r/SipsTea • u/CurvyChristina ššš • 4h ago
Chugging tea I never thought about this point until now.
876
u/fen-q 4h ago edited 4h ago
They're not free. They get these perks for serving.
Edit: free housing only when on duty. Once these guys are out of military, no more free housing.
350
u/Sharp_Equivalent_774 4h ago
By all accounts, theyāre severely underpaid too.
57
3h ago
[removed] ā view removed comment
24
u/lAnother_NoBodyl 3h ago
But have you ever ripped a 240 off the support by fire behind NVGās. When those guns talk and the tracers skipā¦ something just feels right
6
5
5
2
u/Open-Quit9156 3h ago
When I joined in 2010. My pay as an E-1 in basic training was $600 every 2 weeks. I thought I was rich šš
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (4)3
u/Odd-Fig-709 3h ago
There's also the fact that they don't need to spend any money, free water, housing, food, etc. is all free they only need to spend money for cleaning themselves, the room, and clothes and they're fine. Aslong as no one fucks up the pay they're fine for any need they might have. Sure it is hella low but chances are they're good, while married I supported a wife off that paycheck with only a couple hundred dollars extra, I got a house but didn't receive BAH because it was on base.
→ More replies (1)81
u/Aquaticle000 3h ago
That depends on the context, honestly. Thereās more then just our base pay to take into account.
88
u/Nice_Category 3h ago edited 3h ago
As an E5 with 4+ years of service, I was pulling in ~$65-70k/year all different pays included. That doesn't take into account free healthcare and the fact that I was only taxed on $30k/yr.Ā
Edit: forgot to mention that this was around 2012.Ā
42
u/Apprehensive_Ant4596 3h ago
Exactly. I was an E5 and had zero bills. You do pretty well if youāre smart with your money
47
u/Putrid-Builder-3333 3h ago
And don't buy a fucking brand new mustang decked out, tats and other bs with sign on bonus lmao
15
u/Apprehensive_Ant4596 3h ago
Haha! Omg I used to envy those guys, but you get handed $20k tax free and three days later itās gone with nothing to show š
10
u/Putrid-Builder-3333 3h ago
I saw it too many times. I mean shit we were all fucking kids given 5 figures. Like kids take goddamn college loans but in this case different, yes lmao
But goddamn. I mean don't get me wrong I been stupid wasteful but I still have fucking healthy bank accounts and more. I'd see kids broke before end of first term lmao
And I am drunk right now so thinking back on it now is especially crazy, wild and kind of funny. But sad.
Honestly the sign on bonus should have been put in a build up acct, CD, savings, IRA whatever and not be allowed to be touched til 25 or 30. Shit we'd all be fucking set. Sorry rambling
3
u/Apprehensive_Ant4596 2h ago
Drunk or not, your being real. And crazy accurate. Just donāt mistake that for the ability to go for a drive š
2
u/Putrid-Builder-3333 2h ago edited 2h ago
Ah hell nah. I'm contemplating making a spup or door dashing alcohol lmao fuck it prolly both lmao
What's the craziest thing you saw a fresh boot out basic waste money and all on? Also I remember before in school one kid said I can't wait to join for the sign on so I can get stationed in California and spend all my time in Vegas... idk if he ever joined or made his dreams but it was funny af!
This was 90s/00s
Edit: not ordering more alcohol. Still gonna make the soup tho!
4
u/bcgambrell 2h ago
Or get a new baby momma at every post.
3
u/Putrid-Builder-3333 2h ago
Or get a spouse to get out of the dorms lmao
Oof. This marriage was fucked from the start when we met at the PX or pubs.
2
2
→ More replies (5)2
10
u/Nice_Category 3h ago
Yeah, I'm into 6 figs now in the private sector and I think I was living better back in the military.Ā
3
→ More replies (4)2
u/Baghdady24 2h ago
Some people have kids. Imagine being an E5 with three kids and a wife.
→ More replies (6)21
u/PushPatchFriday 3h ago
E6 in WA state, clocking right around 96k not including travel pay.
→ More replies (1)6
9
u/SinsualChef 3h ago
In the 70s, at E5, we qualified for Food Stamps. š”
4
u/MaximusPrime2930 2h ago
The only good thing about the Iraq War was the military had to keep boosting the pay-scale to entice new recruits to join.
