# My idea for cutting the military budget: Quit paying for dependents. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785 "2012-06-01T15:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785/101 "2012-06-04T10:57:58Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t think people on WIC and TANF are any more likely to be lazy or stupid than other people who find themselves in tough circumstances. > > I think the rest of your argument speaks for itself: anyone who isn’t besides themselves in awe of your eighteen months of military service hates the military according to you. > > This is no surprise, as nearly every thread you start pertains to your upset that the world is distinctly less impressed by you than you believe they should be. You are being overly personal here when you should be arguing ideas. If you’re that annoyed by how impressed he is by his military service, pit him for it. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785/102 "2012-06-04T11:20:48Z")
> [@missred](#): > > What you’re forgetting is that “wifey” has to pick up and relocate every few years, including starting a new job more times than not. > > Considering that many employers that are willing to hire someone who they know aren’t able to stick around after their spouse is transferred, also don’t offer much in the way of benefits, the civilian spouse’s benefits are likely to be subpar. For a civilian spouse who is degreed and professional, sacrifice of their own career often comes with the territory. Given that many professions require licensing by the state of practice, sometimes they’ve only recently obtained that license when required to pick up and move to another state. That means that they are underemployed, likely with fewer bennies, than they would be with a civilian spouse. Long term, their own retirement benefits also suffer. > > Motivationally, military personnel who have additional reason to make it home alive and well can be a financial asset, in that the armed forces don’t spend as much in rehab and training new recruits to the same level. Let’s not forget that relocating every few years is expensive, too. Yeah, the military will pay for some of the expenses, but there’s always little incidental expenses that tend to add up. Plus, how can you put a value on the broken vase that was Grandma’s? But I can safely say that employers who know that the military spouse is going to have to move in a few years are not likely to offer the best positions, and the best mentoring. And forget starting up a business. A military spouse who’s a doctor or lawyer won’t be able to build up any sort of practice, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785/103 "2012-06-04T15:44:23Z")
There’s also the disparity of wages in different parts of the country. And lack of unemployment benefits in some States for the spouse who must quit a job and move with the military member who has PCS orders. I worked up until the day we left Germany–not an easy task, considering we had to have everything packed up, clear quarters, and live in transient housing plus chauffeur babies to day care–just so I could qualify for unemployment. But the [CENSORED] clerk at the Unemployment Office in Kentucky wanted to split hairs and battle semantics so I could NOT receive any money. If Hubster had been transferred to California, I would have received unemployment with no problems whatsoever. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![jerryp8472](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jerryp8472](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerryp8472)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785/104 "2012-10-08T12:51:50Z")
Considering that I was bringing home about $900 a month as an E1 back in 2007. Certainly not enough to support a family, especially since they sent me to Hawaii. That would likely prevent individuals with families from serving their country. ---
**Author:** ![jerryp8472](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jerryp8472](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerryp8472)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785/105 "2012-10-08T13:12:57Z")
Missed edit window. I realize how grammatically abhorrent my previous post was :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idea-for-cutting-the-military-budget-quit-paying-for-dependents/623785.md?page=5)