This is what your taxes are used for...

[CougTek]

I'm sure all our American forum members will be glad to learn that part of Bush's overweighted military/defence budget is to finance this :

The New Yorker magazine reports in its July 26th edition that members of all four branches of the U.S. military can get face-lifts, breast enlargements, liposuction and nose jobs for free -- something the military says helps surgeons practice their skills.

"Anyone wearing a uniform is eligible," Dr. Bob Lyons, chief of plastic surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio

U.S. army : "Be All You Can Be"

news source

 

[Mercutio]

My father was a recipient of some of cosmetic surgery while he was in the US Navy (to correct a broken nose he got while breaking up a fight while he was in High School).

This is something that has been done for decades, and given what enlisted men get paid, I don't think it's THAT unreasonable compared to, say, ordering another $1 Billion to be spent on "Star Wars" missle defense.

 

[Fushigi]

Corrective cosmetic surgery like the nose job and, potentially, even lipo in some cases I wouldn't take issue with. That falls in line with straightening your teeth and other things to make your appearance within socially accepted norms. Breast enlargement and face lifts, though, are a waste.

Really, with the exception of disfigurement, people need to accept their appearance and move on. If you must have your vanity, demonstrate it with a superior intellect vs. larger breasts or tighter cheeks. (Besides, most polls reveal that men actually prefer the real thing)

 

[Clocker]

Better to dump some money on people who are at least doing something (working) to better their lives and for others to improve their skills than to dump it in the welfare black hole where (in many cases) it's never to be seen again or benefit society as a whole.

I had a good laugh the other day...driving up I-75 through Detroit where you can be sure people are not paying their taxes or water bills, house after house had Dish Network or DirectTV satellite dishes on the top with 'pimped' out rides in the street or in the driveway. These people can't pay their bills and are collecting their welfare checks but they still find the $ to get satellite TV and 20" rims on their 'sclades. Why? Because "...you can't drive your house to the club.." and it's easiest to steal the full satellite package by buying those activation cards that are so easy to get just over the border in Canada, of course.

As Merc said, given the relatively poor pay, I see no problem with allowing our people free plastic surgery.

C

 

[sechs]

Government issue plastic surgery? Do people really want this?

I'm not bothered by the fact that this stuff happens. The military has plastic surgeons, and they *do* have to keep their skills up. They might as well work on real people and have members of the armed forces get some gain out of it.

I'm curious as to how much this costs us and how often it occurs. You only need so much practice....

 

[Mercutio]

Kev, it kind of sounds to me like you dislike the poor on some kind of general principle.

I lived in a neighborhood like the one you described for several years, and I can tell you that, yeah, there ARE $1000 cars with $2000 rims out there, and welfare homes with 60" TVs. BUT I can also tell you that I saw people - saw WITH MY OWN EYES - who made it out after a year or two of help from the "government black hole".

And I can also tell you that a lot of what you're describing is the fault of highly predatory lending practices for those with "marginal" incomes. Ever been in a Rent-a-Center? $40 a month for 36 months to "rent to own" a $400 computer? $100 a month for 24 months to get a $900 TV? $350/month for 72 months to buy a $15,000 car? 50% penalties for late payments? I'd call that a deck stacked in favor of the house!

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that somebody who doesn't have a whole lot of cash - has never had to manage their money - is probably going to spend whatever they get. But a lot of what they spend it on (Big TVs, cars etc), they wouldn't be able to without the cooperation of businesses like Rent-A-Center and GMAC.

 

[flagreen]

Anything and everything that happens in the way of accidents, illness, or injuries to civilians happens to service personel and their dependents (who are also eligible for care by the medical corps). Cleft-pallets, breast cancer victims, burn victims, are just a few of the legitimate cases in which plastic surgery is needed. And of course active duty personel in the field who are wounded often need reconstructive surgery.

I would imagine the reason they offering face lifts and breast enlargements etc. is because folks aren't likely to go out and wound or burn themselves just so that the surgeons can get the practice making them look normal again.

 

[jtr1962]

Corrective cosmetic surgery like the nose job and, potentially, even lipo in some cases I wouldn't take issue with. That falls in line with straightening your teeth and other things to make your appearance within socially accepted norms. Breast enlargement and face lifts, though, are a waste.

Amen to that. I'll even add hair replacement into the acceptable corrective cosmetic surgery category (after all it's just restoring your former hairline) but breast enlargement??? I don't want my tax dollars to go for that, or penile enlargement for that matter. If it isn't correcting a disfigurement or replacing something you were born with it should be off the list. I'm also all for measures to reduce the signs of aging, but not at taxpayer expense.