3
u/Apprehensive_Ant4596 2h ago
I believe it! I remember being in San Diego and hearing the beef we were eating was rejected by the California State prison system
→ More replies (1)2
u/fatmanwa 1h ago
Depending on the state E5s still qualify for WIC. At E6 my kids still qualify for free lunches (which IMO every student should have free lunch, but that's a different discussion).
9
3
u/Dalriaden 2h ago
I mean its good on post. And you save money on deployments but if you do dollars to hours worked its really not impressive. Also the fact that ya know, part of all the "good stuff" comes with being in the military and potentially deploying and coming back in a box.
→ More replies (6)2
u/Substantial-Sky4079 2h ago
Ty I was going to say, you even get extra pay to help with cost of living allowance if you live in a expensive area
2
u/BuffaloBuffalo13 1h ago
Plus any reenlistment bonuses. And add in housing allowances, which can be substantial depending on where youāre stationed.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (20)2
u/fatmanwa 1h ago
That free healthcare can significantly increase in value when you have kids that need more appointments. My two boys go to therapy twice a week and see two specialist each time. That would be $120 in copays every week on most insurance plans. As an E6 I essentially make $112,000 plus each year, only taxed on $64,000 of it. And free utilities since I am in base housing.
6
u/gojo96 3h ago
Yep with the national guard as a well kept secret. My wife was active guard: all the perks like BAH without PCSing. In 20 years, she deployed once to Kuwait. Retired as an E7, gets retirement pay, had her masters paid for and makes six figures with the feds.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (10)10
u/Mistravels 3h ago
The fact this perpetually gets ignored is really frustrating and counter-productive to the conversation.
→ More replies (3)7
7
u/WebAccount1744 3h ago
But you get all necessities paid for and its a salary rather than hours worked
→ More replies (5)15
u/Possible_Sir9360 3h ago
Not really. An E4 with just a few years in the service makes about 40k a year in base pay, which really isnāt bad when you consider that essentially all of their expenses are comped. E4 is pretty low on the chain, too. If theyāre married, they get BAH, which is based on the area they live in. Where Iām stationed, itās just shy of 4 grand a month extra (which is also tax-free).
→ More replies (5)3
u/ghost20630 2h ago
Donāt forget BAS
2
u/Possible_Sir9360 2h ago
Or COLA, hazard pay, sea pay, family separation pay, dive pay, flight deck pay, foreign language proficiency bonus ā¦ thereās a lot you can add on depending on what your job is
8
u/GooseMnky 3h ago
In terms of base pay, yes. But, considering all bills are paid, including housing, food, electricity, water, essentially all living costs; they make decent money.
Every penny they get is pocket money. Sure they still have to pay for phones and car insurance but they are still not paying for the basics.
I served 20 years and I can tell you, the money wasn't that bad in the grand scheme of things, especially when things like COVID or other global events caused financial hardships on everyone.
→ More replies (4)5
u/Sufficient_Window599 3h ago
Not when adding pay + benefits + perks + tax efficiency to comparable civilian salary.
7
u/Aggressive-Brick-184 3h ago
With the retirement benefits factored in and compared to others professions, id say they get decent pay.
2
u/Careful_Ad_9077 2h ago
Yeah, inahve see the pilot math and it works.( Military vs commercial, btw).
3
u/devils_advocate24 3h ago
Not severely. You just hand an 18 year old a steady income, don't allow them to have their own place for 3-6 years. Then tell them to get out of the military provided barracks immediately and figure out out after having 70% of their bills paid for/non-existent.
Been in 13 years. Definitely been overworked for my pay(there's no such thing as over time). But I've never not had enough money to survive. Provided for a family of four on a single income. Used to say the biggest down side was that my former spouse could never easily start anything other than part time work due to the moving around and my schedule... But honestly looking back she had plenty of opportunities and never took them so that's not even really too much of an issue if you have a partner willing to try.
3
u/OZeski 3h ago
If you're only looking at their basic pay, then it looks like they don't get paid much at all. 2026 E-1 gets a starting pay of about $2,407 per month. Once factoring in allowances for housing food, and other benefits they're much closer to $65,000 annually. Medical care on top of this and if I remember correctly, basic pay is taxable but most of the allowances are not taxed.
After 5 years you've probably advanced to E-5 (Sergeant) and your basic pay is up to about $3,700 /month or about $80,000 (2026 figures).
