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LATEST LETTERS

Veterans

Saturday, May 12 at 12:01 PM

Michael Darling of Centennial writes:

Disability payments for fooling around
What’s even more dismaying to learn is that despite available evidence and sources, the RMN chooses to sensationalize an issue as important as how veterans should be compensated by a grateful nation rather than report in responsible way what the Veterans Administration is all about and whether or not the VA believes it is capable of delivering care to 700,000 returning Iraq/Afghan vets.
Sure- STDs make for attention grabbing press. But that kind of writing does nothing to further the national discussion on how vets should be compensated for the sacrifices they have made, are making and will make. Write about the role of the VA and the intention of creating a Veterans disability compensation system independent of Social Security or other government disability programs. Ask the VA how the average annual death rate of WWII and Korean War era veterans (approx 600,000/yr) will affect adequacy of resources for the 700,000 returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets.
Especially in an an era of a volunteer military, but in now way discounting the service of all the drafted veterans, the United States should think carefully about what it means to be a vet and how we as a nation choose to value military service. Of course the Commission should review how and why veterans are compensated for disabilities. But the discussion should be conducted in a context of facts and historical evidence, not sensationalistic baloney.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

You're obviously not a disabled veteran like me, and you obviously don't have a clue what you're talking about here.

Try doing a little research sometime. Visit a VA hospital just once -- or check out your local VFW post. You'll definitely learn a few things.

Posted by Intellius on May 12, 2007 08:43 PM