

If they are flying for example from AZ to GA to get on a military transport going to a war zone - all baggage fees should be waived.

If they live to make it back - charge them for their bags.

Yes, the airlines will lose money, but that lost should comes with the knowledge that someone came home in flagged coffin or a military transport because they may be missing body parts from a road side bombing.

Its Evolution Baby

puremagic wrote:

If they are flying for example from AZ to GA to get on a military transport going to a war zone - all baggage fees should be waived.

If they live to make it back - charge them for their bags.

Yes, the airlines will lose money, but that lost should comes with the knowledge that someone came home in flagged coffin or a military transport because they may be missing body parts from a road side bombing.

The Airlines can claim what they want but they aren't losing money if they allow military personal to have free baggage. It's a simple box on a form when ordering the tickets.
Example:

Are you military personal? yes
If yes you are granted up to 4 bags at no cost for travel. Each additional bag would be $15.

That was very hard indeed...

OffHeGoes29

know1 wrote:

How about their house payment while they're away? Cable Bill? Daycare?

They do pay for your house payment. Its called "Basic Housing Allowance". The payment is based on rank and the area you live in, its also tax free.

They also pay something call "Family seperation" while you're gone too.

OffHeGoes29

Pj_Gurl wrote:

I disagree. Surely we have a better chance than one in 96 at being killed on the way to work.
With a total casualty count of 11,601, and a permanently deployed force of 130,000, the chances of U.S. doldiers being killed or wounded in the conflict have been reduced to one in 11.

The latest death toll also sees the chances of soldiers dying in action reduced below one in 100. Based on the permanently deployed force number, and the death toll at 1,349, the chances of U.S. soldiers being killed in battle in Iraq stands at one in 96.

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php?sid=60704

"As of January 10, 2008 3,431 of the 4,228 total coalition military deaths were by hostile fire. 3,201 of the 3,921 total U.S. deaths were by hostile fire."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_casualties#U.S._armed_forces

But the problem is that you can compare the TOTAL KIA due to HOSTILE deaths vs the CURRENT 130,000 stationed in Iraq. The KIA number changes, vs 130,000 that stays the same. Eventually, the number of deaths could surpass the number of troops stationed there if we where there for a long as time. You can't compare those numbers.

You would have to compare the TOTAL KIA vs the TOTAL number deployed over the 5 year period. Which is far greater than even 250K peak of the troop level in Iraq. I can't even find that number.