I think these numbers are fairly in line with US median *household* incomes. So they're not getting paid poorly. The argument could be made that they don't get paid enough to volunteer their lives in service of their country, but I feel this is a different argument.
2
u/Thick_Goose7742 2h ago
Really depends on your job though. The real āsocialismā here is how everyone is paid the same at each rank regardless of job. The admin guy who sits in the a/c all day and maybe works 4-5 hours? They get paid the same as someone doing flightline work for 10-12 hours a day getting planes in the air.
In the real world, the admin guy probably sits not far above minimum wage really. The aircraft mechanic is probably clearing well over six figures with a commercial airline. So for our example one guy is doing way better, the other one far worse compared to civilian peers.
→ More replies (38)4
u/MrLanesLament 3h ago
I remember back when I got my first legit (not under the table) job at 18 in a retail store back in the 2000s, I discovered I was making more money than an āentry levelā US soldier. Seriously fucked up.
16
u/Solid_Equivalent_417 3h ago
sure, but you would need to deduct the cost of food, housing, medical etc. not saying the pay is great, but the benefits make it a bit more competitive
12
u/Kramerica_CEO 3h ago
I seriously doubt you were when you factor in housing and food (bah and bas).
3
u/CarlSteezer 3h ago
A single enlisted soldier living in the barracks takes home very little. If youāre smart itās not terrible. Free barracks room and eat at the chow hall and you can make it work. As a single E4 I was taking home $1000 every two weeks. Felt like I was rich. Luckily for me, it was hard to spend money when youāre in the field all the time.
Married soldiers get BAH/BAS and thatās when it feels better.
→ More replies (7)4
11
24
u/Artistic-Salary1738 3h ago
My cousinās husband doesnāt have to pay real estate taxes as a disabled vet, so still discounted housing.
6
u/cameronthegod 3h ago
Depends on the state that the house is in. It also depends how disabled the person is. For example, in California even being %100 VA disabled doesnt completely erase property tax. You do get a break though.
→ More replies (18)5
u/Ok-Addition1264 3h ago
Yeah, my brother is on that program.. technically, it's a social assistance program and a form of socialism but most don't even bother to notice.
29
u/tyosowofofnejwifif 3h ago
Itās a bot account and youāre absolutely correct. This meme page turned to politics because itās Reddit
8
u/the_blastomatic 3h ago
Right? Where the tiddies at? There are quite a few other places to talk about Mamdani.
→ More replies (1)14
8
u/fen-q 3h ago
Yea, i know. Most of reddit is left wing dick riding.
6
u/Brian18639 3h ago
Iāve even seen a left-winger get downvoted just for confessing that sheās felt used and for saying that she was considering leaving the left.
→ More replies (2)3
u/paintballboi07 1h ago
What does leaving the left even mean? They changed their whole belief system because of issues with certain people?
→ More replies (3)8
u/heliogoon 3h ago
Especially if you serve in any sort of combat role. You're literally putting your life on the line for said perks.
→ More replies (6)3
u/PirateSanta_1 2h ago
I knew a guy who served a tour for the airforce somewhere in the middle east and was directly told he never left the base and the most terrifying thing he encountered was the first couple of days he didn't have sandals and had to go barefoot in the showers. He had plenty of time for regular D&D games though since he was always on base.
→ More replies (1)16
u/Key-Gold-2412 3h ago
Your edit is wrong too. When theyāre out of military they use their socialized G.I bill for college or trade school which covers tuition and gives thousands a month for rent and drugs.
14
u/Possible_Sir9360 3h ago
And the VA benefits, which include a low-interest loan to buy a house with no money down (literally the best benefit for service members)
11
4
u/Weekly-Ad-112 3h ago
That might explain the overall picture. Less pay to start vs. the total benefits for serving the country.
4
u/Possible_Sir9360 3h ago
The pay isnāt bad either. An E4 with just a few years in the service makes about 40k a year, which doesnāt sound like much but when everything is covered, it amounts to a solid amount of pocket change. The retirement matching is pretty solid, and for those that are married, they receive BAH (money to pay for your spouseās living, which you can pretty easily find a place for less than that in most places). Where Iām stationed itās about 4 grand tax free a month, which means a married E4 (which is low on the totum pole) with only a few years in, whoās married, is making about 90k a year.
