About BotB
Feb 10 2009
MOAA Online Help Center
MOAA members and registered guests can now access the Member Service Center’s Online Help Center by visiting here.
This Can’t Be True, Can It?
Every day in MOAA’s Member Service Center, we field hundreds of emails from members, spouses, enlisted personnel, and concerned citizens. A good portion of these messages are forwards that they received from mass mailings that they are either passing on the information or asking if there is any truth to the content. Although this has always been a large part of the MSC’s interaction with our members, the election of President Barack Obama has increased the volume of viral messaging dramatically.
What is Battle of the Bilge and What Should You Expect to See?
Consider BotB your fact brigade on all things military related (plus other issues if interesting enough). We will take what we receive from our members and sift through them to find new and old mass emails and run them through logic, source and history reviews to help you find out what is reliable and what is bilge. We will update this blog with a classic and a current bilge item weekly or whenever there are hot button issues and by special investigation requests. You can contact us when you receive something you’re not so sure about by emailing bilge@moaa.org
Why Are So Many Viral Emails Military Related?
The military community has always been an extremely integral part of American politics. Although not an overly significant statistical voting base, the influence of the community goes far beyond just numbers. A huge portion of our nation has someone in their family or group of friends that provide military service and are keen to follow issues affecting them closely. Conversely, political parties use military issues as steroids in patriotic hard ball. ‘Support the troops’ is not just a motto of the intelligent, it is a weapon of the ambitious cynic. Partisan forces use the American populace’s passion and integrity to spread falsehoods and influence elections.
There are a few other reasons that military issues are transmitted in email form in a disproportional fashion. The retired military community is one of the fastest growing group of inter net and email users, and the ability to efficiently share information on a broad scale makes any spark turn into an e-fire within days. The current political reality of Democratic control of the Presidency and Congress makes this phenomena even more prevalent given the traditionally conservative leanings of viral emails.
Preemptive Apology and Request for Discussion
While this blog is an attempt to dispel rumors and myths, and we will be making every attempt to remain non-partisan, these are by nature contentious issues. It is not our intention to offend anyone, and we welcome discussions and feedback. MOAA members are some of the most intelligent, worldly and experienced citizens in the nation, and there’s no telling how much influence we can collectively exert on the web to fight back against the spread of bilge.
You Can Help
Remember that forwarding a message you read but are unsure of without checking the available resources helps contribute to the Bilge. Help us battle it, and if you haven’t seen us write one of them up, email it to us here.
[...] are almost exclusively oriented towards military issues. You can find out more by clicking on BOTB and see some of their current postings. They do accept comments and appear to respond to them [...]
Any comments on the wave off at the National Cemetery in order for the CIC to enter the gate for the ceremony?
We’ll take a look and ask around. The article just posted today at http://patriotpost.us/ and is certainly full of anti-Obama rhetoric, but we’ll try to get some information from the VA and Arlington.
I just found your site today, and enjoy it. I’ll keep checking.
Has MOAA ever considered associate memberships or something for former EM ?
Why has no one compared the planned Universal Health Care which disabled veterans already have and it is out of money and is not properly caring for our disabled veterans??
The Universal Plan expects to add over 300 million more Americans and untold millions of illegal aliens to a system that is NOT working properly now. DUH !
In short, it is a failure before it is even passed…by a Congress cabal that does not want to be included in their grandiose scheme.
Sir,
I would like to direct your attention to the following articles regarding universal health care myths and their relation to military health care:
First, to address the question of illegal immigrants being eligible:
http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/08/the-health-care-email/
MOAA’s response to Health Care Reform:
http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/07/healthcareupdate/
A debunking of the most common health care/military veterans issues: http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/04/veteranshealthcare/
And the VA Death Book issue: http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/08/va-death-book-and-other-health-care-issues/
We are keeping our eyes on the HCR plan as closely as possible, and are making sure that the president holds to his promises: http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2009/08/obamavfwspeech/
Belief is rarely associated with truth, and minds generally don’t change. But facts are facts, and despite the rhetoric coming from opposition groups, veterans are being treated with no less respect or protection during this administration than previous ones.
I received a long email which sounds at least exagerated. The core paragraph is:
“We will all be taxed $150-$250 PER MONTH beginning in 2011 for the NEW Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act (CLASS Act) that was added to the Reconciliation Bill on Friday night, Mar 19, 2010, before
Congress voted on Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010. It will help pay for long-term home-care for the elderly.”
Is this the way you understand the CLASS Act?
Thanks for your effort to identify “bilge.”
Thanks for the question, Bob. The CLASS Act that was included as part of the health care reform reconciliation process. What the email message you cited failed to state is that it is an entirely volunteer Long Term Care insurance policy that would only cause increases in taxes if an employee chooses to participate. It is self funding. Unfortunately, that point was not included in what appears to be the source of the email, an editorial from The Washington Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/01/robbing-peter-to-pay-pauls-health-care/
Interesting (perhaps) that the piece was released on April 1st…
Here is the language of the bill (hope it helps):
Title VIII. Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act)
Establishing a Voluntary, Self-Funding Long-Term Insurance Choice for American Families
The Act provides Americans with a new option to finance long-term services and care in the event of a disability.
It is a self-funded and voluntary long-term care insurance choice. Workers will pay in premiums in order to receive a daily cash benefit if they develop a disability. Need will be based on difficulty in performing basic activities such as bathing or dressing. The benefit is flexible: it could be used for a range of community support services, from respite care to home care.
No taxpayer funds will be used to pay benefits under this provision. The program will actually reduce Medicaid spending, as people are able to continue working and living in their homes and not enter nursing homes. Safeguards will be put in place to ensure its premiums are enough to cover its costs.
Find out more at the White House website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titleviii
This item does not relate to the above conversation, but is definitely of great interest and concern to all homeowners which includes military. Can the Member Service Center confirm/validate this item that i have received emails about (but I no longer have them).
Allegedly in 2015 ( I think I have the date right) all homes in the US will have to be certified as meeting energy efficiency goals prior to being sold. If the requirements are not met, the house cannot be sold until it does. A government team will certify that the house has met all government efficiency requirements (which are to be determined prior to 2015). Thermal photos will be used to ensure that the efficiencies are there. This was supposedly in the America Recovery Act. I tried to find it a couple months ago, but what I read was very vague.
Thank you
Rudy Hansen
Captain, USAF, Retired