As a Veteran I must say this and hope it is taken in way meant

[SargeUNN]

I realize some may take this wrong and for those I am sorry you might miss my intent. I ask you to try to read this in the spirit it is offered although I am sure some will not and post their flame at me.

I have watched with interest and hope the awareness of our need to take care of our veterans made by Obama in his speech. I felt like maybe people would realize what a great idea it would be to make this a big goal and to draw attention to such things as the underfunded VA which here in Phoenix causes a veteran to have to wait 2 months to address a problem that is putting that veteran in such pain their mental attitude drops to a severe depression. The banish veterans such as Fabian which I have mentioned several times, the PTSD laden veterans, homeless veterans, veterans living many times below the poverty level, and so many other things we veterans have been cheated of. Sadly as I watched the comments about it the focus was on Bush not the veterans or the other issues brought up in the speech. Honestly, as a veteran I found it dishearting and now to the point of feeling insulted. I paid a pretty heavy price trying to do my duty to country and have felt for all that time as a one who traded in their regular citizen status to a second class citizen status. I had hoped the mention by Obama would trigger the importance of caring for our veterans that George Washington talked about. Sadly I fear we let Bush steal our moment again and those who ignore that part and dwell on the Bush reference are helping keep veterans as second class citizens. Please folks honor us enough to at least give us some attention when the opportunity is there. PLEASE!!

[JustAnotherGen]

1. You got it

Proud to be the daughter of a former Army Captain/Green Beret, exposed to agent orange who is now struggling with liver disease and diabetes.

Proud supporter of votevets.org.

I will never ever forget you, or any veteran of the US Military.

[Monique1]

4. I'm not a vet

but I support all vets. As I said before, our veterans are the forgotten Americans. Give your life or parts of your body - when you do, forget you, just go away. The attitude toward our vets must change. Vets are the strength of our country.

THANK YOU VETS! I respect and honor you all.

[liberalhistorian]

50. Please thank your father for me. It's not much, I know, but

please let him know that there are many, many of us who do not forget, and who are proud to support, veterans. My uncle served two tours in Vietnam and is now in the middle stages of Alzheimer's in only his early sixties. We don't really know if Agent Orange had anything to do with it, but it's really sad to see him deteriorate like that before he could even begin to enjoy any retirement.

I'm sorry your father has to endure what he's going through.

As for Alan screw-the-vets Simpson, gaahhh. Words cannot even express my total contempt and disgust for the man and, for that matter, anyone who feels the same. Actually, I could express it, but then I'd get a little visit from the PTB. Maybe Simpson and his ilk should give up THEIR cushy TAXPAYER FUNDED perks, benefits and golden parachutes, paid for by those whom they denigrate and who were willing to give their life or become disabled so that his chickenshit ass could be free.

[Jim Sagle]

2. Rec #5

:headbang:

[Loki]

3. My dad was Navy WWII

and I watched for years as he would sit in the dark when others would be out celebrating the Fourth of July because the exploding fireworks was too much for him to handle. My husband did his dental residency for two years at the Houston VA. I know the stress of family deployments because my aunt and uncle were career military. How have we come to this place? How can people like Alan Simpson denigrate the service of Viet Nam vets and say they are the cause of the drain on the VA system and why do we allow this by responding to this slur by silence? My dad's disdainful epithet for cowards who refused to serve was "chickenshit son of a bitch" and that pretty much encompasses the entire Bush Administration. When do we all stand up for what is right? I'm ready and it's time.

[Monique1]

6. You know what is sad?

Many people do not honor Veterans Day - it is a day off from work. Time for us to build up Veterans Day. To me Veterans Day is not just for those who died but those Vets who are suffering today.

[damonm]

7. THIS. Wish I could rec it.

[sarge43]

12. I wonder if Simpson has the cojones to go to a VA hospital

and tell the men and women there that they are a drain on the system.

Nah. Who am I kidding?

All we veterans ask is that this country keep its promise to us. We kept ours.

on edit: Thanks Sarge. Good post. :patriot:

[JustAnotherGen]

15. My dad was a 'tank' man

Loud booming noises (even with his impaired hearing) drive him nuts to this day. Fireworks will make his heart race. :-(

[sarge43]

16. My husband, two tours Vietnam, still jumps and freezes

at gun fire or explosions. No one leaves a combat zone without a wound.

