Sorry but I am about ready to give up on the American People on both sides

[SargeUNN]

Some who read this will not like it and maybe flame me for it, but that is alright because what I am about to post is my honest thoughts and frankly I don't like feeling this way, but I do.

I am not feeling good today, and in a very high pain level. Pain so bad I am struggling to keep my head up and not give up, but I just don't know if I can much longer.

I am not going to be able to be online for awhile because I can't have the internet at my place since I can't afford it and today I leave where I am to go back to sitting in the dark, feeling horrible pain that limits my sleep. I will cry in pain and curse just to keep my anger up enough to give me a reason to keep on trying.

I live on less than $630 a month and $80 a month food stamps. I have no transportation and can't afford to take the bus here in Phoenix. I did go to the VA which is a good one, but due to budget problems I won't have my problem addressed directly until Sept. 27 after a little more than 2 months of waiting. They did and are working on pain management until then. I will have my bills paid that I can and will have more bills I can't pay, eventually I might not be able to pay my rent and turn up having to swallow my pride and accept a status of being dependant on the goodness of those who care enough to help.

Sure it is the results of Republicans, but let's face it, it is also our side too. Neither side is as passionate about taking care of our vets as they are demanding Obama attack Bush or stupid statements by Admin. people. If we spent as much passion and devotion to taking care of our veterans as we do these things I wouldn't be tortured like I am being now, because we wouldn't allow this.

I know progressives/liberals are great and caring people who want to improve our nation. I do ask that we spend some of the anger and passion we spend demanding Bush be arrested, or Glenn Beck and his stupidity and transfer some of it to our veterans. I don't know if it will happen and if we on our side don't do it we are as quilty of torturing veterans like me because of it.

I beg you please folks help me and other veterans by working to correcting this torture. Thanks and hope you realize I am not putting down on our side, but hopefully giving you motivation. I need you and so many other veterans and time is running out on us.

[Madam Mossfern]

1. What can we do?

Specifically. I mean it. I'm looking for a bit of guidance here.

[SargeUNN]

3. thanks for asking

learn of the plights of veterans, you have my story here, but learn of the Banished Veterans I have posted about, find out what the funding is for VAs and make calls demanding more. Yeah they might ignore you but if enough get on the phone and email the powers that be, they will have to start dealing with it. Of course this includes our seniors who are in the same boat and some can't even get healthcare. Take time out from the mosque, White House comments about the left and speak on the plight of our people such as veterans and seniors, children in poverty and work with passion on these issues as well.

For my case, I am trying to find that lifeline and have some help, but many aren't as lucky as I am to have support so adopt a veteran or senior citizen and do something for them if you can. Speak about these things to others when you can because the more we expose these things and demand better the sooner we might get some results. Obama talked about it in his speech but if you noticed the talk about it wasn't on the care of veterans, but why didn't he insult Bush. I hate Bush more than many because I suffered through Katrina and saw first hand that hideous thing, but as much as I want him to answer for that, I much more want our struggling veterans, seniors and poor to have their problems address. Voices like yours help to make it a reality. Thanks for your concern and hope this helps.

[bobbolink]

41. Thank you, Sarge! That is beautifully written! We definitely are all in this together!

I know a DUer in constant pain, not a vet, and being threatened with more cut offs. Nowhere to turn, and this is a tragedy.

I know another DUer, not a vet, injured on the job, miserable because he can no longer work, and barely surviving.

ALL of this is inexcuseable, in the richest country in the world!

I appreciate you remembering us all!

:patriot:

:hug:

[w8liftinglady]

21. read my journal,if you have time.We need to speak up for our vets

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady


I personally volunteer with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans....specifically the Gulf War 1 and female homeless.
http://www.nchv.org/get_involved.cfm

Give An Hour is another organization that helps veterans
http://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx

Unmet Needs is sponsored by the VFW for troops and their families
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=3724


and finally,don't be afraid to contact your representatives,opinion pages,news stations.Our veterans need us...My son,His Dad,my dad,my grandpa...they all gave everything they could for the country.We need to give them more than lip service.

[bobbolink]

24. And other people, too. We we cooperate by separating out one group over another, it works against

ALL of us.

[w8liftinglady]

32. exactly-I focus on vets because Sarge is one

[bobbolink]

33. So, who will focus on other hurting people?

[SargeUNN]

35. you should read my comment in this thread

I mention the seniors and the poor. I do agree if we took care of all our citizens in this nation like we could and should we might actually be the greatest nation without having to proclaim it so people would believe it.

[bobbolink]

37. I'm sorry, I'm not seeing it. Could you please point me to it? Thanks.

If you're interested, the section on vets is the first one I completed for my powerpoint program on homelessness.

