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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Do our Leaders REALLY honor our veterans?

I often wonder just how much our political leaders like the men and women who fight the nation's wars!  That's right, I question their respect for those of us who served and especially those who are injured.  Yes, politicians LOVE to get their pictures taken with us and They never miss an opportunity to talk to the VFW or American Legion, but with the exception or President George W. Bush, no living President does anything for us.

Now, we don't need platitudes, we need action!  For instance, why does it take 4 plus years to process a VA appeal?  Are they waiting for the Vet to die?  Look at Agent Orange.  If it were not for Admiral Zumwalt, our Viet Nam Vets would still be without help for their crippling medical issues.  No one will address the effects of the carcinogenic and neurotoxin chemicals used for decades in the hydraulic fluids used in Naval weapons systems, catapults, elevators, and propulsion systems.   While the impact is much less than Agent Orange, it is still a wide ranging, debilitating, and incurable issue.

What about recognizing what happened to our Soldiers at Fort Hood?  Do you think that was work place violence?  No, it was an act of terrorism by a Islamic Terrorist!  Yet, the President continues to deny our soldiers the benefits they deserve because he refuses to call this what it is, an act of terror.  

No, I believe the Politicians want us to fight the wars they start and then, slink back into our holes and shut up!  They would be very happy if we asked for nothing and only came out for their parades and photo ops.  I have heard the news readers on the television say the Military retirement, Disability pay, and survivor benefits are in the same class of expenditure as welfare.  Really?  Did we fight, serve for welfare?!  We who served, many voluntarily,  are the same as individuals who choose NOT to work and live on welfare, get free cell phones, free food, free housing?  That thought is offensive and the fact that it was spoken on nation television is a call to arms in my mind.

Our elected officials and Civil Servants work for US, the taxpayers.  This is a government OF the People and BY the People!  It is time we, the Veterans, Taxpayers, and Patriots, make the bureaucrats responsible to us for what they did to us!  So, when you vote on November 6, remember those who helped you as a Veteran and those who will help you!  Our vote is our weapon against tyranny.
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1 comment:

  1. Amen Brother,
    I am a retired Chief and I agree with you completely! It seems to me that our government has steadily increased in their indifference toward Vets of all types. They continue to deal with us in bad faith. It all gets worse as time moves on.
    Previous Vets were promised "Free Medical and Dental for Life" upon retirement. Now we pay for an HMO that is difficult to find Primary Care Managers and other physicians that will accept because it pays on average on par with or below Medi-Cal / Medicaid. I know the pay issues because my wife has worked in the medical field for 20 years.
    I have heard the comparison talk regarding our retirement pensions etc. I have even heard discussion that military retirement plans should change to be more in line with civilian jobs. I would not mind that if it were some of the law enforcement groups who forfeit social security in order to retire with a pension equaling 3% of your monthly pay per year of service once you become vested at 15 years. Thus, at 15 years you could retire with 45% of your pension. If you retire at 20 years you would have 60% etc. That civilian retirement I could accept, but until the everyday Joe deploys away from their family for six months or greater, has to worry about being in a "fox hole" as bullets fly by or their commute involves an 80/20 risk of being exploded by an I.E.D. I do not accept being considered in the same group as that.
    In fact, I would prefer it, if the people who are spouting such ignorance would step back and realize the freedoms they take for granted are guaranteed by the people they so easily dismiss as "Any kid but mine!"

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