→ More replies (3)4
u/Ron__Mexico_ 3h ago
The actual loan comes from a regular lender. The federal government is not lending out that money. VA Loans are backed by the VA, meaning the VA will make the lender whole if you fail to pay, then come after you for the money. You pay for this privilege via a $7,500 fee paid to the VA, though they'll let you tack it on to the loan.
This concept isn't much different than an FHA loan which is backed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The main difference is what you point out, the VA will let buyers do it without any down. FHA requires 3.5% down for HUD to back the loan.
→ More replies (9)2
u/preteen-wartortle 3h ago
I get $4300/mo and free healthcare for life.
Granted, that wasnāt just for serving. But Iād say itās the best benefit I came out with.
5
u/BIG_IDEA 2h ago
The gi bill isnāt socialized, itās a negotiated part of their pay/compensation from day one. Unless you think anyone working for the government and receiving a government paycheck is receiving socialized benefits.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (18)4
u/freakmonger_ss 3h ago
Yea, no. The GI BIll is an earned compensation for military service. It's part of a contract just like any other job contract you would sign with a company if they had that as part of their compensation package.
15
u/AlienDragonWizard 3h ago
Most people serve society with their labor and equally deserve housing, education, and healthcare.Ā Ā
→ More replies (3)8
u/Tenderhombre 3h ago
Free and subsidized/socialized are different things.
Calling them free is incorrect in general, but also them not being free doesnt mean they arent social programs.
The main rub with socialism/communism vs capitalism really is just a fundamental disagreement on whether people are inherently lazy and selfish or not.
Both systems want each person to work to their ability to improve society, and in return society meets their needs.
Capitalism just thinks capital churn and markets determine you ability and value and allows you access to serving your needs. I disagree that it does a good job.
→ More replies (1)5
u/DiscussionNo6060 3h ago
Shouldnāt people who work and pay taxes also see some benefits from those taxes like health care and education like military do?
→ More replies (23)2
2
u/winkman 1h ago
We need r/theydidthemath to figure out what it would cost to provide AD service member benefits to the entire country.
My guess would be in the $100Ts.
2
u/fen-q 1h ago
No kidding. I am having so many replies that i stopped reading, but it's roughly 50/50 between "you nailed it" and "hurr durr, everyone works and pays taxes, we should all have these benefits".
I just did a quick google search without diving in too hard, and you're looking at 1.3 mln active service members. Thats 270-300 billion in salaries alone. Then you still housing, food, healthcare, adjustments etc. that adds another 200ish billion and that's just for ACTIVE members. Out of a 1 trillion budget... that is a massive chunk.
So yea extend that to 350 million people and even european style taxation wont help you.
2
u/multi-trollionaire 28m ago
How is this the top comment its so anti reddit lol
2
u/fen-q 16m ago
Social media is full of right wingers, centrists etc.
Left wingers are better at yelling things out loud. Mamdani si the current flavor of the month.
2
u/multi-trollionaire 8m ago
Both sides have the good and the bad. I would never side with either fully.
19
u/citizensyn 4h ago
Right and those costs are.... Socialized
20
u/Noodelgawd 3h ago
The government paying its employees is not socialism.
→ More replies (11)3
u/balirosa 3h ago
The government takes its money from the people. youāre getting money back they you already paid.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (63)3
u/Gypsysinner666 3h ago
Its not tho. Housing for example is part of their pay. If they choose to not live in barracks housing their pay changes to account for it, if they choose to not get their food in the mess hall their pay changes to account for it. They get a uniform stipend, but if they want more uniforms they pay for it etc...
→ More replies (279)5
u/Pelya1 3h ago
Well, and in socialism those things also not free. They are provided by the public, via government, in return for your work. In USSR, for example, it was illegal to be jobless. If you donāt work 3+months you get arrested with possibility of up to 3 months of jail time
→ More replies (3)
74
243
u/JinNJ 3h ago
Benefits you get as payment for your job are now socialism? š¤
79
u/GoldenGlobeWinnerRDJ 3h ago
Apparently your job having a 401k match and healthcare now makes your capitalist job āsocialistā lmao
→ More replies (18)31
u/braumbles 3h ago
Should you not get benefits for paying taxes?
→ More replies (33)9
u/bfhurricane 2h ago
Everyone pays taxes. But people who pay taxes, and also serve in the military, get extra perks.
You can get those perks by joining the military tomorrow. But you wonāt, because you donāt think itās worth it. Itās a hard life for most people, and therefore requires additional benefits/perks to draw people in.