I am concerned about others, I care, and it hurts when I am not included in the thoughts of others.

You see, I can't even post here about my *own* problems, because I have an army of detractos that like to say, "You always make it about you." So, just to be able to post how you feel about what is happening to you is a luxury I don't have.

I really would like to see what you wrote... please help me out in finding it.

Thank you, and god help us all!!

[SargeUNN]

40. here is the comment

it is reply 3 titled Thanks for Asking.

[w8liftinglady]

38. like these?

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/88
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/84
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/82
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/79
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/78
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/75
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/65
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/60
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/27
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/36
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/w8liftinglady/38



This is a small excerpt of my editorials.Veterans are,of course,my main focus-but I comment a lot on poverty and lack of healthcare.

[rustydog]

2. No one in America should be in your position

Our veterans are the true heroes in America and we should never have their medical care, their financial well-being become a simplistic political talking point.

If the military industrial complex is a hands-off bottomless pit budget item, we need to get people in congress who believe veterans benefits MUST be a bottomless pit and untouchable. You should be able to walk into any hospital, seek your own personal physician, present your va card and get the help you need, no coverage fears at all. One day this may come to pass.

My heart goes out to you. I hope you get the care you need and deserve. I have seen too many people lately who are in physical and emptional pain and think of only one way to end the pain.
Hang in there.

[rustydog]

4. Can I copy your post to my Senator?

[SargeUNN]

5. yes I would be honored not for myself but

if my situation will help others to be spared this torture I am more than glad. Thanks and please learn too about banished veterans, I have posted threads about them here, their plight is even more hideous.

[SargeUNN]

6. This thread is not encouraging me too much because

it has already dropped once to page 2, at least one person has unrec the thread, and guess it shows even here where compassion is suppose to be a standard, it is not as important to as many as they claim. Thankfully to those who have responded you are the thread that keeps me going, to the others I just hope you never know this torture.

[BeHereNow]

7. DU aint what it used to be, friend.

I am so sorry to hear of your situation.
Don't hold your breath for many here to give a shit though.
I will copy your post and send it to my representatives though.
I wish I could believe that it would make difference.
You and I both know, it probably wont.
BHN:hug:

[readmoreoften]

15. I'm sorry that you're in pain. Don't give up.

The best thing we can do is fight for you. In fact, it's the only thing we can do.

[RoseMead]

8. K&R n/t

[truedelphi]

9. The pain that the vets experience while our leaders

Offer up more money for more war, that situation is so disgusting I can barely contain myself.

All in the name of erasing the Muslim peoples' from the world. While the "religious" people inflame their flocks to fearing the Muslims. So that part of the population is simply in constant need of reassurance via the votes for more funding of more endless wars.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. +1. nt

[readmoreoften]

16. +1

[L0oniX]

10. I have been doing what I can by feeding the homeless of which about 25% are vets.

Your situation is part of the reason I hate the military. Since the days of Vietnam I have seen enough of the Agent Orange denials and the foot dragging. Now it's denial of depleted uranium effects along with neglecting those with PSTD and physical injury. I wish no one would join the military unless another country attacks us. Using you or anyone for policy war is a most offensive thing to me. I wish I had the means to help everyone of you. I wish my vote could stop the abuse. All I can do is not cheer lead anyone signing up, protest the neglect of our vets while an extreme amount of money goes for war and to continue to help feed the homeless. As I approach 59 yo I must take on more work if I can find it as my finances are going down hill. I fear that I may also be at the food lines soon.

If you live nearby a library use their online computers. May of the vets and homeless that I know do that. If you lived in my area I would help you with what I could.

[truedelphi]

43. Thank you for your generosity of groceries, and of spirit.

Spirit counts a great deal too.

[GeorgeGist]

11. Before you give up on the American People ...

you might want to remember the people who owe Veterans an apology, and those in a position to deliver it.

[bobbolink]

12. Why are you sorry?

[readmoreoften]

14. I'm sorry you're in pain. But I spent a lot of time on Veterans' Health and still have time to

criticize Obama for escalating the war in Afghanistan and making more sick vets. The only way we're going to solve problems is by attacking and replacing the source of the problems. We can't care for sick vets. If we want to care for sick vets, then we need to change our government so that vets get the care they need and to end pointless wars.

Spending more of our time protesting the health insurance mandate and the wars, and organizing with others to offer real alternatives is the only way to change the situation for vets, for unemployed workers, for LGBTs, for everyone who isn't on top of the world.

[SargeUNN]

39. thanks for your work

we all need to do as you. I am in a horrible situation and yet I do all I can as I can. Folks like you are sadly way too rare.

