Yep, that's happening.

I think some elected representatives needed to put a stop to this. And since they didn't, they need to get voted out. This is criminal bs.

I think issues like this come up when some droog taps a key on their computer and information comes up that some other droog was supposed to delete. Like when you tell a call center caller to take you off their list and they say they will and then the next day you get a call at the same time from another from the same call center. Cable/phone companies are notorious for this (curse you Centurylink!). 'Elected representatives' do pass laws saying 'don't do this' and then they pass the orders on to....bureaucrats to execute the laws. Viscous cycle. I agree that this particular issue is crap; perhaps the best solution would to be for the service members to keep the bonuses and for the department who made the mistake to pay the department that paid the money. But can I hear a "f**k all that will happen!"?

The problem is wage garnishments have begun as well as IRS type leins. This could be gone in a matter of hours with an executive order.

This is one thing you can't blame on Obama. The truth is America has a weak presidential system. Presidents can't just shoot bolts out of their fingers to solve problems. It's a rough issue that needs some long-term reform plumbing to unclog, although it would be nice to see a delay in repayments until all avenues are explored. I suspicion from all the media coverage that the (righteous) outrage will have a positive effect.

LOL man, I didn't blame Obama, but universally everyone seems to be in agreement that this is a legitimate executive order situation, or at the very least pardonable. Drop your defenses and join in the call to get this outrageous fail resolved. I would be screaming just as loudly no matter who was in office.

Props. I do find it an outrageous fail. I do think it needs to be resolved - perhaps with an executive order as you say, I'm not clear on the gov't procedures - but in the long-term there needs to be reform for the issue. The problem is in the bureaucracy. I can use a personal example: my father was in the Army, and when he had health issues recently it took a long time to get in to see a doctor at a VA hospital (this subject was all over the news a few years back). But when he finally plowed through the bureaucratic muck he's getting great service. The issue isn't whole departments as much as the bureaucrats that guard their domains by slowing the process.

I agree with you Ken, we aren't as far apart on some things as you may think. I live in Arizona, where they were letting veterans die waiting to see their doctor. Bureaucracies are not efficient or well run. Huge bureaucracies such as the VA are even worse. Veterans SHOULD get the best care available and if that care isn't through VA hospitals, then a voucher system should be in place. All of that being said, the VA is the reason I am so strongly against legislation such as Obama care. (Not that I want to venture away from the discussion on this topic.)

Yeah, an Obamacare slugfest is for another time. :) All people SHOULD get the best care available, but yes, when your country hires you to perhaps die and indeed to be trained to kill against the impulse of human nature, then you should get full consideration by the country's government when you need help. The bonus issue, of course is the best, or worst, example of misspent mind power in the service of bureaucracy.

Vouchers can be dangerous though. I am not against them in all cases, but like the problem with Social Security where a program that was intended to be insurance in case of job loss turned into a pension, vouchers can be turned around by vested interests to go from money best applied by choice into an expected benefit. The same bureaucracy that screwed up the bonuses and health care can easily bugger something like that.

Of no immediate accord to what we're discussing but what has caught my eye in this stream and in other political streams this season: those - again not you - who see what they consider wrongs, and instead of discussing like we did what a remedy might be, they call for prosecution and jailing (what became of presumption of innocence?) of the 'offenders'. This is more indicative of an authoritarian or totalitarian mindset, beyond simple passion for the subject. This is not American, more like '30s-'40s Germany or 20th century Soviet Russia (or modern Russia for that matter).

There are currently 7 open petitions on petitions.whitehouse.gov about this. Such a thing would never happen if it happened to an elected official. Absolutely disgusting. I am so outraged by this. Those who could do something about it and do not should be prosecuted instead of being the favored candidate for election. How many more documents have we signed that will be retroactively invalidated? This sets up a very bad precedent.

Hey brother, how have you been? Haven't heard from you in a long time.

Totally agree with the above, btw!

Hard at work wrangling some new boots and teaching them the ways of mortars. How I'm doing depends on the outcome of the election. We'll revisit that in 2 weeks...