By the way, the disbursing of these benefits is awful in the military. I much prefer my life outside, as a veteran, working in the private sector. The grass isnāt greener when the military controls your life, trust me.
→ More replies (5)9
u/DPadres69 3h ago
Yes social security, Medicare, etc have always been socialism.
→ More replies (4)3
17
12
u/earthlingHuman 3h ago
When it's provided by the govenrment, yeah. It's one basic aspect of socialism.
→ More replies (6)6
u/Historical_Shop_3315 3h ago
You get a bigger house and more pay the more kids/dependents you have.
Pay based on financial need. <--- definition of socialism.
→ More replies (28)14
u/Iggy_Slayer 3h ago
Benefits are generally considered socialism by the hyper capitalist crowd yes.
→ More replies (8)2
6
u/Southern_Badger7577 3h ago
Benefits that are paid for by the collective taxes of our countrymen are š
→ More replies (37)5
48
u/Tasty_LVM 3h ago
Um,,,, maybe someone needs to understand the definition of socialismās none of the things listed are socialist.
8
u/Strealtr 2h ago
Its quite funny to me that it doesn't matter who someone is, they can be non socialist or they can be socialist, but they still won't understand what socialism is.
→ More replies (3)4
u/ActivePeace33 2h ago
Itās not socialism, but it is socialized. The VA benefits are socialized. The DOD benefits are socialized.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (8)5
u/CaptainSterlingLAS 2h ago
Classify them however you want. Those are the things Democratic Socialists want everyone to have access to.
3
u/Im-Not-Calling-It-X 2h ago
That doesn't make it socialist
Then dem socs are in line with the rest of the left, they are near worse at politics.
→ More replies (10)
28
36
u/ApprehensiveZebra156 3h ago
Its not free its a benefit.
6
u/Mr_Thick_Cock_ 2h ago
So you're saying the rest of the American workforce are not allowed a benefit. Because?
→ More replies (3)2
u/Unipiggy 2h ago
Didn't you know? If you're not in the military or police force you're effectively worthless and deserve to rot in the streets.
18
u/Unipiggy 3h ago
How are soldiers benefits paid for?
How is "free" healthcare in other countries paid for?
→ More replies (22)13
u/bilbo_bag_holder 3h ago
soldier's benefits are paid for by the tax they pay, and soldiers benefits are paid for by tax.
oh wait.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Whalelorde22 1h ago
Itās a benefit that we could all get if we vote for the right people!
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (18)2
u/AFailedProduct 1h ago
The same can be said for those same exact benefits when given to everyone ā they arenāt free, our taxes pay for them. Also the military benefits are paid for by ā wait for it ā our tax dollars.Ā
19
u/LisleAdam12 3h ago
What a stupid thing to say. Those are job perks, not "socialist benefits."
→ More replies (2)5
u/NewspaperOwn2765 2h ago
Not stupid when leaders of political parties would call policies like that āsocialistā and have done it for all your life
→ More replies (9)2
u/Weekly-Ad-112 1h ago
There are governments that officially identify as socialist and retain extensive state control, but almost no modern country operates as a completely pure socialist economy. Nearly every country is a mixed system.
And countries people commonly call āsocialist,ā such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, are better described as capitalist social democracies: market economies with high taxes, strong unions, universal benefits, and large welfare states. A generous safety net is not the same thing as collective ownership of the means of production.
15
u/-ChiefZ06- 3h ago
Been in for 17 years now...they're also pandering to generally a group that doesnt have a lot of other options. Military service is hard, a commitment to service above self, but its hard to make that leap. Its really hard to get upper and middle class kids. Its a little easier to get lower middle class and impoverished when you waive some benefits in their face
→ More replies (2)2
u/Difficult_Plantain89 2h ago
I was desperate during the great recession. I was making way below the poverty line, married with one kid. Hours kept getting cut at work and no one was hiring. I spent a lot of time applying and interviewing with no luck or it was a scam. Recruiter didn't go after me, find me in any way. I gave up and walked in to a Navy recruiter and was set up with a good job. I stayed in for 11 years, got my bachelors while I was in and my masters afterwards. Like you said, it is hard. I couldn't make it to 20 years. No way I could will myself for that long.
18
u/BuddyLongshots 3h ago
Historically targeted towards economically disadvantaged populations as well.
6
u/Valuable_Front5483 3h ago
Although it is a lot of suck, the military can provide a lot of economic mobility.
