Who cares if Solders Die, I pay them!

This is a comment of a so called Sri Lankan (I have no way of knowing, but I took it off the comment page of indi.ca)

…you walk the streets of Colombo because some anonymous solider sacrificed his life to stop a terrorist from spreading his terror…

This is a myth that many continue to propagate.

Yes, it is true that anonymous soldier takes an enormous risk for protecting me, but I PAY ENOUGH for that. So he is NOT doing any favours to me.

Lets us see how.

Military today are among the highest paid, in terms of salary and privileges compared to their qualifications.

Entry level salary 25k +
Special privileges that no other government employee receives.
Compensation in case of death of disability
Pension after 10 years in job.
In case of death, full salary paid to wife and children till the death of wife and children become 21 years.
Posthumous promotions

Can you tell me which other job provides this kind of return for just GCE A/L qualifications? Probably MPs, but not anyone else.

Not that I say it is wrong. That is the price we pay for our security.

Now let us see how I pay.

About 20% of my earnings goes to state through PAYE.
About 12% of my earnings goes to state through indirect TAX (VAT = 15%, just take 3% out because there are few tax free goods)
Depending upon the rate more than 20% of the earnings lost due to inflation and this gets added up at the state coppers, as indirect ‘inflationary tax’.

So how come you say that anonymous soldier does a favour for me, when I pay nearly 50% of my earnings to state? (bulk of them go for the war including salaries of the military) Nobody asked that anonymous soldier to join army. I am sure he knew the risk when he joined, but attracted by the perks of the job. Economically speaking he is just acting rational.

So I get security, he gets paid for it. No favours from any side.

If anybody does that service for me without a salary and privileges, I will be grateful. Otherwise I do not see any reason why I should be grateful for receiving services for what I pay through my nose.

I pity him/her since he/she lacks humanity and gratitude!