The new austerity: Let's cut soldiers' pay!

Let's get a handle on our spending. We'll hire hundreds of thousands of people to sit on their a$$es in new federal jobs, pay them 40% more than the private sector and then we'll cut soldiers' pay to make up the difference! Yeah! 

For example, the military brass claims that an average sergeant in the Army with four years of service and one dependent would receive $52,589 in annual compensation, according to the paper. This figure includes basic pay, housing, and subsistence allowances, as well as tax benefits. 

Meanwhile, a U.S. postal letter carrier, with no supervisory or hazardous duty, makes approximately $80,000 a year when all benefits are factored in.