News | /2008/04/23/

Curious. In the Philippines, life expectancy for men is 65. Only 4.2% of the population is over 65 years old. Most of these are women. Yet, here we are told 15% of this veteran group 18,000/120,000 are over 82 years old. Remarkable. Sounds like a lot of money is going ot be sent to ghosts.

Why are we trying to give out a pension for less than 20 years of service. The American soldiers, marines and sailors from that war don't get pensions. The same standard that is applied to American vets should be applied to the Filipino vets. NO MORE or No less. One could argue that when the Phillipines earned their independence from America that the debt was also discharged. It's too bad Akaka doesn't work for the benefit of all Americans. He is well noted for working for special interest groups but not the public as a whole.

Why are we trying to take care of non United States residents?! That's the whole problem with the US we take care of everyone else except the US!

Forget their benefits take care of our soldiers first! What is Senator Akaka thinking, hey how about taking care of us too?!

Glad Perry noted the data. Note the folloing data posted yesterday:

"The Senators present after the picture hanging will continue consideration of the motion to proceed to a bill which would extend pension benefits to Filipino citizens who fought in the U.S. Army in World War II (S. 1315) Note: to extend benefits to means "take away money from" benefits for American vets" to fund bureaucrats administering a program allegedly for WWII Filipino adult citizens (vets) who fought 63 years ago with American forces to retake their own country. The life expectancy of a male Filipino born in 1955 (10 years after the war) was only 46 years. It was less for those males born between 1920-1928 years (the average birth years for a Filipino serving with American forces). In 2000, the average life expectancy for males was 64.65 years. As of 1988 records, there was less than 1.5 % of the population who were males over 65 years (1,232,813). And the very few of these could have served during WWII. Most were children (not men)."

http://arkansasgopwing.blogspot.com/2008/04/t...

Honor is what makes the U.S. great! Mcarthur made the commitment, honor it!

promises promises...

Participation in a conflict does not get you a retirement/pension. Those in the Philippines that fought alongside the Americans deserve care related to injuries sustained in that conflict but not a pension. American soldiers must SERVE 20 years to get a pension. Home means America, Hawaii's Senators care more for political gain and have no National pride or allegiance. Care for War injuries of these soldiers from long ago but unless they meet the same requirements as an American to be eligible for a pension they do not deserve it, they have not earned it, and should not get it.

These prople were promised U.S. citizenship back in the 1940's ,they helped win the war! whats the problem.