[Major Hogwash]

19. What you said is so true - "No one leaves a combat zone without a wound."

Even the nurses and doctors that were in the rear areas suffered from PTSD years later.

I had a friend whose mom was a nurse stationed in Da Nang and she had a huge case of PTSD years after she got back. The sound of helicopters would set her off really bad, give her a case of the jitters and she didn't know why for years. Finally, she figured it out and got some help for it, but she was never even shot at and suffered for years with bad nerves, and feelings of anxiety and depression.

[sarge43]

22. I remember a MASH episode where Hawkeye

goes on about "they never stop coming, the wounded. No matter how many we fix up, heal, send back home or back to the front; there's always more."

No, you don't have to be shot at to be wounded.

[liberalhistorian]

52. For months after he returned home from Vietnam, my uncle

would sleep with his hands around his throat (he says they were taught that because they'd often be attacked at night and slashing the throat was common in such attacks). My grandmother learned not to wake him up herself, since, when she would attempt to do so, he'd often jump up and grab her before even waking up. He's never talked much about it, be we all know the effects it had on him. It's only recently that he's started to open up, and I don't know if that's because of his Alzheimer's or not. I told him about taking my son to see the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. when we were there for the 2003 anti-war march and rally and we had a nice conversation. He'd never been able to go and see it, but I'd seen it several times, so he was asking questions and I was describing it as best I could.

[Count Olaf]

5. Thank you for your service!

"I paid a pretty heavy price trying to do my duty to country"

Don't we all know it, and it is a crime how we treat our heroes after returning from duty.

I remember reading that Saddam actually had a place for his veterans, free housing community, free nurses etc.


I love and respect our troops who put their lives on the line for US so much, that I feel we should only use them for DEFENSE!

And if we cannot take care of the veterans we have now, what they hell are we doing making more?



Someone must be doing a good job keeping the lid on how veterans are treated, because if new recruits knew ...well how the hell would they get any new recruits?

[Monique1]

8. Thank you Vets!

You are number one in my eyes :bounce: :bounce: :hi: :loveya: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[rucky]

9. No flames here.

Now that you mention it, we missed a good opportunity in favor of a political sideshow.

[LiberalLoner]

10. Thank you for your service! K&R I am 3rd generation Army, and

2nd generation Airborne soldier. Out of the service now but married to a guy who is still an Army Officer. I am always in favor of taking care of the veterans, especially any who suffered physical or mental injuries due to service. I agree with the old saying that if a nation doesn't treat its veterans right, it doesn't deserve to create any new ones.

[JuniperLea]

11. Well said, SargeUNN

Thank you for your service... and my apologies for being part of the focus on Bush.

This is sadly very typical of DU these days. We tend to accentuate the negative and eliminate the positive whenever possible... and the opposite should really be true, for the sake of us all.

I'll admit to a few groans during that speech, but there were quite a few atta boys as well. Caring for our veterans drew applause from me... yes, right in my living room... I'm weird that way. :P

But seriously, our Vets have been ignored for far too long. Far too may people on both sides of the aisle will tout their support for the troops, but too few of us will stand up and say "please tax me, fee me, whatever it takes to get these honorable people what they deserve."

I have to say at this point... I really, really hate war. Always have... ever since Vietnam daily death tolls were being served up at the dinner hours of my childhood, I've detested war. That has zero to do with the empathy I feel for all human beings in need. And it has zero to do with my firm belief that people who sign themselves up for US military service do so with a lot of trust and with the hope they will only be put in harms way when absolutely necessary. That's not a decision made by our service people... those decisions are made in Washington DC.

I will always, always support our service people, before, during and after service and/or war. I will always vote in favor of giving you and all our Vets the very best of what America has to offer. You "fought for it" and you deserve the best.

[Permanut]

13. Thanks Sarge

from one vet to another, thanks to you and all vets, and for an important post. I think about this everytime I see one of those cheesy "Support Our Troops" magnet ribbon thingies. The idea is good, but it seems to be just for show.

