Gee That's a Funny GI Bill

[davidswanson]

Something called the "GI Bill" passed both houses of Congress with large majorities in recent weeks. It really would provide educational benefits to veterans, but it's not a bill. It's an amendment. It could be introduced as a bill, pass again with large majorities, and probably even override a veto. Or it could die from repeated vetoes after being passed repeatedly, a goal the Democrats have treated as their ideal dream outcome for all sorts of other bills over the past year and a half. Of course, even if the GI amendment is signed into law, the current president may eliminate it with a "signing statement."

Senator Jim Webb (Dem., Va.) introduced the "GI Bill" as an independent bill on his first day in office, but there is no plan to pass it and send it to the president as an independent bill. The GI Amendment in its current form can only be passed or become law along with another piece of legislation, one that would dump two-thirds of a trillion dollars (plus interest payments to China) into occupying Iraq for another year, thereby creating tens of thousands of severely injured veterans, and thereby swamping the new educational program with many more veterans than it will be funded to handle.

The perversity of this is not lost of Webb. He openly supports it. Webb favors funding an extended occupation in Iraq, in order to fund veterans education along with it. He voted Yes on war funding last week in a separate vote that did not include the veterans' money, because he wants to pass both things together. Here's how perverse this is:

1. For what Webb supports spending on occupying Iraq, we could make college in the United States free to everyone for many years to come, not just for certain veterans.

2. Making college less expensive for some thousands of veterans can hardly justify killing some other thousands of soldiers, killing tens of thousands of Iraqis, and seriously injuring hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Americans, even if the proposal were not denying us free universal higher education.

3. A measure worth 1.6 percent of the funding being voted on should not dominate the debate. Rather, the other 98.4 percent of the funding under consideration (in other words the war money) ought to be seen as the larger item.

4. While we all want to care for veterans, many of us would like to care for non-veterans too, and nobody has asked our unborn great grandchildren what they are willing to be indebted to China in order to pay for.

5. The biggest help anyone could give to members of the US military would be to stop funding the occupation of Iraq and get them home. Rather than opposing this point, Webb argues for it, painting himself as a "critic" of the same war he funds. Yet he insists on funding it for the sake of passing along with it that 1.6 percent of funding for veterans, funding that will never begin to keep up with the flow of veterans whom Webb is condemning to lives of horror and pain, brain injury and PTSD, amputation and disfigurement, poverty and premature death.

So, where do things stand? The House voted No on the war money, yes on the "GI Bill," and yes on some silly non-binding "timeline" nonsense. The Senate voted yes on the war money and yes on the "GI Bill." The House is expected to vote next week, more than likely on exactly what passed the Senate.

In the previous war money vote in the House, 147 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted No, while some other Republicans voted "present." Only 141 voted Yes, so it failed. If the vote on the war money this time around includes the relatively microscopic veterans funding in the same vote, some truly nasty Republicans will vote No out of opposition to the veterans funding, but some other Democrats and Republicans who might have voted No will vote Yes, using the "GI Bill" as cover.

We need to pressure every member of the House right now to vote No on war money no matter what else is attached to it.

[babylonsister]

1. David, do you agree with the GI Bill that Webb introduced or don't you?

Should McCain get a free pass? I know, we need to end this illegal occupation, but I'm reminded of baby steps. Now you're rejecting what the vets have been fighting for? Huh?

[davidswanson]

3. as a separate bill sure

but that's not the plan - the plan is a baby step forward and a mammouth genocidal leap backwards - do you support that or not?

[davidswanson]

4. why do i hate america?

i don't want to keep the occupation going in iraq just to spite the idiot who wants to keep it going for a million years - i don't see how that would work or consider it relevant

mccain is a member of a fringe minority party

webb is a member of a majority party elected to end the occupation and maneuvering to keep it going so well that he's got you playing along - i can't imagine a bigger crime

[Kajsa]

22. Seems like the needs of the returning vets

who sustain major physical and physiological injuries
in war,

are very secondary here.

:(

[kas125]

2. I don't think I can meet with my congressman one more time

and remain civil. The guy won't listen. On May 1st when we were supposed to ask them to vote no to the funding we had an Iraq veteran with us. He wouldn't listen to the veteran either. His excuse was, "They took those kids to war without body armor. Do you really expect me to trust them not to just abandon them over there if we don't give them the money?" It is infuriating listening to his litany of excuses for leaving criminals in charge for the umpteenth time and I don't think I can do it again without becoming a screaming lunatic.

but I'll try...