[backwoodsbob]

17. pm me

[AnArmyVeteran]

18. K&R to inform people of what's going on in their country.

All the best to you with your struggles.

I posted a thread a few weeks ago suggesting that we stop allowing corporations to make profits off of wars but I was severely attacked by my fellow DUers. It's hard to change the system when people on both sides support corporations and their 'rights' to make huge profits off of wars. It's okay to them if executives in businesses make millions while our soldiers get pennies and our vets get nothing. It's shameful.

For some reason people on the right and left believe it's fine for everyone else in the country to have to sacrifice during wars except corrupt, soulless corporations. People on DU even attacked me for suggesting that I believe corporations should operate 'at cost' for all contracts with the government related to war. Why do so many people support a system which allows a handful of people to make fortunes while others are sacrificing and fighting?

If we used our resources wisely we could easily take care of our vets like you. In the 1990s Ross Perot proposed a 'war tax' where everyone in the country would be taxed when we were engaged in war. He proposed that tax because 99% of the population go about their everyday lives and not even think about what sacrifices our soldiers are making or the hardships on their loved ones. And they can never imagine the horrors a family experiences when they lose a family member or loved one in battle. And the only time we hear about the hideously mangled injured are in feel good stories when a soldier us fitted wit s new artificial arm or leg. The media never airs stories about the day-to-day hardships and lifelong pain veterans experience. 'Out of sight, out of mind' are the 'battle cries' of the media, the government and the general population. If it's not happening to them, they don't think about it. Hell, people believe Memorial Day is a day to cook ribs and hot dogs. Even during war most people don't use that day of remembrance to think of the ultimate sacrifices of our soldiers. It's just another day of beer and BBQing.

A tax would cause them to raise their consciousness about war and with more public awareness it would lead to shorter wars or avoid wars altogether. In addition to Perot's war tax I believe we should have an additional tax in every company profitting off of war and that money could be used to help our veterans live secure and peaceful lives. Unfortunately, politicians only talk about our veterans when running for office, but rarely do anything to really help them. A national tax would be a move in the right direction.

I wish you well...



(btw: You said your OP was unreccomended. I am finding that DU feature to be so overused mostly by petty people who can attack the messenger anonymously. Right wingers have done that a lot in other forums to hide my comments and it looks like there a lot of people in this forum who are doing the same thing. I believe unreccomending a post is a cowardly act.)

[Raster]

47. Unrecommending is a cowardly act and instituted solely to "sanitize" DU, to make it more "centric"

[shireen]

49. +1

[Count Olaf]

19. we can take care of each other one person at a time

I really think you should post a need at Wishadoo and let DUers who can afford to help you out
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9080872#9083544


And I have hope the American people are going to start making some demands starting Oct 2 at the protest in DC.

I hope our Veterans are there in full force and get the attention they deserve.

I will write some emails on your behalf. I think it would be wise for candidates running to make this an issue in the next election. WE have a lot of Veterans that have been screwed over, and your votes do count! If nothing else it would raise awareness.

[abq e streeter]

20. Sarge, for whatever it's worth, I forwarded your post to my congressman, with this introduction:

Dear Mr. Heinrich, my name is ----, and I live in Albuquerque. I am forwarding this desperate letter from a Vet from Arizona, because health care for vets is a national issue, and I'm sure there are stories like his here and in every congressional district. I beg you to read this, and please, please try to help this good man, and share this with fellow congressmen and women. Thank you,

[SargeUNN]

36. thanks

[stevenleser]

22. K&R from a fellow vet

[bobbolink]

23. ALL poor, sick, old and injured people are being ignored. It isn't only vets.

Until we all come together for each other, it will all continue.

There isn't an individual solution.

It really does take a village, and that means everyone for everyone else.

[Count Olaf]

25. yes

I am starting to have hope that the October 2 protest will be big and send a huge message to the DC bastards in their bubbles. They need to hear the anger of the millions of lives they have ruined, hear the cries of the suffering they are causing.

[bobbolink]

26. I seriously doubt there will be a peep about poor folk.

It isn't on the agenda.

[Missy Vixen]

29. Over a million marched against the IWR

Several million showed up in person on Inaugural Day.

Maybe I am pessimistic, but I don't see a lot of change as a result.

The only thing that scares them: Take away their power, via primarying. Vote them out.

IMHO. YMMV.

[Swamp Rat]

27. I was about to post the same thing.

:grouphug:

[bobbolink]

28. I still have time to edit... I can erase mine so you can post it.

:hi:

[backwoodsbob]

30. pm me

my brother is a vet...we talk all the time about healing and what he went through.