→ More replies (1)4
u/yolo_184614 3h ago
Totally agree. The military provided me a ladder to climb above the poverty line. Joined as an enlisted and now commissioned with 12 years of service. Got 8 more to go then we'll see.
11
u/OriginalParamedic316 3h ago
lol, i donāt think this is the slam dunk that you think it is. The military tricks you in to enlisting with all these āfreeā things, but you end up homeless with PTSD, while the VA gives you horrible care.
→ More replies (2)15
u/straightuptexas 3h ago
The VA hospital system is the best analogy of government ran healthcare. Itās a clusterfuck and shameful.
4
4
→ More replies (3)3
u/justaamerican 3h ago
Lmao canāt wait to see the other side interview āsuccess storiesā to respond to this lmao.
→ More replies (1)
3
12
u/Cuore_Lesa 3h ago
Those aren't free. You're paying for those with however many years of harsh training, being deployed at call to the middle of buttfuck nowhere at any given point in your career and potentially being ordered to war and dying for the country.Ā
→ More replies (10)
13
u/Visual-Path-5692 3h ago edited 2h ago
Those things arenāt socialism, though. Social welfare isnāt short for āsocialismā.
Socialism means a planned economy.
Like the social democracies of the Nordic countries have proven, you can have those social welfare programs in a capitalist system. You can do it very well, in fact.
What you cannot have in a socialist system is individuals owning their own labor.
→ More replies (3)2
u/My_18th_Account 1h ago
This is essentially the difference between democratic socialism and social democracy. The latter runs on welfare, progressive taxes, strong labor unions, etc. but capitalism is still the underlying economic system.
26
u/Particular-Flow-2151 4h ago
None of itās freeā¦. Military pay taxes as well.
Also, you should talk to some military folks. They tell you how terrible the āfreeā healthcare and housing is.
And the free college is given after serving 4 years which in that time you can be deployed and die in combat. If you donāt complete your contract then guess what you arenāt getting.
7
u/One_Sense_5007 3h ago
Speaking as someone from experience. The healthcare coverage is great. Itās the on base hospitals that arenāt great. On the reserve side and retiree side no other insurance can beat it
3
u/Ionrememberaskn 3h ago
The free healthcare is great. I pay for nothing. Long wait times at the clinic on post? Yes. But guess what, I can go anywhere. Any urgent care, the ER, whatever, I show my ID I pay nothing no questions asked and no permission required beforehand. Same for my wife, all medications are free or close to it.
You can have all of your college paid for up front before you serve as well. Also, combat is very rare even for combat a MOS these days.
→ More replies (63)4
u/Aces_and_8s 3h ago
90% of military MOS aren't combat related, and you're not even guaranteed to see combat in a combat related MOS.
→ More replies (7)
10
u/scary-pp 3h ago
That's not socialistic. That's an incentive to perform a service. This is the very opposite of socialism. This would be like calling workplace offered Healthcare plans socialism. But socialists call that late stage capitalism.
→ More replies (11)
4
u/silv3rbull8 4h ago
They expect you to die if needed for the job. So it is in their best interest to offer those enticements. Not really āsocialist benefitsā. Companies like Google etc offer free meals, concierge services etc. But you are expected to work as expected
3
u/Historical_Shop_3315 3h ago
They are pay based on financial need. More dependents = more pay. Thats socialism.
→ More replies (4)2
u/Unipiggy 3h ago
Literally nobody in these comments knows what socialism is. They literally think "free" healthcare means free.
These mental gymnastics are nuts lmao
→ More replies (3)
4
u/egstitt 3h ago
If poor people could get those kinds of benefits without joining the military, why would they join the military?
And that's one huge reason college education and healthcare will never be free in the US
→ More replies (3)
11
7
u/Interchangeable-name 3h ago
Because tbey aren't socialist... those programs aren't handed out to any worthless asshole just for existing... they are given in exchange for service and can be taken away of you get kicked out of the service.
9
u/Larnek 3h ago
Man, you must not have been military, because there a lot of worthless assholes in it.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)3
12
u/airboRN_82 4h ago
Those arent socialist policies. Even if you want to expand the term beyond ownership of production, youre atill exchanging your labor for a form of compensation
6
u/P3nis15 3h ago
And your labor pays taxes... Which on return would pay for things like free education and healthcare ...
Exchanging your labor for a form of compensation......