[TheMadMonk]

6. I know it's unlikely, but perhaps that is as close as he dares...

...come to saying that is exactly what the current admin has threatened. "Kill the funding and we'll keep them there anyway." Along with an unvoiced "We'll just pardon each other and retire to Paraguay."

edited to add: Have that meeting and ask him directly if any such threat has been made.

[otherlander]

32. They can't go to Paraguay anymore.

Paraguay got a new administration that our government hates.

[psychmommy]

5. k & r

let's get our kids out of iraq alive!

[pattmarty]

7. What we have to concentrate on after the election in November...

....is (assuming we have the blow out I believe we will) to get more liberal Dems to run in the primaries in 2010. I think what is behind this post and in general among us here, is moving the party "back" (that sounds funny coming from a liberal) to the ideas of FDR. The PR problem is how to articulate it as a new direction, something like the Republicans "contract on America" (I know, bad example). I believe we have the money to do a lot of things in this country and pay down the deficit also, if we re-arrange our priorities.

[davidswanson]

8. fine but

if we don't communicate our demand for No votes THIS WEEK, the war will be funded well into the next emperor's rule

[pattmarty]

17. I agree in principle, but I think we're screwed at this point.......

........I believe MOST votes taken in both houses until a Dem takes over in Jan will be meaningless and highly partisan. Our real work will be when the new president and congress takes office after the 1st of the year. I think we will be able to get some real good legislation thru next year just with a Dem majority. WE ALL KNOW that there are a lot of conservative Dems in office that will have to be "convinced" to go in a progressive way. The worm has turned and I believe The majority of people WANT actual progressive change ie health care, re-regulation of certain industries and business, and a huge change in our foreign policy.

[mac2]

19. We've tried that for almost eight years.

When they do go to DC they "negotiate" with the globalists. Globalists can be Dems or Repubs. They don't give a damn about the Vets or our country. They send the bill to our children and spend like "drunken sailors".

I'm beginning to think the Dem globalists in the party are stealing elections for themselves. Not supporting Progressive Dems at all in any state.

[pattmarty]

25. Well, I think you're going to deep past my original thought...........

.............of getting ALL the Congressional people to support "peoples" rights & issues, then by that time we will have solved the problem you have bought up. Problem is, you have to go in small steps at "our" (hopefully) control of the government. FIRST OF ALL, there is an awful lot of things to "correct" even before you can go forward to legislate things to benefit EVERYONE.

[Dystopian]

9. K&R thank you, David

You've been providing us with a wealth of information.
peace~

[lonestarnot]

10. How does one study, listen, think, write with tramatic brain injury or PTSD?

[Kajsa]

14. Excellent question, lonestarnot.

It's one that needs to be answered.

[davidswanson]

15. yes

please ask jim webb and nancy pelosi and john murtha

[Kajsa]

20. Or ,how about asking you, David?

How are they suppose to receive much need support services
if this bill doesn't pass?

The existing GI Bill covers a fraction of the actual
costs of rehab and educational services.

[davidswanson]

28. if you're going to insist on calling it a bill

then make it a bill and pass it, watch bush refuse to enforce it, and bitch about it

i'm with you

you may have noticed that i pointed out that it's actually an amendment

you may even have noticed why that's a problem

[KSinTX]

11. Indeed David, you're right

I realize that in past the Democrats were under pressure to keep funding the war in hopes of gaining enough seats to actually override some vetoes. However at this stage they should feel fairly safe in doing their part to wind this war down and starting to defund it. The Republicans are feeling the impact of their need to re-brand and support of this fiasco doesn't fit it any longer.

[bluerum]

12. They have all conceded that 3/4 of a trillion $'s is needed to stay in Iraq for another year.

The education piece is kind of like slapping lipstick on a pig.

But why shouldn't this (item 1 in the OP) be a long term goal for any super power type first world nation? Why should our country aspire to perpetual war instead of perpetual education?

Am I just a honky liberal idealist or is this within the realm of possibility -

1. For what Webb supports spending on occupying Iraq, we could make college in the United States free to everyone for many years to come, not just for certain veterans.

The fact that 98.4% of the money appropriations are for continuing war efforts - more weapons, no-bid support contracts, off the book back alley payoffs, vehicles, private (Black Water) security and everything else to make the corpo's fat rich and happy is bad enough. The real slap in the face to the soldiers is that a drop in the ocean, 1.6% goes toward actually improving their lot.