[Rex]

14. As a veteran

I agree with you wholeheartedly! It is a national DISGRACE and bordering on criminal how military professionals get treated by the very govt in which they pledge their lives to! So many vets 'comeback' with some form of mental or physical illness that will take years to diagnose and get treated...if they are lucky. VA is a system that needs a huge SURGE in FUNDING, NOW. Both sides (Dem & Rep) need to sit up and take note - you've killed your military professionals and destroyed the core, wake the fuck up and start atoning for the demonstrative behavior toward the grunts that cry, sweat and bleed real blood for what you deem the 'greater good'! Sorry, I'm just getting mad now. Done.

:thumbsup:

[SargeUNN]

17. thanks to all who have replied

believe me many veterans feel forgotten and uncared about. The more we let them know we care and do what we can to raise awareness and care for them the sooner we can start improving our wounds.

[Major Hogwash]

18. We aren't going to forget ANY of our veterans.

We need to get Alan Simpson off of that panel he is on, though.

As a veteran myself, who came after the Vietnam War was over, I don't know why Simpson is even on that panel. His comments about Vietnam veterans getting too much federal aid was stupendously stupid.

We have to take care of the Iraq War veterans and the Afghanistan War veterans.
We aren't going to forget them.

[JonLP24]

20. Veteran here as well

Never had VA benefits, suffer from at the very least untreated diagnosed depression. Not asking for anything but I do find your post important. K&R.

[Skittles]

21. very good point

another opportunity lost

[hedgehog]

23. It's fallout from the Reagan and Bush years, I'm afraid.

All too often we've heard politicians say we have to take care of the troops while behind the scenes these same politicians cut benefits. (Benefits!?! Call them what they are, the least we can do to try to make things right for people who've laid their lives on the line for us!)

We've just had another example as Republicans voted down aid to 9/11 workers while demanding the "Ground Zero" mosque be moved "out of respect."

When Obama stated we need to take care of our vets, he was stating a simple truth. People ignored his words, I'm afraid, because they've heard similar statements so often they've lost all meaning. Obama will remember the vets, the question is , will Congress?

[msedano]

24. your estimate is too high, sarge

"second class citizens" suggest there's a smidgen of respect for veterans. politicians and conservatives love to say the word "veteran" and the phrase "i support our veterans" sends these assholes into paroxysms of self-congratulation. truth be told, politicians and conservatives generally hold us, the flesh-and-blood veteran, in utter contempt. we were the fools who opened that brown envelope that began..."Greeting: From the President of the United States." Richard M. Nixon" in my case. henry waxman, in california, with help from boxer and feinstein, gave away a large parcel of veteran's land (deeded "in perpetuity" to care for wounded veterans) to waxman's friends. not only at no charge, we paid for it, we veterans paid for these people's land grab.

see the links in this la bloga column for details of that sweetheart deal ... http://labloga.blogspot.com/2008/11/veterans-day-2008-pit-from-pole-to-pole.html

mvs

[pinboy3niner]

28. I got that letter, too, Brother

Thankfully, vets and their allies continue to fight further misappropriation of land at the West L.A. VA hospital.

Unfortunately, the Sepulveda VA hosp. was rebuilt after the Northridge quake for day clinics only, so I now have to go farther, to West L.A., for anything more than day-clinic care. A lot of us outlying vets have to count on West L.A. for our care, but we constantly have to fend off developers' attempts to grab that prime real estate.

[dmr]

25. Simpson angered me. Yesterday I snail-mailed letters to

the President, Biden, my 2 Senators & rep, and Michelle Obama who is suppose to be embracing military families.

If Simpson is talking about this, then who else shares he's beliefs?

I have seen first hand my two brothers who suffer; and the difficulty in their receiving treatment through the years.

It breaks my heart. I'd like to see the likes of Simpson go to the VA, look the vets in the eye, & tell them himself just how awful they are for creating such a deficit. He wouldn't do it, I know, he's probably lunching with the war profiteers.

:grr:

[sarge43]

37. I'd settle for Schmuck Simpson

to walk up to Senator and Vietnam vet John McCain, look him in the face and tell him his 100% disability payments are a drain on the federal budget.