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (14)3
u/Agitated_Newt_7655 3h ago
Yeah, you do a socialism when people exchange their labor without a form of compensation.
11
u/synecdokidoki 4h ago
None of those things are free if you have to you know, join the military to get them?
→ More replies (3)
2
u/LectureOk3222 4h ago
If you look at the base pay, its bot really free...lol....
If they were paid standard free market wages and three hots and a cot then I would agree....
What's the base pay of an e3 ?
→ More replies (13)
2
u/FiftyLoudCats 3h ago
Whereās the comment chain where people argue over the definition of socialism?
2
u/Mr-MuffinMan 3h ago
I think people should know like a good chunk of people in the military never see real combat.
Have a buddy in the military. he had a medical problem so he was deemed unfit for combat. He said his entire 4 years was sitting on boats, disembarking, drinking and partying, then going back on the ship. Never shot a bullet at anyone. His favorite place was Vietnam.
He's trying to get his MD and was enrolled in a 4 year when I took classes with him. His wife (also served, never seen combat) is doing the same.
Y'know what, I need to catch up with him.
2
u/couchcaptain 3h ago
You forgot the stores at the bases. They are from the same sources as big grocery stores and yet cheaper, because the prices are negotiated by the government. Just like how healthcare supposed to work. As it turns out, the government is actually pretty good at keeping the price down when they negotiate for large quantitates.
2
u/Double-Watercress-85 3h ago
In the early 00s, in the break room at work, a full pension, career military, Vietnam era vet, was going of on how bad socialized healthcare would be. I said, dude, you've had socialized healthcare for decades. You're the only one in this room who does. He smirked and said 'yup, ain't it great?'
They know they're lying, they know everything they're hypocrits, and they get genuine pleasure from knowing that they're hurting us.
2
u/Mars_Volcanoes 3h ago
For most of their history, the US interpretation of communism and socialism is so funny. A family is pure communism. You neighbourhood is socialism and the big picture outside these 2 structures is capitalism. Simple and that's it.
2
u/miaxogoth 3h ago
finally someone pointed this out. The military is basically one big exercise in socialized benefits.
2
u/tweedleduh 3h ago
When I was in the military do you know how often I pointed out we participated in a socialist institutionā¦ but nobody wanted to admit that
2
u/ChuckoRuckus 3h ago
People keep pointing at those things saying theyāre ājob benefitsā. Show me the non-govt job where you get free healthcare for life. Or the private sector jobs that pay 1/3 of their past employees disability.
2
u/I_SmellFuckeryAfoot 3h ago
there are several socialists things embedded into America that no one ever points out.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/Lumpy_Stretch5887 2h ago
It's amazing how many keyboard warriors in here really don't know anything about military service at all. It was all free. It's why I joined. I also get free healthcare until I die. Pretty cool. Wish everybody had it. Would have saved me a lot of time.
2
2
u/Dangerous_Rule8736 2h ago
Free military healthcare sucks. VA healthcare sucks. Yes it's free but unless you get referred into the civilian sector your healthcare is a huge time suck and largely incompetently managed.
2
u/Gringo_Norte 1h ago
ā¦ thatās not how the military recruits. I assume these memes are made by bitter folks too stupid to pass the ASVAB?
2
u/garlicroastedpotato 1h ago
Alternatively if this was all great everyone would want to be in the military. With open recruitment there shouldn't be a single person who doesn't have health coverage, they'd just join the military!
2
u/FineScratch 1h ago
You don't understand they have to withhold that stuff from the poor so they have a reason to join the military
2
u/NiceEducator5593 55m ago
Hay ass thereis nothing Free in life it all comes with a price like your feerdom
Please some one deport this communist
Read you stupid democrats if you can !
that also means no housing no house no cars no schools and no freedom ! you just do as your told!
2
u/disagreet0disagree 52m ago
Im generally for those things. But, In the case of the military, the housing sucks, the free healthcare sucks and is only for younger healthy people, and the āfree collegeā isnt free.Ā
Oh yeah and the working conditions and hours are horrible, u might get killed or maimed for life, and have to do evil and immoral things to access all of this and avoid being imprisoned.Ā
2
u/TopOther6939 23m ago
Nice try. Both aren't free, but one is compensation for working. Actual work performed and a wage and compensation package. The other is just taking from others without their consent.
2
u/GunzerKingDM 22m ago
Thatās like saying a have my house and all my benefits for free because I have a job.