The real knife in the back is that after soldiers come home, after they help enrich the corpo's. by fighting a war for them, the corpo's want to throw them enough education so that they can be useful serving/working for the same corpo's that sent them to war.

Finally, in 15 - 20 years these war vets will be able to watch their own kids go through the same cycle.

[mac2]

21. Globalists don't care about budgets.

They are out to destroy democracy by bankrupting us and destroying our military. Follow the money.

When things get nasty they have money/power to leave. Where will they go and be safe is my question to them? We go down together.

[rucognizant]

24. STOP!

SUPPORTING the CORPORATIONS!
Example........ Here in Maine a paper company is closing and laying off 208 workers, because of the high price of fuel.
Yet if you print something off the Internet in Microsoft, you get 1 or 2 extra pages with just a header or footer.
My Mac gives me the option of a print version, eliminating all the frills. Or I can copy & paste it into Appleworks. WHich no longer comes installed with MAc ( since Jobs ran into $ problems & Gates bought a lot of shares.) My new Mac came installed with Microsoft Works ( IWorks)
a terrible inflexible, program! For ONLY $500. I could have paid to keep it! ( I didn't, the Appleworks only cost $59.00)
How I became aware that billCLinton wasn't running things the way I thought he should be............The Corporations made giant strides in taking control oof my life ( what I can or can't eat for dinner! can't get much more personal than that. I lost 80% of my customary diet in the 90's. ( I'm a demographic anomaly, so now I have to eat what everyone else is eating, no choice!) Hate pizza & Mexican food!
JUST REFUSE TO BUY THEIR CRAP!
I bought a moccason kit at a Michaels.........Before I stitch them together I willuse them as a pattern for others. Those hard plastic soles with outriggers ( standard sneakers) are hideous! They divorce, disengage, separate your foot from the earth & from your body! You CANNOT move gracefully wearing them ( disclaimer: My Great Grandfather was a Native American!)

[bluerum]

26. The Andromeda Strain aired in my area last night. Besides the movies

attempt at political statement, I saw a Viagra ad run just before a birth control pill ad. They were followed up by some goofy ad for milkshakes and fries from some local fast poison outlet.

The corpo's have a very strong foothold.

[mac2]

35. I agree and I'm a Scottish/German/Irish American

Those sneakers are so heavy I walk like a duck in them. Flap, flap, flap as I move across the floor in any public situation. They are so hot and ugly too. Since I was on my feet a lot in my career, I have fallen metatarsal arches. Try and find good support for them in shoes.

I see a lot of older people moving very slowly. Their feet are killing them. As we age we lose that padding in our feet. Yet they don't talk about that at the foot doctors, etc. They charge a fortune for special arches (which aren't special at all but look like they were purchased at the local drug store). My feel still kill me.

Isn't it amazing how everything is so "special" since it is hot with peppers, etc. I hate hot peppers. I hate salty pizza and artery clogging cheese on pizza too. I cry over hot spaghetti sauce let alone pepper and "heat" things. Guess it is my bland eating habits learned in childhood...or genetics.

I love Mexican design, music, and dance. I love Native American design and jewelry!!

[slipslidingaway]

13. Excellent and thank you, last year it was the minimum wage

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3337145&mesg_id=3344218


Congress Passes Increase in the Minimum Wage - May 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/washington/25wage.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

"...By a vote of 348 to 73, the House approved the measure as part of a deal on Iraq spending. Less than two hours later, the wage increase was approved in the Senate, where it was combined with a bill providing more money for the Iraq war. That vote was 80 to 14...

After the bill is signed, the wage increase will become the first item in the “Six for ’06” agenda of the new Congressional Democratic leadership to become law...

The minimum wage was an important sweetener for Democrats in dealing with the larger package, which includes money for the military in Iraq and Afghanistan and which had been delayed by a partisan battle over imposing a timetable to reduce troop levels in Iraq..."

[davidswanson]

16. exactly

they're still bragging about it and padding a few questionable items in to create a "list" of accomplishments

sadly, the expense of the war, the debt, and the price of oil have undone any positive benefit

[slipslidingaway]

23. It would be great if someone could write about all the excuses

for voting on the more important pieces of legislation that were passed.

One example...Lautenberg & Menendez both said they voted for the MCA so there would be some justice (trials) for 9/11 hijackers.