(Don't hold 'em waiting for that to happen)

[jillan]

26. You're the best, Sarge!!

[inenemyterritory]

27. Well said

AMEN

[h8okra]

29. Lip service

The choice between expending money or expending the life, health or future of a veteran or their family is nearly always the same. Save money. The people of this country want to be protected, coddled, removed from any responsibility to sacrifice for the good of all. We love the volunteer Army because it allows us to sing the Star Spangled Banner and wave the flag at baseball games; then we can do the seventh inning stretch and tell ourselves we are great citizens. We look so patriotic and fierce. Yeah! We are Americans hear us roar; USA USA USA.

Aren't we great! No fear we will be drafted and have to go to Iraq so some GI on his fifth rotation (experiencing depression and suicidal ideas) can get respite. Hell no. Send that guy back over and over. Better them than me. So many of us are so ready to put the burden on someone else we would promise anything. The reward to vets from American Society for allowing us the honor of keeping them safe is to question the value of our sacrifice and to refuse us the level of benefits detainees have at Guantanamo.

We ask little. Our greatest wish is the American Public honor the deal we made when we enlisted. I'll protect you. I'll be an honorable Representative for my country. I will sacrifice all if need be. My expectations are reasonable. Treat me with the honor and the respect I earn and honor your agreement to provide some effort to treat me for that which I lost in your service. Make me whole when I return.

War should be a shared experience. If you are not contributing your body than you should be contributing your volunteerism, money or peace effort.

[Plucketeer]

40. I love your last line!

Until we have a draft again - until we citizens share our wars back here, in the rearmost echelon - there'll be no real pressure for an end to these conflicts. The folks who dodge bullets and absorb shrapnel are almost as expendable as shell casings or MRE containers. The thinking??? - hey, they volunteered for it. They knew what they might encounter!
I'll give it that there might be a few real Rambos that sign up to test themselves, but more and more, our troops are doing what they do to support themselves and a family. If we went back to plucking recruits at random, there'd be real resistance to our latest, self-assigned mission of nation-building. But I'm straying here.........

Veterans are not being given what they need to cope after they're "used up". It's a national disgrace - not that national disgraces seem to bother many anymore.

[oldhippydude]

54. its even worse than that..

the powers that be love privatization of things so much.. we now have a mercenary (privatized military) army.. think of all the money we an save on medical and psyche services

[red red red]

30. Thank you for your service, Sir...

I agree that the vets issues should be front and center and hope this will be addressed before too long. My salute to you.

[NJmaverick]

31. K&R

[pasto76]

32. Bro, maybe its just the way things are always going to be

this nation has a pretty clear record of abandoning our vets after a war. Someone on this forum actually pointed that out to me a few years ago.

Fucked up vets make people feel bad, and then they turn the channel. In this culture where paris hilton getting arrested for coke possession makes as much news as the END OF A 7 1/2 YEAR WAR what can we expect.

Silver lining, the internets!! IAVA.ORG does a good job of keeping these issues on the top. Fisherhouse.org also does a fantastic job. Few people would know about them if we didnt have this internets thing.

Stay strong! part of what makes us vets is that we keep fighting because we know its the right thing to do, no matter how bloodied we get.

SGT PASTO

[Jackpine Radical]

33. Time for this again: "I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,"

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

[USArmyParatrooper]

34. Obama has already done more for veterans than anyone in my lifetime

Fact.

Is there more to be done? Sure. But he's on the right track.

[SargeUNN]

35. Yes he has and here is where we should be focusing

I am a Vietnam Era Veteran so I have been a veteran for a long time now. I have watched the Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Bush the dumber administrations as a veteran. Here is my assessment of each.

Carter- he was ok. He left a decent VA that was funded pretty well.
Reagan- was murder on the VA and veterans. St. Ronnie was so bad veterans groups even didn't like him.
Bush Sr.- didn't help regain ground but he didn't exactly hurt things either.
Clinton - Really did a pretty good job. He put in Max Cleland who was the best.
Bush the Dumber- even worse than Reagan and how he treated the veterans was criminal.

[hayu_lol]

36. Jackpine...thanks for the Kipling...

a single payer National Health Plan would go a long way toward solving the VA medical treatment problems. Would still need the VA but for most vets, the single payer would do the job better.

