Saturday, November 15, 2003

Yes... our right-wing government clearly does not support our troops: From Polizeros: National Guard pay delayed, denied GAO report: 94 percent of those in six units had pay problems ...One sergeant, who wanted his identity concealed, said when his unit was in Afghanistan chasing al-Qaida terrorists, every single soldier had pay problems — mostly late or missing checks.        “It was very frustrating,” explained the sergeant, “it distracted you from the job at hand.… You have to worry about whether your family has enough food on the table.”... ... “They were being told they weren’t entitled to certain health care benefits, in spite of their injuries,” explained Shays. “I mean, there’s no one in the military who justifies that, but it’s shocking that it could happen.”... ....In one Colorado unit, soldiers had their checks docked, to pay off $48,000 each in debt they did not owe. "They were mad, and they still are," insists Sgt. Blair Donaldson of the Colorado Air National Guard, "and justifiably so."... ....Wednesday night the Pentagon said only that it’s aware of the problem, agrees with the report, and is working to fix the system. As a computer consultant and programmer I find this beyond bizarre. This is not some little glitch in the payroll system, this is a monumental screw-up. The first rule of computer programming for businesses or governments is, every other computer program can malfunction, but the payroll program must always work perfectly. Always always always. Because you will have furious employees if you don't. As the Pentagon is learning.[Politics in the Zeros]   1:40:26 AM