jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I was thinking about this on Memorial Day, but here it is now.

We spend trillions on the military, and most of it goes to big corporations. Meanwhile, veterans come back from war messed up physically and mentally, living on the street and begging for money. Veterans, whether they have gone to war or not, should be in better shape when they leave the military than when they entered. WW II vets had the GI Bill, and my father used that to go to TV/radio school. Today's vets struggle to get basic medical treatment. When you send thousands of volunteers to get shot and bombed, you have to take some responsibility for them when they return. Saying you can't afford to take care of them is not acceptable. People running munitions companies are multimillionaires, yet the real military people are often damaged and discarded.

Vancewood

Did you serve?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Agreed.
--Bob

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma

10-4

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Amen to that. My Brother-In-Law suffered lung damage and a host of complications related to Agent Orange inhalation and after years of fighting to get the Army to admit his problems were caused by their defoliant, the best he got, was admittance to the VA hospital where treatment was minimal and slow. A common story... Without getting too cynically political, your description is business as usual regardless of party or issue. Few realize it was the "liberal Democratic baby boomer" Bill Clinton who first rolled back the regulations on the banking and investment industries that ultimately led to the 2008 recession. President Trump is rolling back all the restrictions instituted after the 2008 recession (as well as environmental regulations) and both the Democrats and Republicans are quietly complicit with these actions as they publicly decry his immigration and foreign policies. The Who got it right: "Meet the new boss...same as the old boss."

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

This is definitely a problem, and since only about one percent of Americans have served in the Military most don't care enough to do something about it.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Why does that matter? His point is well taken either way. I served and I'd like to see a constitutional amendment that requires any funding for a shooting action be required to include an independently calculated amount for care of our troops when they return.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

"And the morals that they worship, will be gone."

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

22 years US Army. I am now 87. The VA has turned me over to Medi-care. I was getting better care in the service.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Veterans/active duty in the military is aprx 7%. Not all that long ago it was 16%.

3dees

while I agree that vets need better care, I have been treated at the Hines Veteran Hospital and have not had any problems in over 15 years. I know I get a bit extra because I am a wounded vet, but not all vet hospitals are like the ones poorly run and which make all the headlines. I never hear or read about the ones that are run the way they are meant to. I would like to see the US spend less on fixing other countries problems and spend more on the problems at home. we as a nation should be ashamed of the amount of veteran suicides and those living on the streets. of course this would put a dent in the pockets of the elites.

vonzip Loc: cape cod

I strongly agree with 3dees. Let's start at home. vz

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

No better here, but improved somewhat with the increasing popularity of the Paralympic Games and the Invictus Games. With Politicians spraying soldiers about like a terrorist sprays bullets I can't help but agree with the statement.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

When I was sent home in 67 I went to college under the GI Bill so that is still around. Interesting, "you have to take some responsibility for them when they return" when I came back we were hated and despised. My standard response now if someone finds out I was in Nam and thanks me for my service, my standard reply is; you're too late. More should be done for Vets. This is by no means a new problem. How do you solve a returning vet with mental problems? One who does not want treatment. Force him/her. Get a court order to put them in an institution?
Both my parents were immigrants one did not speak English that well. We were always told to study hard and become a success. The American dream. We all did and we all are. Thank you, mama and papa. Now if you are a success and in being so you are paid accordingly and have the ability to start up a company or run a company and in doing so and achieve the status of the infamous millionaire you are pond scum. Why is being successfully now a bad thing? Is this now the root of all evil? CEO's running companies did not start wars or ongoing conflicts. When did the American dream cease to exist?. Is it jealousy, envy, sour grapes? Perhaps hard work and a desire to achieve a goal are more than most can achieve. To minimize their failure they demonize your success.