Korean vet.

[USArmyParatrooper]

43. Single Payer was never a viable option

There isn't nearly enough support for it. A public option is another story.

[h8okra]

58. Amen Brother, but the best

plan to reduce the burden of veterans medical expenses is to not send them to war to usurp territory, steal natural resources, prop up murderous dictators and convert people to democracy as we know it. It is not that democracy is bad it is the "as we know it" part that is very dangerous.

[TBF]

39. What exactly has Obama done for Vets? Please be specific. nt

[USArmyParatrooper]

42. No problem

For starters (though as a Senator) co-sponsored the 21st Century GI Bill. That alone is an enormous boost to veterans benefits.

Also...

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/subjects/veterans/

Promises Kept -

No. 105: Increase the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals

No. 109: Fully fund the Veterans Administration

No. 110: Assure that the Veterans Administration budget is prepared as 'must-pass' legislation

No. 113: Expand the Veterans Administration's number of "centers of excellence" in specialty care

No. 466: Create a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veterans

In the Works -

No. 106: Expand Veterans Centers in rural areas

No. 107: Establish standards of care for traumatic brain injury treatment

No. 112: Make the Veterans Administration a national leader in health reform

No. 114: Reduce the Veterans Benefits Administration claims backlog

No. 115: Institute electronic record-keeping for the Veterans Benefits Administration

No. 116: Expand housing vouchers program for homeless veterans

No. 117: Launch a supportive services-housing program for veterans to prevent homelessness

Compromise -

No. 111: Allow all veterans back into the Veterans Administration


I can also post glowing reviews from a number of different veterans organizations if you like. Fortunately it would be too damaging for Republicans to filibuster veterans benefits so in this category Obama and the Democrats can actually get shit done.

[westerebus]

48. You might want to thank Jim Webb.

Our Senator from Virginia who made it happen.

[USArmyParatrooper]

55. Of course

He was the sponsor and then Sen. Obama was a cosponsor. And through the media power of his campaign Obama made it impossible for the Republicans to block and for Bush to veto. In fact, both Bush and McCain tried to take credit for it after they opposed it.

Much respect and gratitude goes to Jim Webb but I also credit Obama.

[SargeUNN]

44. just from my experience

the VA had gotten so bad I refused to use it. I opted instead of getting a percentage increase on my service connected pension at the last months of clinton's admin. to accepting SSI for the medicaid where I wouldn't have to depend on the Mississippi VA systems. Then Katrina came, and I had to move to Arizona, and with nit wit Brewer the Az. version of medicaid became so bad I refused to use it, but I had veterans tell me to try our VA here that it was slow but they did good. I am using it and did go once before Obama to it. I can see more funds coming, not nearly what is needed, and I see old services that were there before coming back. Yes Obama is improving things and to think he hasn't improved it is wrong headed. No it isn't close to what it should be but the system has been so damaged it will take a long time to get it back unless we let the Republicans back in and then we will see the biggest horror for veterans in my lifetime. We really need to get off this Obama bashing and do 2 things, one, give him proper credit where he has earned it and not deny his good work, and two, speak out when he falls short with constructive critism not destructive give up critism.

[ChiciB1]

38. Army BRAT Here AND I KNOW What You Are Talking About!! St. Pete, FL

has a Huge VA Center, but even when my father got sick we had "problems" with his care!! They checked him out and sent him home... got home and he got WORSE!!

He had STROKE and when we got him back to the VA they admitted him after we waited for 2 hours! Told us to go home as he was being assigned a room, etc. We didn't have much choice, so we left. Got home and they called us within 15 minutes and they told us to get back up there because he wasn't going to make it!!

We rushed back up there and he looked like he HAD died, but miraculously he survived the night! Then spent about 3 months in the hospital before he was well enough to come home! Paralyzed on the left side, and they were unable to remove the clot in his brain!

But he lived for about 5 more years, which is amazing! I was so mad at them that I called my Congressman at the time! He DID get involved, but the VA made me aware that THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I DID! So I went to visit EVERY SINGLE DAY, to make sure they were treating him. Some of the nurses gave me a hard time, which I NEVER expected. I got the message that I was a trouble maker for calling my Representative, but I let them know that I was unwilling to take their FLAK!!

