Poll of the Day > Trump says transgenders aren't allowed in the military, ok?

(+) Yeah! (+)

"After consultation with my generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military,” Mr. Trump wrote. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.

So, I'm no Trump supporter by any means. In fact, I think he's pretty much a piece of shit. But in this case I think he has a point. I think maybe he just should have worded it differently.

The few trans friends I have pay a stupid amount of money for medical upkeep after their transitioning, plus the amount they pay for medication is crazy. Both of them have good jobs, and they say it's worth the cost, so if they can afford it, more power to them, ok?

But looking to the gov't to take care of those costs is asking too much. Hell, most normal people with medical issues are released from service because it's more of a financial and physical burden than the military should have to handle, ok?
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How to comment without getting modded

Don't
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SmokeMassTree posted...

How to comment without getting modded

Don't

i mean, it's much more of logistical argument, not so much a social/civil rights one, ok?
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ZiggiStardust posted...

SmokeMassTree posted...

How to comment without getting modded

Don't

i mean, it's much more of logistical argument, not so much a social/civil rights one, ok?

,ok
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The military is spending too much money?

shadowsword87 posted...

The military is spending too much money?

Only on transgenders.
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It's a high cost for a very low (<1%) portion of the actual people serving, ok?
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How much?

It's actually only about like $30/month post-surgery for MtF, and $10/month for FtM for the medicine (double without healthcare).

Here's a link breaking it down even more:
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1530.html

Zangulus posted...

Lolol. Slurp slurp.

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shadowsword87 posted...

How much?

$1500 a year for hormone therapy.

For reference, it costs roughly $99,000 to employ a soldier annually.

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/transgender-operations-hormone-therapy-costs
https://www.veteransunited.com/money/cbo-report-shows-military-personnel-costs-spiraling-out-of-control/

Just the typical circus act, considering they're literally banned disregarding coverage from all aspects of the military, no deals worked out. There's no other way to put it than BS. That's not even taking into account the fact that there's going to be an insignificant number of transsexuals in the military anyway.
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Zangulus posted...

PyroBlade1985 posted...

Zangulus posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

It's a high cost for a very low (<1%) portion of the actual people serving, ok?

This is actually an even worse argument. Lolol. Slurp slurp. Do you get yours from the tap or bottled?

Why are you mad?

I'm... not. But of course you won't ever believe that now that you've simple mindedly accused me of such.

This definitely sounds likr something a mad person would say tho

Damn Zang is burning up with righteous indignation at the suffering of our transgender brothers and sisters.

Also I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm pretty sure Trump just did it to win some more points with his hateful base though.

God forbid a transgender person be allowed to serve their country. Absolutely absurd. Trump is an idiot.
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The average cost for a male-to-female surgery is about $17,000. Adding in a cost of about $1000 for therapy, $1500 for hormones, and $500 for doctors visits and lab tests, the cost to transition averages about $20,000 over a two year transition period.

I would actually be ok with not covering the full surgery itself, but the medicine, doctors visits and therapy are not that costly compared to other medication. So I don't really see a reason to single trans out.
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CountessRolab posted...

God forbid a transgender person be allowed to serve their country. Absolutely absurd. Trump is an idiot.

my reaction would be the same, especially if they're still patriotic enough after the harassment they endure from trump and his office of assholes, ok?

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.
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ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753
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RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/73d_fcmM3B8/maxresdefault.jpg

RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

Hey now boners are very important!

Honestly I don't think about it as a cost thing as much as they want their soldiers to be in a reliable mental state and well transgenders aren't always the most stable folk.

KevinceKostner posted...

Honestly I don't think about it as a cost thing as much as they want their soldiers to be in a reliable mental state and well transgenders aren't always the most stable folk.

Yeah I kinda feel like they're just dancing around coming out and saying this

RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

I came to post about this

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/The-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-Viagra-11437361.php

"The implication is that even in the most extreme scenario that we were able to identify . . . we expect only a 0.13-percent ($8.4 million out of $6.2 billion) increase in health care spending," Rand's authors concluded.