Really, with the exception of disfigurement, people need to accept their appearance and move on. If you must have your vanity, demonstrate it with a superior intellect vs. larger breasts or tighter cheeks. (Besides, most polls reveal that men actually prefer the real thing)

Exactly how I feel as well. While appearance can help your self-confidence, it is more important to develop your intellect. Sooner or later your looks go regardless, and then if you never developed yourself as a person you're left with nothing. I can't stand the way those stupid inflated breasts look anyway. They're so in-your-face, disgusting and phony. In fact, on a list of female characteristics I really don't find breasts appealing in the least, and enlarged breasts even less so. I wish we in this country(especially Hollywood) would wake up to the fact that not all guys like huge or even normal sized breasts (or tall and blond for that matter). I've always personally preferred females who are either very small or dead flat. I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard either.

 

[Clocker]

Kev, it kind of sounds to me like you dislike the poor on some kind of general principle.

I lived in a neighborhood like the one you described for several years, and I can tell you that, yeah, there ARE $1000 cars with $2000 rims out there, and welfare homes with 60" TVs. BUT I can also tell you that I saw people - saw WITH MY OWN EYES - who made it out after a year or two of help from the "government black hole".

And I can also tell you that a lot of what you're describing is the fault of highly predatory lending practices for those with "marginal" incomes. Ever been in a Rent-a-Center? $40 a month for 36 months to "rent to own" a $400 computer? $100 a month for 24 months to get a $900 TV? $350/month for 72 months to buy a $15,000 car? 50% penalties for late payments? I'd call that a deck stacked in favor of the house!

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that somebody who doesn't have a whole lot of cash - has never had to manage their money - is probably going to spend whatever they get. But a lot of what they spend it on (Big TVs, cars etc), they wouldn't be able to without the cooperation of businesses like Rent-A-Center and GMAC.

Hi Merc- I didn't mean to imply that Welfare is all bad. I have known several individuals who have been on (they call it 'the budget') and they have been able to pull themselves out.

The people I have a problem with are those who make no effort to manage their money (or the money that is given to them) and just take advantage of the system in the best way they can. It's the people that have no intention of putting forth a good faith effort to get a job (even if it isn't a very high paying job at first) or save for their future that piss me off. It doesn't take any kind of formal education to save a litte money or control one's spending.

I know what you are saying about places like rent-a-center or unscrupulus lenders (Mitsubishi is a bad one there). But you know what? TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereo system,s and expensive cars are luxury items and any person who cares about their financial situation will know not to purchase (or 'rent') them unless they have sufficient disposable income. This takes no formal training or schooling, just plain logic. My guess is that people will complain about what a ripoff places like rent-a-center are but they aren't willing to do without a TV for a few months so they can acutally BUY one. That's a conscious choice. My friend at work, an engineer who makes good $ but he's the only income. In order to save money and be fiscally responsible, he does not subscribe to cable TV. They make do with plain old over-the-air TV because cable does not fit in a budget that allows them to save the amount they need to save. He didn't lean how to do that in engineering school. He just decided he wanted to have some extra $ each month!

People who don't want to think will continue to blow what they have and not think at all about tomorrow. Those people don't deserve our help.

Thank god for my brother that he has a good paying job. He made $95K last year with overtime in his good manufacturing job but doesn't have a pot to piss in because he blows everything he makes.


I have no dislike for the poor. In fact, I have a really soft spot for those who are willing to work to help themselves.

 

[Clocker]

Sorry for dragging this OT, Coug. I'll take this opportunity to bow out of this thread.

C

 

[Santilli]

SF offers sex change operations for city employees.

Anything to get people to take what the mil pays, and work for the armed forces, and, this will help surgeons who make jack in the mil, have a viable skill when they get out.

I LIKE the fact that our tax dollars are actually going to someone's benefit in the US, vs. others.

Wonderful. It's the first time in awhile I've felt good about taxes.
Now, if I was young enough to enlist...
s

 

[CougTek]

Sorry for dragging this OT, Coug.

I don't mind, although I don't share your view on the poor people.

I come back from watching Farenheit 9/11. Let's just say that the way poor people, their youngs especially, are being exploited in your country, I wouldn't mind to give them some compensation in the form of welfare. I'm still against breast pumping though.

 

[Clocker]

Sorry for dragging this OT, Coug.

I don't mind, although I don't share your view on the poor people.

I come back from watching Farenheit 9/11. Let's just say that the way poor people, their youngs especially, are being exploited in your country, I wouldn't mind to give them some compensation in the form of welfare. I'm still against breast pumping though.

Coug- As with all media, you can't believe everything you see or read. Keep that in mind when watching Michael Moore's 'work'.

http://www.mooreexposed.com/

As far as my 'view on the poor people' goes...I don't have one. I do have views on those people (the 'rich' or the 'poor') who are lazy and not willing to do anything to help themselves, however.