St. Pete is supposed to have one of the better VA's and they have built it into a very large facility! My daughter who is studying to be a Nurse Practitioner was doing her OJT there and said it's better now. I can't say for sure because we live about an hour away now!

I want to let you know that I DO UNDERSTAND what you're talking about, and my heart goes out to you and so many VETERANS! While I'm a real pacifist, I respect those in the military who put their lives on the line for all of us! I just don't like our military being used as "war-mongers" to a certain extent. And, I hope YOU don't take that the wrong way!

My father had a LONG tour at Ft. Hood and I was there from the 6th grade until I graduated from high school! But I VOWED I would NEVER marry a man in the military, having lived my whole life as a military dependent! A person choice, I have 3 sisters who did marry military men, but they left the military before retirement age!

Just adding a rather long comment, but I just wanted to say I support you and I CARE, because I've seen it myself!!

Thank you for all you GAVE and for your VOICE for Vets!

[Major Hogwash]

60. So, did you ever get married?

That was a very interesting comment about your 3 sisters.
I grew up near an air base and half of the guys in school wanted to join the Air Force when they got older and be jet pilots.
Except for me, I wanted to be an astronaut.

Never made it though.
Barely graduated from Driver's Ed.

[ChiciB1]

61. Yep, Sure Did... A Guy I Went To School With Who Was Also An Army

brat! As "boomers" the draft was in effect, and I essentially married to keep him OUT of the Army!! I was headed to college and my father got orders to go to Ft. Bliss, JUST 1 week after I graduated at 17! I HAD to move with them and they wanted me to go to UTEP and THERE WAS NO WAY I would consider that school! They didn't want me to live in a dorm, so I came up with this scheme and told them my then boyfriend and I were planning to get married so I could leave home! My sister lived in Austin and I figured it was a "beginning" to being on my own!

Strange thing happened though! Boyfriend gave me a ring that Christmas after he got a draft notice and "I" being the GOOD CATHOLIC girl decided I would "save" his soul! Got married later that fall when I JUST turned 18, AND NEVER GOT TO COLLEGE!!

My LIFE plan changed, but even though I DID divorce him after 12 years of marriage, we were apart for about 5 years and got married again! And so the story goes... still married today! Must have been something there, even though I HAD NOT wanted to REALLY get married so young! JUST 18, and had my first child when I was almost 21!

THINGS happen for a reason I guess!! That's how I got OUT of Texas and moved to Florida... my husband is a native from here, born in Tampa!

That's the gist of the story! A LIBERAL saving his butt then, a LIBERAL now... still wearing my heart on my sleeve!! SOME things NEVER change!! Others do!

[TBF]

41. I would place more stock in Obama's words

if he had not created a commission and put Alan Simpson on it, only to have Simpson belittle our Veterans and take away their pensions.

My dad served in Viet Nam. He was on one of the early destroyers that carried some pretty nasty chemicals over there (for defoliation), and he is 100% disabled from the handling of those chemicals.

He has been living on Veteran's disability income for close to 30 years now, after "retiring" from his steel factory (where at the end all he could do was drive fork lift - but he did it until he reached 15 years). He is fortunate to have an excellent VA hospital in Wisconsin, that works closely with the nearby University teaching hospital. A national health care plan could certainly be modeled on the VA plan, and I would insist that veterans have first priority.

Thank you for speaking up.

[SargeUNN]

53. The biggest danger to our VA really is

Public apathy. Again I point to this, and before someone jumps on the wagon, let me say don't confine this to DU only and make excuses for DU because it is the American People in general. The President talked about taking care of Veterans and yet look how many threads here picked up and ran with that idea? Sadly how much do you hear about it on TV, Radio, or the Newspapers since. Not much because they are all focusing on BUSH. The Obama bashers are a problem because any good thing obama does is ignored or watered down to the point of almost nothing.