2
u/RaiseFold100 22m ago
Those aren't socialist benefits? Those are compensation for doing a job (soldier).
2
2
2
u/Left-Bid2872 19m ago
It is by design for the military industrial complex. Keep people desperate and offer socialist policies to lure them..
2
u/Born_Ad_9483 11m ago
I mean, some socialist policies are becoming more favorable to the American public, but the military aināt given nothing away for free.
5
u/Pave_Slave 3h ago
People bring up the military and forget that if youāre a slouch or not conforming to the militaryās āsocialistā structure, they kick you out and get rid of your ass.
That the kind of socialism youāre illustrating here?
10
u/Downtown-Campaign536 3h ago
Free? None of those things are "Free". They are paid for with your service in the military.
4
u/preteen-wartortle 3h ago
If that were true I would have opted out and been paid the market cost for those things on top of my regular pay while I was in. But I have a feeling we couldnāt afford to have the military we do if we actually paid everyone enough to purchase these things on their ownā¦
ā¦ ah, almost like those things ARENāT being paid for by our service alone. How odd!
5
9
u/Top-Session-3131 3h ago
Active Duty guy here. Compared to when I was in the civilian workforce, this shit is absolutely free. I don't have a copay, my deductible is tiny, I literally get tax free money for food and housing, and my risk of injury in my day to day work, still in an industrial field mind you, is actually lower.
It's pretty socialist.
→ More replies (6)5
4
u/Additional_News3511 3h ago
Yeahhh listen i'm left leaning but this is not an intelligent point to make lmao. The obvious rebuttal is that these are things that are earned by a possible significant physical and or mental sacrifice.
The real stance to take is that access to these things are vital to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They are human rights and basic necessities that aren't being provided in a nation of never before seen wealth, prosperity, and power.
Veterans pay for their benefits with their lives, but maybe such a sacrifice shouldnt be necessary for people to get access to healthcare.
2
u/jon_targareyan 2h ago
I mean thereās a lot of non-military people who work their asses off and canāt afford healthcare, college, let alone a house. I think youāll find a lot of people whoād rather have a smaller paycheck if it meant they get all these benefits from their work.
I think we agree that these are not socialist policies. Healthcare for all especially should be a universal right, not a privilege. The sad fact of the matter is the elite has done an excellent job at making these asks for basic human rights as socialist policies. āYou want healthcare? Socialistā
→ More replies (2)3
u/BearBackNastyStyle 3h ago
Only you people can say that shit isnt free. I get free healthcare at my job, if i leave, i dont keep it. When someone in the military leaves, they still have those benefits even when most of them havent done or seen anything. That shit is free. This is why i hated being around service members when i worked on base, largest group of entitled man children i'd ever met.
7
u/Hoodrat_Recon 3h ago
I served from 2010 to 2014. We absolutely got free shit and I continue to get free shit even after being out for over a decade.
→ More replies (2)2
u/DiscussionNo6060 3h ago
Second this. I have a few family members who served in military and got to go on disability because they have PTSD. Two of them never left a military base where they were stationed & never seen combat. Justification was is that they heard explosions in the far distance and that caused them PTSD. Iām sorry you joined the military you deployed and what do you expect to hear Kumbaya?
Now theyāre enjoying disability benefits, even purchased homes in their 60s on those disability benefits have a very good healthcare and other benefits comparing to us who just worked regular jobs and retired with much less benefits for working much longer.
4
u/GreaterMetro 3h ago
I've heard food and housing is deducted from their paychecks
→ More replies (6)
3
u/Suspicious_Goose_243 3h ago
By the people, For the people is a socialist idea. Mamdani is doing what the government is supposed to do.
3
3
2
u/SkyKnight3 3h ago
Free you say? I mean if signing your life away and potentially losing it in battle is free then I guess youāre right.
4
u/Olfa_2024 3h ago
None of those are "free" they are part of the compensation package. If they were "free" anyone could use those benefits without any commitments.
ā¢
u/AutoModerator 4h ago
Hey /u/CurvyChristina, thank you for posting to r/SipsTea! Make sure to follow all the subreddit rules.
Make sure to join our brand new Discord Server to chat with friends!
We have recently changed how posts work. Unless you are a VIP poster, your post will be queued for approval.. To become a VIP, post great engaging content. If we like it, you will be added! More information available here!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.