By contrast, total military spending on erectile dysfunction medicines amounts to $84 million annually, according to an analysis by the Military Times - 10 times the cost of annual transition-related medical care for active duty transgender servicemembers.
The military spends $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, according to the Military Times analysis - roughly five times the estimated spending on transition-related medical care for transgender troops.

Remember when Trump said he'd fight for LGBT people?

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/742771576039460864

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trumps-past-statements-lgbt-rights/story?id=48858527

KevinceKostner posted...

Honestly I don't think about it as a cost thing as much as they want their soldiers to be in a reliable mental state and well transgenders aren't always the most stable folk.

POTUS came out and said it was a cost issue. He doesn't really filter himself. If that were the concern, I'm sure he would have said it
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ZiggiStardust posted...

CountessRolab posted...

God forbid a transgender person be allowed to serve their country. Absolutely absurd. Trump is an idiot.

my reaction would be the same, especially if they're still patriotic enough after the harassment they endure from trump and his office of assholes, ok?

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Then remove sex change surgeries from the list of benefits? Outright banning trans people is discriminatory, and the cost excuse is a thinly veiled sham.
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I'm sure all 2 trannies who want to enlist to shoot some brown kids are heartbroken
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good now they don't have to die in war thank you donald trump for saving lives
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RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

Without the viagra, how can they maintain erections to assault the female officers?
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Quoted from 261:

Genericgamer667 posted...

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/trump-transgender-military-ban-behind-the-scenes-240990

After a week sparring with his attorney general and steaming over the Russia investigation consuming his agenda, President Donald Trump had one thing to look forward to this week.

House Republicans were planning to pass a spending bill stacked with his campaign promises, including money to build his border wall with Mexico.

But an internal House Republican fight over transgender troops was threatening to blow up the bill. And House GOP insiders feared they might not have the votes to pass the legislation because defense hawks wanted a ban on Pentagon-funded sex-change operations — something GOP leaders wouldn’t give them.

They turned to Trump, who didn’t hesitate. In the flash of a tweet, he announced that transgender troops would be banned altogether.

Trump’s sudden decision was, in part, a last-ditch attempt to save a House proposal full of his campaign promises that was on the verge of defeat, numerous congressional and White House sources said.

The president had always planned to scale back President Barack Obama-era policies welcoming such individuals in combat and greenlighting the military to pay for their medical treatment plans. But a behind-the-scenes GOP brawl threatening to tank a Pentagon funding increase and wall construction hastened Trump’s decision.

Numerous House conservatives and defense hawks this week had threatened to derail their own legislation if it did not include a prohibition on Pentagon funding for gender reassignment surgeries, which they deem a waste of taxpayer money. But GOP leaders were caught in a pinch between those demands and moderate Republicans who felt the proposal was blatantly discriminatory.

“There are several members of the conference who feel this really needs to be addressed,” said senior House Appropriations Committee member Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) on Tuesday. “This isn’t about the transgender issue; it’s about the taxpayer dollars going to pay for the surgery out of the defense budget."

That’s why House lawmakers took the matter to the Trump administration. And when Defense Secretary James Mattis refused to immediately upend the policy, they went straight to the White House. Trump — never one for political correctness — was all too happy to oblige.

“[P]lease be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

The president’s directive, of course, took the House issue a step beyond paying for gender reassignment surgery and other medical treatment. House Republicans were never debating expelling all transgender troops from the military.

"This is like someone told the White House to light a candle on the table and the WH set the whole table on fire,” said one senior House Republican aide. The source said that while GOP leaders asked the White House for help, they weren't expecting — and got no heads up on — Trump's far-reaching directive.

While Democrats and centrist Republicans are already blasting the move, one White House official said the decision would be "seen as common-sense" by millions — though likely vociferously protested by others.

"It's not the worst thing in the world to have this fight," the administration official said.

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I'd rather pay for sex reassignments then a useless wall he's turned into a phallic representation of his presidency.
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He is just stating this so he has an out if a war starts and he is expected to participate.

