Homeless Iraq vets
- Thread starter MMike
- Start date
Well, with GW and Co. slashing GI benefits and VA funding like Freddy Krueger on bad acid, thats what we will get. And the Grand Old Party doesnt give 2 sh1ts...
The only people Vets can consistently depend on are other Vets.
The only people Vets can consistently depend on are other Vets.
Is this an indictment of Bush or society as a whole as it relates to their value of servicemen? If the public TRULY cared, there would be a system in place to deal with this very issue. Its not like this is the first war ever and these are the first ever homeless vets. Yeah, it falls on Bush now cause he's in office, but lets be real, this is an issue that goes deeper.
Deeper like a fox!!!
Definitely society as a whole. I'm not an anti-Bushtard. But this sort of thing really makes me sick. I couldn't imagine getting my body all farked up then come home to nothing. Even if that soldier was a big idiot loser with no money before he got shot up, you'd think that he'd at least be given a stipend to survive on. Or have some sort of goverment housing. To think of the cash that is made by some in the business of war, you'd think the gov't would at least slap a tax on weapons sales to pay for veteran care. No war, no sales, no new vets to take care of. Just thought of it, but seems fair to me.
Is that true? Even if that's true, don't you think they deserve a little support now that they've been mutiliated for "the cause"?
But, I suppose you'd have a bunch of people blowing their hands and feet off just to get a free ride... barf.
I dont know the extent of it, but I know that you DO in fact get disability payments and vet benefits like free healthcare, nursing home, stuff like that. And its not like disabled people arent allowed in sect.8 housing. Its a ghetto, but I fail to see how they're worse off than anyone else who is disabled. I mean, I dont see how they remain "homeless' when there are programs in place to at the very least house and feed them. There are millions who dont work and are NOT homeless and dont recieve the disability vet benefits like they do, so I guess Im a little confused as well as saddened.
Ditto. Gets to a point where you can't help people who don't want to help themselves I guess...
no idea... I was just quoting Rush Limbaugh.
But the rub is that your benefits are related to you "percent disabled". The guy in the story (when I heard it on NPR on friday) was a mechanic. His arm no longer works but he's considered only 20% disabled. But he can't be a mechanic anymore. But his disability is paying him a bout $200/month.
Now admittedly, this guy (after listening to him) is no rocket scientist. But he's still getting the short end of the stick.
I see what you're saying, but since when does missing an arm mean you cant get food stamps and govt. housing? He may not be able to work, but he has benefits at his disposal that either (1) he isnt taking advantage of or (2) is for some reason unable to that I dont understand. Im not ruling out #2, but it seems unlikely that a disabled war vet would not be allowed food stamps and a room.
That is true. And this guy.....again, is a bit of a moron because he is refusing help from his sister etc.....and he is living in a car that he can somehow afford to put gas in....
If you click on the "listen" link, it will clarify what I'm talking about. I'm refering to the first guy living in the Plymouth
It's giving me hell on the mac, I cant listen.
Well then just trust that everything I say is 100% correct.
This is a common problem. I spoke with the late CCNV head Mitch Snyder about this very issue back in '89 when he visited George Mason, and he said a big portion of homeless he dealt with were mentally ill vets.
If we truly gave a rat's ass about our servicemembers, we would pay them a decent wage and stop dipping into their benefits and training budgets every four years.
If we truly gave a rat's ass about our servicemembers, we would pay them a decent wage and stop dipping into their benefits and training budgets every four years.
I'm sure it is a combination of economic, social, and frankly, mental health issues, which are forcing some veterans to live out of their cars.
If soldiers come back without a support system, like family or friends, then the transition will be much much harder....
There are a lot of great programs available to vets, but it depends on where you live and who you know. It seems like (based on the guys I talked with in my unit and others) that a large majority of the single guys that have little or no education get used to taking care of themselves while in the sh!t. Then they come home and they don't feel like they are "home". They don't know who to talk to or even where to look or who to ask for help. They end up living out of the car or something because they just don't know there are plans and systems in place ot help.
Now there is a larger problem with support getting cut and a huge "what have you done for me lately" attitude when guys come home. The people here are busy looking out for #1 and there are few people looking out for Joe.
Now there is a larger problem with support getting cut and a huge "what have you done for me lately" attitude when guys come home. The people here are busy looking out for #1 and there are few people looking out for Joe.
Having spent time in the Army, I can see how people lose sight of how to take care of themselves outside of the system. Heck, I had to ask people I work with how to go to the non-emergeny room doctors when my ears were infected, all that stuff was taken care of for me in the Army.
But, I also see how these guys are doing it to themselves. The government will pay for retraining, especially if you are a disabled vet, irregardless of the % of disablement. Government jobs, and defense contractors are always looking for vets, I still get calls because of my clearance level, and I've been out 6 years.
On a side, I noticed that the main story was about a National Guard member, technically the federal government does not pay him, as the National Guard is a state service, so some of the blame for his problems should lay on the state he resides in for not taking care of their servicemembers.
But, I also see how these guys are doing it to themselves. The government will pay for retraining, especially if you are a disabled vet, irregardless of the % of disablement. Government jobs, and defense contractors are always looking for vets, I still get calls because of my clearance level, and I've been out 6 years.
On a side, I noticed that the main story was about a National Guard member, technically the federal government does not pay him, as the National Guard is a state service, so some of the blame for his problems should lay on the state he resides in for not taking care of their servicemembers.