Actually Chris I think you missed my point, let me try it again, my point was that my pension was not GIVEN to me it was earned as a result of my meeting the criteria set down by the US Navy and the DoD. Had I not done that I would not have EARNED it and would therefor not be receiving it. I used the political anaology to show you that your ire should be directed to the Congress that makes the laws not those of us who protected you in order for you to exerise your rights to do so. I also hoped that you would see that when one earns something in this country through self sacrifice, and hard work, the things they receive are a result of that. However. lately that principle has changed because as I had said above about half of the country would want these things without having to work for them and thus the reason someone would see my pension and others like mine as some sort of gift from the Govt.