? about VA cuts...

RE:

http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=437&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Are the people who are against these cuts "career military people who think it's more important to keep increasing payments to them, over and above what they were promised when they served, than to spend money for equipment that would make people serving today safer." ??

I ask because that was one response I've seen to these cuts.

I have an uncle who is a WWII vet. He lives at or near poverty and very much relies on the VA for some of his healthcare and meds. He is NOT a 'career military' retiree, but he did serve.

Does he or does he not deserve better than to have to drive 2 freaking hours to get to a VA hospital to get then dismal care - or alternatively having to pay what he cannot afford at a regular hospital or Dr? What say you?

is that everyone who serves in combat should get a credit card good at any hospital or doctor's office and pharmacy. Just send the bill to the Pentagon.

to prove it. Got a couple medals, too.

They risked their lives to keep me safe so my money damned well better be going to give them the very best care available. That it's not makes me extremely angry.

...but what about those 20-year career vets who just want more retirement than they were promised when they enlisted? My bro is one of those.

He gets some percentage of his pay as retirement. He still works and was young enough after military retirement to get a civ job and did, but he could survive (not lavishly mind you) without doing so. He ain't hurting but he's far from rich.

Then, there's my uncle, bless him....

Still my opinion is that we owe these people decent bennies and they shouldn't have to go through my uncle does just to get some damned basic healthcare, esp if they are poor and can't afford it.

If you sign a contract that give you benefits at it's end, you get them. If you pay into SS, you get to collect it. If you get another job with retirement benefits, you get to collect them. If you meet your responsibilities you get to collect.

the VA Hospital I use (Chicago) is being cut a whopping 17 mill.

I have a disability and so far I have heard of no benefits cut (though I would not put it past Bush).

Retirement benefits were a big selling point during the peace time years (roughly 70's through 90's) people served with distinction and earned their retirement.

In my case I have a service connected disability, I am thankfully for my disability payment but I in no way want to be arrogant about it.

I simply think that the government promised to make good on my condition and they are doing so by providing care (which I don't think is at all bad or substandard) at VA facilities and a monthly stipend.

Thank you again for the kind words for vets.
:thumbsup: :hi: :dem:

...I certainly think the gov't should not - at least - be cutting your benefits. You earned them. I'm not a vet but it just seems to me like cutting their benefits - whether they are career military retirees or just served their time - especially if in combat or wartime - is a cold slap in the face.

My hospital is the VAMC in Dallas. The folks at the SCI wing are simply outstanding, but they are suffering from not enough workers and too many veterans seeking care.

I don't know how you reacted, but when I was injured my first question was "When can I go back to work?" Since I was on a submarine, that was out, but I was sure that there was a shore duty slot waiting for me.

Nope. They don't hire paralyzed veterans. Wouldn't even consider it.

It's not that we don't want to work, it's just that work is damned hard to come by.

You're uncle deserves better then what he's getting, but that does not mean that those who are retiring don't deserve what they have earned either.

Military retirees get a percentage of pay based on the rank they retired at, for some who are coming up for retirement now that comes down to 50% of their base pay, for the next generation of retirees it will be less then 50%.

...thanks. I have a difficult time imagining too many vets (even career ones) being money-grubbing mongers wanting to get their hands on more than they earned or were promised.

If the gov't promised certain benefits to vets, then that promise should be honored and they should not be cut. It seems to me they're not talking about increasing benefits over what was promised on enlistment, but rather cutting back on what was promised -- and that, IMO, is wrong.

When I served, both me and my wife achieved E-5. At that time we were living in off base housing and I was drawing an additional $100 a month in hazardous duty pay.

Despite two incomes and the extra pay, we still qualified for food stamps.

I never met a money-grubbing serviceman/woman. They all seemed to be content to serve their country and trusted the government to hold up its end of the deal.

Of course I was only 20 and also thought my TLD would accurately measure the radiation I was exposed to on my nuclear boat.

:shrug:

and by that I mean us as citizens, owe it to at least honor the contract we made with veterans when they enlisted.

I've seen too much taken away from friends who put in 25 and 30 years.