Comments on: Should Military Members Receive Special Benefits?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:29:50 +0000

I don’t think this was used as a retention tool as much as it was intended to give military members who were overseas the opportunity to take advantage of the $8,000 First-time Home Buyers credit to purchase a home. This is something deployed military members probably couldn’t take advantage of because they were overseas and couldn’t dedicate the time it takes to buy a house. Many military members deploy for 12 months or more, so many military members still may not be able to take advantage of this extension, even if they wanted to.

By: Hank

Hank — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:55:43 +0000

I’m biased, but I like to think that members of the military deserve the benefits they earn.

The real problem for the government is that adding new benefits does not translate into an increased retention or increase in new recruits for the most part. Large programs like the new GI Bill will without a doubt keep people in the military longer, but extending the Home Buyers credit won’t. The US Government needs to focus on the big benefits that have a payoff to the government and stop wasting time with the little ones that no one really cares about.

By: Darwin's Finance

Darwin's Finance — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:09:53 +0000

I’m not military, so my judgment is unbiased. Hell yeah they deserve these benefits! Your article only scratched the surface on why military personnel deserve benefits that others aren’t entitled to. Is it fair that many civil servants only work 25 years and retire with a full pension (yes 100% for life). Is it fair that government employees virtually never face the prospect of a layoff, or have to compete to keep their job? Surely, you can list out hundreds of groups of employees throughout the country that enjoy special privileges that haven’t sacrificed nearly to the degree that our armed forces personnel do – both during their service and then for the rest of their life.

Sounds like the commenter’s just pissed because the administration’s giving away the house and anyone that doesn’t feel they “got theirs” is pissed saying, “where’s mine”? Well, too bad. While Obama’s doing his best to “spread that wealth around”, sorry to tell him, but these benefits were around way before Obama’s agenda. And they should stay.

By: Four Pillars

Four Pillars — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:04:05 +0000

I understand the commenter’s basic premise that there shouldn’t be a bunch of new perks for military personel but I really don’t see what the big deal is about extending the housing credit to people who were deployed overseas and couldn’t use it.

They should be allowed to use this credit like every other American – it’s not an “extra benefit”.