SwiftVets.com

[PO2]

Now that the election is over and the swifties and POWs have made an impact on the results, the nation realizes that the veterans community CAN come together and make a difference. The politicians in Washington D.C. have taken notice.

It would be a shame if such influence is just dropped when there is still so much to do.

I need not go into detail about how many of the men we fought with have taken their own lives, either directly or through drugs and alcohol. Night sweats and nightmares still visit many of us, physical and mental conditions we did not know we had are surfacing. After a long and difficult struggle we finally got the VA to recognize both PTSD and Agent Orange. What else is hiding in our minds or bodies?

Gulf War I was fought a decade ago, and with the aid of the Vietnam vet, those warriors were able to receive recognition for their combat related conditions faster. But, it has only been a few years since their exposure. Who can tell what other conditions lie in wait inside them.

We are presently engaged in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Combat that closely resembles the way the Vietnam war was fought. Ambushes, booby traps, and IEDs. An enemy that hides among civilians and in places we do not wish to target such as schools, mosques, and hospitals. It is not unreasonable to expect that many of the troops in these two conflicts will return with the same conditions seen in many VN vets.

Yet, this Administration, with the consent of Congress is willing to cut the funding for the VA even more. It has often been said that the government balances the budget on the backs of the veterans. The politicians are so willing to be seen with our troops. It displays their "patriotism", yet when the bombs and bullets cease flying, and the troops leave the uniform in their closets, they become non-people. Abandoned and forgotten. Their wounds of war must be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt as being caused by their combat. They have few friends in the government and, with the cuts to the VA budget, even fewer.

I support the seeking out of fraud, waste, and abuse of our tax money. That is smart business. What I oppose is the constant targeting of the VA for that examination and not the "pork" found throughout the budget. If future veterans are to receive the care they deserve, funding priorities must be changed in Washington.

We veterans who came together to make a difference in the past election should continue with our efforts, but re-directed to convincing the politicians (inculding the President) that we are a strong influence and united to ensure they treat our veterans properly in the way promised them and worthy of their extraordinary sacrifice.

Our military heros should be confident of what lies in store for them when they leave service.
_________________
Duty. Honor. Country.
To me, more than just words.

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

[RogerRabbit]

[PO2]

[RogerRabbit]

[baldeagle]

Anecdotal evidence, both pro and con, abounds. It is true that the VA is closing some hospitals, ....but.....at the same time are opening clinics in many more locations accessible to veterans who previously lived too far from one of the hospitals to benefit much. And spending has increased, but so has enrollments.

Here's one source of facts;

Report from House Committee on Veteran's Affairs
http://www.dav.org/voters/documents/Response_to_Approps_Release.pdf
_________________
"In a word, I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home." --George Washington

[PO2]

When I first came upon SwiftVets, I thought it was non-partisin. Its mission was to expose JF Kerry for what he was, a liar, a trator, and an opportunist. It seems I was wrong. Just reading the posts on this subject, I realize that the commonality here is a dislike for the Democrat Party, and a defense of the Republican Party come hell or high water. I find the remarks here typical of the Johnny-come-lately, peacetime vets or non-vets. This area is aptly named, "Vets and Active Military Only..." The word Vietnam or even Combat is absent, a telling omission. Many remarks on SwiftVets have referred to Kerry (pituie) leaving shipmates behind, yet I see so many "vets" abandoning their shipmates both here and in the general public.

I swore never to do that, and still experience flashbacks of the time I had no other choice. Guilt for that has driven me through these 30+ years. I will not now, nor never will abandon my brothers and sisters again.

As I stated before, I'm 100% S/C P&T. I receive anything I need from the VA without cost. I do not need to push for more. I do so for my brothers and sisters, those who ARE in need. At a time when our country needed us and sent us to war, we went. We did not dodge or run, we went. We accepted danger and hardships as part of serving to our country. Some of us came back to overcome our experiences and succeed in our chosen profession. That did not free our country from its promise to us. We gave a little more when called, and for that the country promised to ensure that our medical needs would be covered for our entire lives. We served in combat for less than $100.00 a month, much less than our civilian counterparts received for working in an airconditioned and heated enviornment out of danger. I am not saying the country owes us anything, indeed it is we who owe our country for so much. I am saying that our country does need to fulfill their promises to us, however.

Many here have cited total dollar expenditures for the Department of Veterans Affairs. They ignore, however, the increase in costs over the years, the increased cost of medicine, wages, utilities, etc. They fail to compare the funding of the DVA per veteran with the funding per benificiary of other government programs. They fail to analize the increases in funding as a percentage of their budget and compare that to the funding for the DVA.

The DVA is now charging private insurance for certain services. That is good. I wish they were allowed to charge Medicare in the same way. It is these funds collected from private insurance agencies which have helped the DVA to continue services the way they have.

It is a shame some veterans allow petty partisan politics to cause them to abandon their duty to their fellow veterans. Since Vietnam I have distrusted politicians and their words and promises. For over 30 years I have not been disapointed. When their actions are examined, their words become meaningless. I see, however, that others on this board have allowed themselves to sway to the music of the snake charmers.
_________________
Duty. Honor. Country.
To me, more than just words.

[gocars]