Comments on: Letter to Congress Regarding the Latest Obama Outrage Against Veterans

By: Bo from Maine

Bo from Maine — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:05:15 +0000

We should keep in mind that the Bush administration's budget proposals for the V.A. (& I have logged in over 8000 hours as a volunteer at Maine's V.A. hospital since 1994) were consistantly under funding level that verterans' groups – and V.A. officials – indicated was needed…less than relevant Congressional committees were recommending. Bush was even charging vets recovering from service-related injuries in V.A. hospitals for the meals they were served. Another reason I'm an ex-Republican.

By: Bo from Maine

Bo from Maine — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:58:14 +0000

Obama wasn't trying to get veterans to pay for their own health care. If they had private insurance (through a spouse, for example), the plan was for the VA to bill the insurance companies for service-related issues, a very bad idea. They evidently already do this for non-service-related conditions. But if you don't have private insurance, none of this would occur. The VA will take care of the veteran entirely. The proposal was never about having the veteran pay for care out of pocket.

By: SupernaturalCat

SupernaturalCat — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:58:16 +0000

I cant imagine anyone would stand behind this…hopefully enough outrage has been heard.

By: IronMike

IronMike — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:02:41 +0000

The NY Times is reporting that this plan has been scrapped. It actually states that Barack Obama heeded the concerns of veterans' groups. BS! He heeded the Senators that told Shinseki this idea was DOA when it showed up on their desks.

By: SupernaturalCat

SupernaturalCat — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:46:16 +0000

This is the result of ignorant people who elected a dictator into office and didnt heed the warnings of the words that came from the dictators own mouth. Probably another ploy to keep enlistment down so the "sleeper cell in chief" can finish off America for good.

By: IronMike

IronMike — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:10:57 +0000

From one military man to another, thank you for your service. I am sorry you were injured to the point you cannot serve actively in uniform anymore. I am glad, though, that you are continuing to serve actively out of uniform.
v/r,
IronMike

By: SupernaturalCat

SupernaturalCat — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:49:22 +0000

I think the only way voices will be heard is if 5 million Americans hit DC….small tea parties and calls and emails might not do it….no one will ignore 5 million people. The media can try but it wont succeed.

By: IronMike

IronMike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:46:54 +0000

The most distressing part of this is that Shinseki is selling it. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/10/s...

Next we'll see Gates fired and replaced by another embarrassing retired general by the name of McPeak. (Yea, AF guys, I said the M-word.)

By: IronMike

IronMike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:44:14 +0000

finish:
3) Housing benefits. Well, if you live on base, you surrender your housing allowance. If you're willing to surrender more than $2000 a month to live in 40 year old housing, that is.
4) Burial: It costs the American public a pittance to bury a veteran. For most, local military folks volunteer to conduct the funeral. As far as I know from my limited exposure to this, I don't think the family is charged for the flag.

Oh, and FYI, you are probably supporting, through sales tax, the medical care of firemen and policemen in your city.

By: IronMike

IronMike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:43:48 +0000

continued:
2) No one in the military gets free clothing, short of select uniform items that are required for duty, like flight suits, maintenance jump suits, helmets, etc. Everyone in the military pays for their uniforms. When you go to basic training, your initial uniform allowance, which totals over a $1000, gets deducted from your pay. Then, later, you get a one-time initial allowance of about $700 (enlisted) and $200 (officer). Every year after, the enlisted get a uniform maintenance allowance of around $300. Officers don't get that. All told, the money barely covers everything you need. For example: Set of BDUs, boots, cover, belts, socks, patches and tailoring/sewing will run you close to $200. And you need at least four pairs, especially if you spend your days crawling around and wearing out knees.
–more coming…