3 ms·

Free healthcare for the rest of your life. Help with college costs.. Funny how one of the biggest budget items in the country is used for a socialist system...

Alupis 1y ago
By dollars spent, the US operates the largest health and human services system in the world. YTD, the US has spent approximately $4.5T[1] on health and human services, of which approximately $1.9T are health-related alone. In 2024, the US Government's total revenue was approximately $4.9T[2]. [1] https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/ https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/feder... [2] https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61185 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61185
- actionfromafar 1y ago
  Thank god most of that money goes to good capitalist middle men, or it would look like some kind of socialized welfare.
wkat4242 1y ago
Most jobs don't get you shot at though. I mean shooting at my colleagues is frowned upon by HR in my office.
- kaikai 1y ago
  Shooting at your colleagues is frowned upon in the military, too.
  - wkat4242 1y ago
    Oh yeah true but in my job my colleagues are the enemies lol
- jerlam 1y ago
  Most jobs in the US military don't involve shooting, or being shot at, either. Last major war, only 11% were combat forces. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio
ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
high school understanding of "socialist system"
toast0 1y ago
From quick reading, seems like if you serve at least 2 years (or leave from a service connected injury) and get an honorable discharge, you get VA healthcare, although lower priority levels have to pay copays, so not entirely free? Looks like signing up for the military is an 8 year commitment, which is often at least 3 years of active duty and the remainder on reserves. Kind of a lot of commitment for health care, and kind of a lot of risk on the job. If you can manage to stay in for 20 years though, the pension seems pretty nice; I live near a navy base and a lot of parents of my kid's sports team are approaching 20 years, getting paid a pension while having a second career is pretty neat.

Alupis 1y ago

By dollars spent, the US operates the largest health and human services system in the world. YTD, the US has spent approximately $4.5T[1] on health and human services, of which approximately $1.9T are health-related alone. In 2024, the US Government's total revenue was approximately $4.9T[2]. [1] https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/ https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/feder... [2] https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61185 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61185

actionfromafar 1y ago
Thank god most of that money goes to good capitalist middle men, or it would look like some kind of socialized welfare.

wkat4242 1y ago

Most jobs don't get you shot at though. I mean shooting at my colleagues is frowned upon by HR in my office.

kaikai 1y ago
Shooting at your colleagues is frowned upon in the military, too.
- wkat4242 1y ago
  Oh yeah true but in my job my colleagues are the enemies lol
jerlam 1y ago
Most jobs in the US military don't involve shooting, or being shot at, either. Last major war, only 11% were combat forces. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio

ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago

high school understanding of "socialist system"

toast0 1y ago

From quick reading, seems like if you serve at least 2 years (or leave from a service connected injury) and get an honorable discharge, you get VA healthcare, although lower priority levels have to pay copays, so not entirely free? Looks like signing up for the military is an 8 year commitment, which is often at least 3 years of active duty and the remainder on reserves. Kind of a lot of commitment for health care, and kind of a lot of risk on the job. If you can manage to stay in for 20 years though, the pension seems pretty nice; I live near a navy base and a lot of parents of my kid's sports team are approaching 20 years, getting paid a pension while having a second career is pretty neat.