But...but....I think I should be a woman!!!
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wolfy42 posted...

He is just stating this so he has an out if a war starts and he is expected to participate.

But...but....I think I should be a woman!!!

It's too early to have the dumbest post of the day.
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Veedrock- posted...

wolfy42 posted...

He is just stating this so he has an out if a war starts and he is expected to participate.

But...but....I think I should be a woman!!!

It's too early to have the dumbest post of the day.

It's a joke (obviously past presidents can not be drafted).

But whatever. I already know I could never make it as a comedian :(

Would that I could.
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CountessRolab posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

CountessRolab posted...

God forbid a transgender person be allowed to serve their country. Absolutely absurd. Trump is an idiot.

my reaction would be the same, especially if they're still patriotic enough after the harassment they endure from trump and his office of assholes, ok?

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Then remove sex change surgeries from the list of benefits? Outright banning trans people is discriminatory, and the cost excuse is a thinly veiled sham.

But then they'd say they're hand-picking what certain demographics can and can't get. It's going to be seen as discriminatory either way, this is just the route that is cheaper, which is what the dept of defense should strive for right now, ok?
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ClaudiaSAirola posted...

RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

Without the viagra, how can they maintain erections to assault the female officers?

I think the viagra issue is more for vets who suffer from PTSD... one of the more widespread symptoms of which can be loss of erection.
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ZiggiStardust posted...

SmokeMassTree posted...

How to comment without getting modded

Don't

i mean, it's much more of logistical argument, not so much a social/civil rights one, ok?

If it was a logistical argument, they could have done the obvious thing and said "the military will not pay for your transition", which is what most of the conservative advisors related to the armed forces were recommending in the first place.

There's no logistical rationale for a flat-out ban.
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darkknight109 posted...

If it was a logistical argument, they could have done the obvious thing and said "the military will not pay for your transition", which is what most of the conservative advisors related to the armed forces were recommending in the first place.

There's no logistical rationale for a flat-out ban.

see my post to rolab.
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RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

So if the whole army became trans, would they save money because they wouldn't need boner pills?
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TheWorstPoster posted...

whoa... and you report me for making cartoons of you...
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OhhhJa posted...

KevinceKostner posted...

Honestly I don't think about it as a cost thing as much as they want their soldiers to be in a reliable mental state and well transgenders aren't always the most stable folk.

Yeah I kinda feel like they're just dancing around coming out and saying this

Except for the part where there are already regular physical and mental health exams to ensure that soldiers are in good condition, courtesy of the fact that people who are in immediate danger of dying every day for several months at a time also tend to have some mental stability issues. The infrastructure is already in place to decide on an individual basis which people aren't in fighting condition; there's no need to implement any sort of blanket ban like this that will exclude people who would be perfectly capable of fighting.

wolfy42 posted...

He is just stating this so he has an out if a war starts and he is expected to participate.

But...but....I think I should be a woman!!!

He's already dodged a draft on the basis of other medical issues, so I doubt that's it.

RCtheWSBC posted...

ZiggiStardust posted...

but the cost is still too high to accommodate these people.

Cost of trans medical care in military: $2.4-8.4 million est.
Cost the military already spends on boner pills: $84.2 million

https://mobile.twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/890235111236554753

And I thought trivializing the $2-8 million figure by placing it alongside the $49 billion currently spent on military health care was effective. A 10% drop in military viagra coverage would completely cover trans medical costs. That's pretty hilarious.

Quite simply, this boils down to Trump waking up and deciding he needed to do something to please his bible-thumping fanbase. There's really no reason to do this, except to make the "hurr I hate the trans people" folks happy.
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I wouldn't be surprised if all this gender identity stuff is an intentional distraction from the fact that the U.S. spends more on their military than the next 8 countries combined (which includes China and Russia).
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adjl posted...

Quite simply, this boils down to Trump waking up and deciding he needed to do something to please his bible-thumping fanbase.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/890260758050856961

he's pandering hard today
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yeah this was the first thing i read today and it gave me a beaming smile

God bless Emperor Trump, this is the right decision.
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