Despite veterans opposition, Senate Dems vow to pass budget deal

[ceyko]

See, I'm hoping you're wrong. I'm actually betting that enough people out there who aren't vets are tired of seeing welfare queens handed the store while there are homeless vets who are missing limbs wrapped in a pancho liner under an overpass.

I hope I am too, but ESPECIALLY from a political point of view - I don't see it. Oh and even if you add in the people who do care (lets face it, some of the organization that make a difference are non-vets) - there are no where near enough of them.

It seems to me that politicians just pretend to care, only to avoid offending/piss off the semi-patriotic to patriotic citizens.

I'd put a small amount of money on it that you'll likely not see anything different soon. A lot of votes on that welfare and the more they screw people just barely making it - the more they get on welfare. Welfare = Win.

[bcoop]

I'm actually betting that enough people out there who aren't vets are tired of seeing welfare queens handed the store while there are homeless vets who are missing limbs wrapped in a pancho liner under an overpass.

You also need to be realistic about why a lot of those vets are homeless, wrapped in panchos sitting under an overpass. Just because you're a vet, doesn't mean that you're exempt from poor decision making, and the result of drug and alcohol abuse.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

You also need to be realistic about why a lot of those vets are homeless, wrapped in panchos sitting under an overpass. Just because you're a vet, doesn't mean that you're exempt from poor decision making, and the result of drug and alcohol abuse.

In all fairness, transitioning from the military to civilian life is hard enough. Toss some psych problems from war or losing a buddy overseas and poor decision making is much more likely.

[BP]

In all fairness, transitioning from the military to civilian life is hard enough. Toss some psych problems from war or losing a buddy overseas and poor decision making is much more likely.

And it varies drastically by your branch of service and MOS. A USAF communications specialist is going to have a much easier time with the transition than a USMC squad leader. Someone who spent 20 years commanding teenagers around is going to have a tough time selling refrigerators at Sears for a punk kid but a quartermaster guy might step right in running in a distribution hub.

[bcoop]

In all fairness, transitioning from the military to civilian life is hard enough. Toss some psych problems from war or losing a buddy overseas and poor decision making is much more likely.

I don't disagree, however, just as I stated, you don't get a free pass because you made shitty decisions in your life. I'm also not not naive enough to think that every homeless Vet is only under a bridge because they lost a buddy or have psych problems that can be solely contributed to a war. I'd even be interested to see some estimated numbers on how many homeless Vets never saw a war at all.

If you're going to attack handouts, no handouts are sacred.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

I don't disagree, however, just as I stated, you don't get a free pass because you made shitty decisions in your life. I'm also not not naive enough to think that every homeless Vet is only under a bridge because they lost a buddy or have psych problems that can be solely contributed to a war. I'd even be interested to see some estimated numbers on how many homeless Vets never saw a war at all.

If you're going to attack handouts, no handouts are sacred.

I didn't say you were wrong.

Some shitty decisions are understandable though. I happen to know of a soldier that lost their brother overseas. Dude tried to cover the pain with alcohol and drug abuse and got pinched. Now he is unemployable and has a dependency problem.

I don't think there are hard numbers in regards to how many homeless vets saw conflict, but I do know there is a huge surge every time we go to war.

But adjusting to civilian life is a HUGE part of the equation. It took me years to wrap my head around not being in the service any more. In fact It took a close call involving alcohol for it to really sink in (Thus the reason I don't drink any longer for those that know me). It isn't easy in the least trying to fit in when your mind works differently than everyone around you.

I do have to say that payouts for military service (medical retirement and regular retirement) are a far cry from a handout. 90% of the guys and gals that get those earned it the hard way. Calling COLA and Tricare Prime handouts is like calling a pension plan a handout.

[bcoop]

I do have to say that payouts for military service (medical retirement and regular retirement) are a far cry from a handout. 90% of the guys and gals that get those earned it the hard way. Calling COLA and Tricare Prime handouts is like calling a pension plan a handout.

Here's where we'll differ. If they don't pay for it out of pocket, it is a handout. Period. Now, I've got less of a problem paying for things like that, than paying for methheads and hoodrats spitting out kids like a fucking slot machine. But if you aren't paying for it, it is a handout, and that's a fact.


But a budget must be met, and shit has to go. The Pentagon spends money aimlessly, and like it's going out of style. They have to be reigned in at some point.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

But a budget must be met, and shit has to go. The Pentagon spends money aimlessly, and like it's going out of style. They have to be reigned in at some point.

Ill agree with you there. I would rather see us curb spending on some of the retarded programs instead of Vet benefits.

I never understood how the US spent so damned much on defense and still is merely on pace with China.

[bcoop]

Ill agree with you there. I would rather see us curb spending on some of the retarded programs instead of Vet benefits.

No disagreement there.

[Couver]

There was a $770 million dollar TRICARE surplus till the DOD decided it had to be spent elsewhere.

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20120802/NEWS/208020318/

I'm not to much up on my history but wasn't social security raided the same way back in the day?


**edit $708. Other articles have it more, regardless of the numbers rape it and spent it now seems to be the mantra.

[Pokulski-Blatz]

There was a $770 million dollar TRICARE surplus till the DOD decided it had to be spent elsewhere.

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20120802/NEWS/208020318/

I'm not to much up on my history but wasn't social security raided the same way back in the day?


**edit $708. Other articles have it more, regardless of the numbers rape it and spent it now seems to be the mantra.

Yep. Sounds familiar.

[68RR]

add this to the equasion.... pay close attention to what is said

http://money.msn.com/retirement/news.aspx?feed=AP&date=20131216&id=17194079

[Forever_frost]

You also need to be realistic about why a lot of those vets are homeless, wrapped in panchos sitting under an overpass. Just because you're a vet, doesn't mean that you're exempt from poor decision making, and the result of drug and alcohol abuse.

You mean like the VA not coming to you when you are medically discharged with TBI and severe PTSD and instead make you come to them, go through years before they decide to pay you and take over a year before you can get any kind of psychological counseling and medication to help the walls stop bleeding?

I was one of those vets homeless. I lived in a field without utilities for a while, just me and my dog.

[Forever_frost]

Here's where we'll differ. If they don't pay for it out of pocket, it is a handout. Period. Now, I've got less of a problem paying for things like that, than paying for methheads and hoodrats spitting out kids like a fucking slot machine. But if you aren't paying for it, it is a handout, and that's a fact.


But a budget must be met, and shit has to go. The Pentagon spends money aimlessly, and like it's going out of style. They have to be reigned in at some point.

Except it's covered in the constitution to arm and support the Army and Navy. Looking after those that got fucked up in defense of the nation? Part of the "supporting" part of that.

[bcoop]

Except it's covered in the constitution to arm and support the Army and Navy. Looking after those that got fucked up in defense of the nation? Part of the "supporting" part of that.

You're stretching, and you know it.


Sucks that you were homeless, but that is your problem, not mine. You want to preach personal reaponsibility from the rooftops, but you think you're exempt. I get it, you served. You still have responsibilities, PTSD be damned.