My nephew is in country right now...his son.

PM me

[MrScorpio]

31. Hang in there, Bro K&R

[2 Much Tribulation]

34. What makes you think the "American People" are IN POWER?

Or that the voices of average people are all over the media? That what you wish for has had a fair chance and a good airing?

If you're thinking of giving up on the folks in power in America, that i can relate to. If so, my best wishes are with you. If not, I wish you well, and can only say that the american people do rise to the occasion, PROVIDED they're given a good reason to believe that their actions will be meaningful and have effect. Currently, there are constant efforts to demoralize them so that no action is taken that's big enough.

[Steely_Dan]

42. If I Recall...

Out of all the candidates that ran for President, Joe Biden consistently spoke on the issue of veterans and how we owe it to them to make sure that they are taken care of. I would forward a similar letter to Joe Biden. You might even hear back from him. I know I did when he was still in the campaign.

-P

[SargeUNN]

44. Well looks like this thread is working after all

I am glad to see I have stirred up a good discussion on this. Sad part is you have to talk about homeless people and homeless veterans since so many veterans are homeless. Now the social safety nets like Social Security is under serious attack and seniors are soon going to start turning up on the streets if we don't do something. I will survive some way maybe not at a level that is pleasant but I will be able to survive the streets, and then I might have a break and turn up in a decent life that won't be as bad as things are now. My biggest problem right now is my shoulder, neck and arm and having to wait to get treatment because the VA budget has been raped by the republicans in the last decade. I just hope we can start talking about resolving problems and those who can do something will do it. I read and hear all this griping about stuff we can't do much about and as I watch my world cave in I ask myself, instead of getting insulted by Simpson, or whoever, how about channeling that anger into working for the veterans, homeless and senior citizens a little too. Yeah gripe but also do something where you can so we all can be part of the solution.

[alarimer]

45. Unfortunately the Democrats in office have sold you out, as they have done for all of us.

They care only about their own re-election and about their corporate sponsors (I am certainly including Obama in this). ALL of Obama's promises (as with the promises of every other politician) are mere lip service to get elected. They never intend to keep any of their promises. They only solution is to primary every one of these bastards (a select few are exempt because of their courageous stands) and throw ALL the fucking bums out.

[NC_Nurse]

46. I am so sorry to hear about your pain, SargeUNN...at the moment, I don't have

much to offer you but sympathy and good vibes. Chronic pain is a bitch and I hope that younger the treatment you need ASAP! Until then, I'll keep you in my thoughts. Hang in there.

[TBF]

48. I haven't given up on everyday people -

but I have given up on both political parties. When you have the top 10% represented (at best) and they just fight back & forth on cultural issues but agree on capitalism ... what can you do with "leaders" like that.

I have faith that workers world-wide will resist. They are already resisting in Greece, in France - even at the Mott plant in upstate NY. We need to support those workers and fight for a better world for our children.

As to your personal situation I am very sorry, and understand your pain. My own mom is 67 this year, gets about the same monthly payment in Social Security (around $600 after Medicare is deducted) and works at McDonalds for extra money. My siblings and I help her with her medical deductibles when she falls into the "doughnut hole". She has worked hard her whole life and now I hear buffoons like Alan Simpson (appointed by President Obama) wanting to take back just that little amount after she paid in most of her life. My dad is a disabled veteran - 65 this year - and he has been on his disability pension for about 30 years with war-related injuries. Mr. Simpson also wants to cut his benefits after he willingly joined the service in 1963 at age 17 to fight for his country.

We've got to keep speaking out & we're all in this together. We have to fight back!

[shireen]

50. i agree with most of the sentiments expressed

and my thoughts are with you.

question ... do you have a paypal account or an address for checks or money orders?
It may not be much but if a few of us chipped in a few bucks, it could give you a small buffer to help with medications and other necessities.

:hug:

[SargeUNN]

54. Thanks for the offer

I do appreciate it, but I don't use paypal anymore, however I do have an address and bank account just PM and I will give it to you. I am a little concerned about accepting money because some will make up a lie and the important thing to me is to prevent as many from being where I am. Therefore, while I would accept your funds, I would not be offended if you instead buy a needed item for some homeless person or veteran. I told this because I hope to get people to have a real person to stir them up to do as much as possible to help get folks basis needs address. People like you are the lifeline and I deeply appreciate you and others like you.

[uponit7771]

51. No one said either side was PERFECT but saying they're the same isn't true either

....there is a distinctive difference IMHO between not giving a damn and someone showing at least compassion

[truedelphi]

56. If that show of compassion is simply a show of compassion,

For the sake of making their PR people feel good, they can shit can the routine, as far as I am concerned. That routine has made me ill.