I compare our attitudes on this to one who has a second floor and looks at the staircase but sees only one step. They have the choices of building the steps to get to the second floor, just forget the second floor is there, or tear down the step and destroy the second floor all together. Obama has been a step and we can build on that. I have several issues with Obama but at least he talked in the speech about taking care of Veterans, and meanwhile too many didn't enter the talk and instead jumped on the what about Bush discussion ignoring the veterans. Please don't fall into that traps, too many veterans need you to fight for them not ignore them.

[TBF]

57. But he can't pay lip service to it and then set up someone

like Simpson to tear it down. That's not right. I worked on Obama's campaign too and hate watching the outcome. It's not like people on this site are bashing him & hoping he fails. Rather, they feel strongly about these issues and can't tolerate the back-stabbing.

I do agree on speaking for the veterans and not falling into the "Bush must be punished" camp though. I completely agree with you there. It would've been extraordinary for this president to insist on trials for Bush/Cheney - unprecedented. This is already a country of very angry people without piling that on top. And it would take too much energy away from focusing on economics, which we need to do right now. I expected him to take the high road and move on, and I don't fault him one bit for doing that.

[SargeUNN]

62. Your point is a good one

I too am very disturbed by the Catfood Commission and I have expressed it to the white house on phone calls and emails. I started a thread here for anyone who wanted to use the words I posted as a guide or to use them directly in an email to the White House, but sadly it fell into the back pages pretty fast. Simpson needs to be put away he is brainless.

[greiner3]

45. Monday is Memorial Day;

Oops.

[alfredo]

46. Find a congressman/woman who is interested in veterans

and raise hell about the local VA. I have little problem at the Lexington Ky VA. They've treated me well. They have addressed my PTSD, hearing loss, and Degenerative Disc disease without question. We have Rep Ben Chandler (D Ky) on the case here. He's helped improve our VA.

Get the media, local VFW, and other potential allies informed and active.

If no local politicians are interested (why aren't you listening McConnell), go national. Look for one/some who will help.

Tammy Duckworth might be a good ally. Find other Veterans who have issues with the Phoenix VA. Force them to honor their contract with the Veterans.

[sam sarrha]

47. it s start'n to come out that Soldier Suicides are because of Anti-Depressants instead of Treatment

i was given anti-depressants, even tho i wasn't depressed.. i began to become fixated on death.. when they say contact you doctor if you get thoughts of death or suicide, it doesn't matter.. you are hallucinating and you cant tell it isn't your only reality. i began to believe everybody was dying or going to be dead soon.. i knew i couldn't move my families bodies because of my back. i started making plans to leave and find some place to die.

i had a flicker of reality, i tried to grab it, it got away, i went back to my death reality, i had another flicker and i shook my head till i hurt my neck.. but i woke up, ran to my pills and flushed them before i got lost again. my doctor wasn't interested in my story and i'm sure he wanted the Pharma's check more than the truth.

i was taking Strattera, a failed anti depressant re-marketed with the help of a Nigerian mathematician. many many children have committed suicide on that shit. i feel that i was definitely damaged by that crap.. i will never be the same.

nearly every serial murderer, school shooter, baby killer on the news was on an anti- depressant or anti psychotics.. it is the blind eye of science that wont connect the truth to the industry's profits. the whole theory behind the reason for prescribing those drugs was never scientifically proved. it is just an insidious business.

[grahamhgreen]

49. We will keep pressing for positive change for vets.

[freebrew]

51. So, basically..

the vets are being treated as badly as any corporate worker. Not good.

We are all just throw-away labor. Remember when the corporations started making all of the disposable crap.
Even talked of throw-away cars.

The repugs have accomplished making our citizens disposable. They are shooting at the seniors now, they'll get to you later.
If they haven't already.

[L0oniX]

56. If only people would read up on how vets have been screwed over and over again...

before they sign up. I don't support the troops ...but I do support the vets who get screwed. Right now that consists of feeding the homeless every weekend. About 25% of them are vets.

[lunatica]

59. My thoughts have always been with our military and all victims of war

Lots of people think they're all grown up at 18 or 19 but they're not. They're taken in by the patriotic talk and the willingness to sacrifice for their country and they're loved ones without knowing the realities of war. They find out though. And it hurts them. They become victims of war themselves.

Bush did this to you. Bush did this to every single veteran who is suffering. Bush did this to all the victims of his wars.