:shrug:

Sorry, did not mean to stray too much from the OP and realize there will be times when some sort of compromise is necessary, although there are times when the compromises go too far and should be addressed.

[davidswanson]

29. good

idea

[slipslidingaway]

33. With credit to autorank and Kucinich...

also a kick.

:)

As for the current bill and my Rep. he will get in line with the administration and the Repub party.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3337145&mesg_id=3343153

"The varieties of political excuses ...
Edited on Mon May-26-08 04:05 PM by autorank
Someone should write that, sounds like an "Atlantic Monthly" article.

Yep, always some b.s. - sorry, but - gets a bit tedious at times, particularly when they're ruining the country, as they're prone to do."


I know Dennis was speaking of impeachment, but the same idea can be applied to the excuses as well.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080106_a_conversation_with_dennis_kucinich


"Kucinich: There has to come a moment of awareness.....

If people see the whole thing at once, it then creates a kind of awareness that will create some change. I have no doubt about that at all, none whatsoever. What's happened is that people just see bits and pieces and it is never being tied together..."

[Joe Chi Minh]

31. It's difficult to credit. For some reason, I'd assumed he was one of the

good guys. It beggars belief.

[mac2]

18. "Present" is a cowardly way to represent your district.

Dems have done it in the past too. The Congressional frat group are being found out.

[NM Independent]

27. Doing anything except...

for getting our guys out RESPONSIBLY - which is advised by nearly all military and diplomatic experts in favor of pulling out - is going to kill the Dems chances of gaining and keeping control.

Yes, I know that patience to do it right is going to cost lives. In my opinion it is worth it to keep the damn pugs out of power for a long time. IF we can end this without significant loss of life (as in Vietnam), without ensuing genocide, and with a somewhat peaceful Iraq and a stable ME, then the Dems will hold power for a LONG time.

The future and destiny of this nation is at great risk. Yes, the lives of our men are worth giving up to get this once great nation back in the hands of the true patriots that dearly love it.

When they get home, they deserve an education, and as far as I'm concerned, anybody who is against it (for any reason) can go suck it. No offense.

[davidswanson]

30. the concern for ensuing genocide

is more powerful when accompanied by concern for the current genocide

[mac2]

34. The returning GIs always had it. Did it get lost some where

in the budget process?

[dreamnightwind]

36. say no to this GI Bill, and enough with the military already

Excellent post. I am concerned about the lack of awareness of the path we're heading down.

Funding returning vets' education looks good on the surface. They sacrificed, they should be rewarded by society. But we need to look at this a little closer.

As higher education gets more expensive, and the rich-poor divide grows, what options are there for a poor family to educate its family's children? Well, their kids can go fight in whatever the latest transnational resource grab is, and when (actually IF) they return, we'll educate them. No good, we need to give them ways to get an education that don't include signing up for these wars.

I've also heard the discussions about using military service as a path to citizenship for immigrants. That one really makes my hair stand on end. We'll be attracting poor people from latin american to come here and fight for these unjust causes (and no doubt some of these wars will be waged against their own people in places like Venezuela, Ecuador, etc), and then we'll educate them, when and if they return. So the fascist state gets its soldiers from wherever there are poor people who would kill, literally, for a chance at arriving in the promised land (the U.S.) with a pre-paid college education and citizenship.

Support for the vets looks like an easy "yes", but we have to look at the whole system, what kind of machine are we setting up here? A killing machine, controlled by corporate interests, and used not for national defense but for offensive wars and suppression of anti-corporate labor movements? Not for me. How about an independent, educated and informed electorate?

Also, this will no doubt offend many military and ex-military on here, but it needs to be said: when people are in the military, they undergo some pretty thorough mind control and social programming. The vast majority of vets I've known have never broken free of this programming. They still think in a military mindset. The programming happens at a young and impressionable age, and is in there deep. They raise their kids with this model. They think in linear cause-and-effect control paths instead of seeing organic systems. They tend to too easily support future military actions. And they see things in terms of killing bad guys, a very dangerous, simplistic, and self-fulfilling way to look at the world.

So, even when vets return and are integrated back into civil society, most of them will have a militarized world-view and will see every situation through that prism.

We need to deconstruct this monster, not feed it more. It is way out of control, and this fact should override any political considerations such as "this is a way for dems to stay in power". If that's how we stay in power, it's not worth it.