This Administration has given twelve trillion bucks away to the Big Bankers. Who are not loaning it to us. Who are not caring about the fact that over 35 states now have deficit budgets.

People are killing themselves. People are dying of simple medical situations like needing insulin. This economic crisis is another Katrina - except it does not affect only those in New Orleans or Louisiana or in Mississippi. The economic crisis is nation wide, except for a few places where defense contracts are helping the overall economy. (Places like San Antonio) The Crisis affects more than 22 percent of all Americans. People who are working part time rather than full time,a s full time in their work field is not available. People in their middle age who are cashing in retirement funds to go back to college because they are sick of looking at the walls of their house.

People affected by this Crisis don't want charity like Food Stamps that the Dems pride themselves on being "nicer" about than the Republicans are. People want to live long enough to see someone in the WH who actually gives a rat's ass about the real people of this country. We need jobs - and not H1 visas. I don't care if they have to dig up FDR and clone the guy, fine. But I really want someone in the WH who cares about the PEOPLE first, and the Big Insurers, the Big Defense Contractors, and the Big Bankers LAST!

When Obama's good buddy Geithner (And Obama himself has called him that) told the Governor of California that it was not logical or affordable to give the state of California a twenty billion dollar loan, so that this state could get its people employed once again, and not just in building jobs, but in the teaching profession, the social workers, the project managers, fire fighters, and on and on, Ahnold showed a lot of restraint in not screaming at little Timmy that where did Timmy think the Bailout Monies came from? This state gets only 73 cents back for every dollar it has handed over to Bernanke and Tim. We have bailed out the bankers - and they and their Godfather Timmy are laughing at us.

Tim Geithner has lied to Congress. And lying to Congress is an impeachable offense. He is guilty of things that were they done by a private employer and not a government employee could get a person in jail for RICO violations. (Look at his history while the head of the New York Fed reserve Bank and his actions that destroyed Lehman, and turned AGI and Goldman Sachs into pristine Quadruple A rated financial institutions.) Yet this is the man Obama calls his good buddy, who has his office just feet away from the Oval Office.

I judge a person a lot by their friends. And this Geithner guy and his actions tell me everything I ever need to know about the President.

[Ignis]

58. +1, and this post deserves its own OP.

:yourock:

[truedelphi]

59. Sigh. It would get its own OP

But my name is on the automatic "unrec feature" list.

Anything I OP has about 14 seconds of life before the unrecs exceed the two hundred names in my buddy list.

[Ignis]

60. I hear you. I've stopped posting OPs anywhere but group forums.

Life's too short to spend an entire day fending off the dogpile.

:hug:

[SargeUNN]

52. I am disappointed with the lack of

honest talk about the Veterans, Seniors, and very poor being done in D.C. but I have to say we aren't doing it enough here and other boards, and on print and audio media. If we would make a point of talking about it more we might just shine enough light on it to bring it into the media spotlight and if that doesn't happen enough, we can at least start the discussion among the general public. So much crap is said of these people and if we don't challenge it and tell the truth we fail. Thanks to folks who refuse to take no for an answer because it is those kind that do make reform. Example check out Dorthea Dix. She did wonders for mental health in the 1840s era and created change. We must be like her and others who refused to buckle under.

[ismnotwasm]

53. I'm so sorry

I'm the mother of one Vet and one active National Guard who got back from Iraq a couple of months ago.


Further, I used to work in long term care, and we often got Vets who needed long term antibiotics for whatever reason or physical rehab. I become familier with the VA system in this way. It's good in certain ways, but in my experience, it is NEVER enough for our Vets. And it never had been.

Again, I'm sorry for your pain and situtaion, I thank you for your service. My Democratic senator, (who is up for reelection) is on the Comittee for Veterans affairs, and I do try to follow what's going on and involve myself.

:hug:

[Blue_Tires]

55. ttt

[pa28]

57. What you described is common and it never fails to mystify me.

Reagan would say that defense is not a matter for budget debate. Why is taking care of veterans a budget question then?

Republicans wave the flag and declare departing soldiers as heroes but once they come home the truth comes out. Used soldiers are just a burden to them and sometimes I think they wish a flag waving send off was just a one way trip based on their attitude toward returning veterans.

So, it's up to us to take care of them and make sure they have what they need to be healthy and adjust to life back home but we won't make it the priority we need to. It's one of those issues that goes below the radar but it needs to be a national question. There is no downside here, let's stand up and give the VA the funding they need in broad daylight. Let's dare the R's to say no and give their reasons.