SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

Not true. The VA is very restrictive in the Veterans Benefits it distributes. Just visit any Veterans facebook group and see what they have to say. For every success story there are dozens that claim the VA slogan is "Deny, Deny Until They Die." If the VA was responsive to the needs of the Vets, Congress would not have had to pass the PACT Act to force the VA to care for Vets that were injured or sickened while serving.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Right on, nice rant

toxdoc42

One of the problems with these ratings, I believe, is the subtract the cost of raising funds from the funds before they are then added to the budget. So the administrative costs do not include the costs of funds raising.

sv3noKin51E

Hello G: Thank you for your post. Everyone in my family and all of my elders served, and survived their service related wounds, and ill treatment from the VA. My Father joined several months before Pearl Harbor as a skinny, half-starved farm boy, and actually gained weight during boot camp. As a non-com, it definitely beat being drafted into the Army during the war. The higher-ups quickly discovered he had prime pilot skills. He finished his service as a full Commander, and was a Naval Aviator for almost 20 years, ferrying all aircraft types anywhere on the planet that was needed, he flew everything from the biggest heavies to puddle-jumpers, and actually enjoyed flying the Steerrman. On a flight from STL to Millington TN, taking him and others to monthly drill the aircraft went down after engine failure on takeoff. He said it was a wild belly-flop-hop ride of a landing, and that the pilot who was flying the plane should have gotten a commendation. He wasn't seriously injured but a couple of men didn't make it. He saw a narrow crack in the side of the plane where it had split in half and edged his way ou before the plane caught fire. When he was clear of the crash he looked around and saw his suitcase sitting upright 10 feet clear of the crash. Everyone else was running away, but he said he wasn't about to lose his dress uniform and other gear so he walked over and retrieved the suitcase. The men who were seriously injured fought for years to get their benefits, unfortunately some passed away too soon, physically, mentally and financially broken trying to get help from the system that is required to provide what we owe all veterans. My Mother's older brother enlisted in the Marines when he was only 17, my grandfather signed for him and he served as a DI for many years after he came back from Korea, rising to the rank of Master Gunnery Sargent. He was injured in a similar crash as my Dad in the early 60s, fighting for his benefitss. He was finally awarded back-pay and 100% disability 4 years before he passed. He was a tough man but in civilian life you'd never know it; he was as mild-mannered as 'Clark Kent' and was kind to one and all. His greatest joy during his final years was feeding the wild birds in his back yard every morning before going to work part time at the Post Office each day, back when we actually had a working Post Office. He took hundreds of amazing photos of all 'his' birds, had a shelf full of photo albums and had many enlargements on the walls, which disappeared after his funeral.

My favorite running buddy in HS in the '60s was drafted into the the Army in the summer of '68, sent straight to VN after boot. Four months into his 1st tour, was hit through his right side with a .50 cal round outside the base. I saw the scars and it was a miracle he lived. He was stablized as best they could manage, then flown back to the states for recovery. He spent 6 months in the hospital in TX then two months after leaving the hospital, incredibly the Army sent him back to VN for a 2nd tour. Shortly after he arrived in country, he took a small caliber bullet through his leg that hit his femur, and again was flown back to the US for another long hospital stay, and finally learned how to walk again. He was medically discharged and ultimately awarded 90% disability rating a year later, with help form both a congressman and senator in DC. Pardon my long winded-ness; On behalf of everyone who understand what you and so many other veterans have had to suffer/endure with the VA, God bless you and yours. I salute you and all of our veterans for serving our Citizens and Nation. It remains a national disgrace that our VA system seldom provides what our country owes to our servicemen and women for life. Your and all our veterans honor and service can never be diminished. Merry Christmas to you, and with hopes things will improve for you and all of our countrymen, so that we have a better and Happy New Year in 2024.

halraiser

[quote=Real Nikon Lover] the Red Cross would come to fires and charge the firefighters for refreshments and respit

That is not my experience with the Red Cross. As a search and rescue volunteer I've been on several missions where the RC showed up with refreshments. There was not even any way to pay or donate for the refreshments they provided us, much less a demand for payment.. Clearly the RC is not perfect, but I don't think they are as bad as you say.

halraiser

Yes, professional fund raisers can take an obscene cut. My search and rescue team used to use one but fired him and we are not doing quite well with some of our own fund raising.

kgw Loc: Elizabeth, CO

So, my wife was a GS Council CEO (retired 2010). At that time a box of cookies cost $2.50, Cookie company receive $1.00, GS Troop $0.50, and GS Council $1.00. They would not be selling cookies that only returned 10%.

Joe Cich Loc: Gurnee, Il

For those interested in donating to a veterans charity, there is an agency that reviews their tax returns and annual reports and then rates them based on the percentage of the charity's donations that are actually spent on supporting veterans versus spending on advertising, staff salaries, and administrative expenses. The agency is Charities For Vets. Charities are rated as Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended. Some of their findings will surprise you. Their website;
https://charitiesforvets.org/about-us/

Lucasdv123

I installed 6 phone lines for a telemarketer. I believe it was for the disabled veterans. They were selling first aid kits and American flags the kits were$25.00 and the flags were $50.00. The kits were 2x3x5 inch .they would donate 10% to the disabled veterans for using their name.i got home and my wife told me that the disabled veterans had called and she bought a first aid kit for $25.00 and they were going to deliver it tomorrow. I started laughing but didn't tell her why.this was about 30 years ago.when they showed up they had a large bag like what you would get at Victoria's secret. She gave them the $25.00 and they pulled the little first aid kit out of the bag and handed it over to her.she now knew why I was laughing. She never again donated to anything over the phone.i told her how I knew.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

A lot of misinformation in this meme that has been circulation for decades. Especially the Red Cross. Who is there, front and center, providing services, food, clothing, nec3ssities, shelter at every disaster? Do you know how much it takes to organize these endeavors? These are very talented people who help those in dire straits, and I daresay you would be beyond grateful if you were a recipient of their services. Ninety cents of every donated dollar goes to help victims.

People love to compare Goodwill with Salvation Army. Two different business models. Salvation Army is a religious organization that takes donations and sells donated goods. They beg at storefronts for cash donations (how is that accounted for?), and provide some shelter and food, help with rent, clothing and medical care.

Goodwill has no one single owner. The CEOs compensation is less than that of many CEIs who provide equivalent service in a major corporation. They also sell donated goods, provide job training, career counseling, programs for the disabled, and job placement services. They help people obtain GED, and offer scholarships at community colleges for people with disabilities. Ninety percent of donations goes into their mission.

You can research all of those mentioned in this scurrilous meme to learn how lopsided it is.

Vector

The Salvation Army also provides housing to those who have nowhere to go.

dwmoar Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley

I am a disabled vet and you are 100% correct - The government doesn't pay for 100% of anything. What the government promises vets and what they do are two totally different things.

oldschool

Research before giving. Here are two reputable sources on the effectiveness and efficiency of major charities:

https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-charities/?sh=1203cb375f50

https://www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities

The chart is not a fair or accurate complete representation of the organizations listed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Done!

Ruthlessrider

What is it that you think is “staggering,” the amount of money that charities get from the feds or the amount the feds pay for veterans medical bills?