Fema Employment

How can any USA politican say they honor our troops when the govt treats our vets so badly?

OK to note I have not served in the military That being said I got curious about Veterans since my Grandfather was in WW2 and my father and uncles were in Vietnam. Also when I started to work after college I worked along side a very smart, fun, decent guy named Steve who was a Vietnam vet, and I found out Steve had gotten this job to get off streets because he had been homeless. I asked about being a vet and he said that he doesn't regret a thing except for the lack of veteran services on behalf of the federal govt, all the while using "support the troops" as the rally cry for every piece of legislation they come up with. Existing federal rules force disabled veterans to give up their military retirement pay in order to receive VA disability benefits. Every VA disability dollar paid to a veteran is deducted from his retirement pay, effectively creating a “disabled veteran tax" How can we possibly even have the slogan "Support the troops" if we treat them so badly?

Public Comments

1. Interesting how GWB has used the "not supporting our troops" as a club when Congress balks at funding his war of choice but he's primarily responsible for paring away many of their benefits and veteran's rights. I don't understand how a man with such poor grasp of the language can sway so many people to believe things, that if they examined them with a clear head, that are patently untrue. It must be in the timing, hit hard and fast and too late in the game for anyone to realize the BS in it. I just hope he doesn't invade Iran on the Nth hour of the election to give McCain a boost because of his tough on terror stance.
2. exactly, vets should have more privileges and be taken care of, especially when they served our country. they did their part and now its time for the US to do their part, which is lacking so much right now. things should change but we wont get a change unless we vote for a change.
3. The answer to your question is long, detailed, and a bit convoluted- but... You have to compare how the Troops (Marines, Sailors, Airmen) WERE treated back then to the way they're treated NOW. We get all the support we can take now. Unfortunately for those that you mention, help is too far away or too late.
4. Its not bad. I get my GI bill $1300 per month which runs out in another year, I have free medical care anytime which is impressively professional, free mental health counseling, and i get $500 a month for my hearing loss, tinitus and PTSD. I also get pretty much all of the money i spend on college tuition back at the end of the year for taxes. The state also granted me unemployment ($320 per week) when i got out of the army until i got my crap together and found a place to live and a job. I have taken advantage of all my benefits and i can say that iam very impressed with what the government has given me back for my time in iraq.
5. Good point, but the support has significantly improved. Many VA clinicians are very dedicated and caring people, doing the best they can, but sometimes overwhelmed by the resources they are given. It is not so much that they are mistreated because they are veterans, it is just that we are quite adept at taking advantage of anyone that is sick, disabled or is unable to effectively advocate for themselves.