Does this wounded U.S. vet not realize that the economy is doing GREAT?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070929/ap_on_he_me/coming_home_wounded_the_price

Okay, cons, tell us how lazy this guy is, since he can't keep a job in our BOOMING Bush economy. Call him a lib. Tell him he's emboldening the enemy by publicizing his personal financial troubles. Let's hear it. What's wrong with him?

wolf: I write novels. You've probably read them. Trust me, I'm doing VERY well.

The person who should be embarrassed is the person who wrote the sentence: "Have you went out and got a job yet?"

How INCREDIBLY embarrassing for you...

For all you people who missed my sarcasm and got defensive on behalf of this guy because there are valid reasons why he's having trouble in his life... thank you for proving my point.

Answer 1

I'm not a conservative by any means, but I don't agree that this guy should necessarily be expecting his benefits to pay for a home in "california wine country"....

Have you ever priced real estate over there?

Answer 2

The man is a casualty of war and PTSD effects different people different ways. He needs help, he doesn't need to be held up as a poster child by libs on a mission, and quite frankly, I really resent the tone of your question when you obviously have no idea of what this man, and others like him, went through. To use it to justify your own sick opinion is reprehensible. Let me explain:

Aside from the fact that I spent 14 months in combat in Vietnam (1967-68) in a front line unit, I also spent 21 years as a Police Officer in a good sized city. I did 10 of those 21 years as an Evidence Technician. Today you'd call us CSIs. I was the lead Evidence Technician on 85 homicide investigations in that 10-year time, and my last three homicides were little children THAT'S LITTLE CHILDREN!

One was shot in a drive by, one was an infant, placed in an over in a roasting pan by her drug addicted mother, and the last one was strangled at 2 years of age by her teenaged babysitter, and that's the one that haunts me the most. We had a new process at that time that allowed us to lift fingerprints from human skin, and I was the only one in my Unit who had graduated the FBI Academy and had taken that course so it fell to me to do it. I had to fog that poor child's body with an iodine gun. That means getting right up close and personal because an iodine gun is powered by YOUR BREATH. That was in 1983 and some nights I can still see that childs face. That homicide was my last investigation as an Evidence Tech because I had to give it up after that BUT, I didn't stop living my life. I had to go through a bunch of councelling and I had friends and I learned to deal with it. It's still there but I don't sob so much anymore. I've been retired 17 years now.

The point is, I was lucky and I had help, and maybe that poor soul will get some help like I did before he does the "Dutch Act" because I also had about 250 suicide investigations during that same time period, and I know how to do it. I'm sure he does too. Using him they way you're trying to, to make a stupid lib point, is wrong.

Answer 3

This unfortunately, is only the beginning. These poor soldiers are going to be coming home in huge numbers suffering from severe wounds and worse, severe Post Traumatic Syndrome Disease. This kind of disease doesn't go away for years and years. And, people would know why if they lived through what these soldiers lived through in Iraq. For all the pain and suffering these soldiers have gone through, the government should pay this guy's house off and pay for top notch mental health services. They deserve it. They put their life on the line for this country and the country owes them big time especially when they are coming home in pieces, physically and mentally. They should have never been sent over there in the first place because this president is corrupt and evil. But the things I mentioned that we should do for our returning troops is the least we can do to show our continuing support for them.

The thumbs down I'm getting just proves that people really don't mean it when they say "support the troops". BTW, the article said he had an adjustable rate mortgage meaning that it went up when the interest rates went up. And, before the war he was making over $100,000 a year and his pay could cover his mortgage then. Why should he be punished again by losing his house because he paid a huge price already for fighting in Iraq. Jeeesuz, people in this country are getting selfish, especially on Yahoo boards.

John_Galt.... You didn't serve in Iraq and pay a heavy price for this country already. You completely missed my point about these soldiers and completely confirmed my point about people on Yahoo boards being completely selfish. BTW, not all houses in every part of the country are the same rate. A $400,000 house in Los Angeles is very very small compared to a $400,000 house in Iowa or anywhere in the mid-west. BTW, have you ever seen someone with severe PTSD? They are basically completely debilitated. Why do people think that only physical wounds only matter and make a difference in a person's life. Mental health when it comes to trauma can be more debilitating than some physical impediment. Our soldiers deserve the best health care and mental health care money can buy. This should be a no brainer, especially to those who support this war.

Answer 4

How in the world was he pying about $70,000 a year on a mortgage with $100,000 income? Add onto that $40,000 some credit card debt, I'd say this guy was a pretty poor money manager prior to his war service.
Given his prior financial managing, if the VA gave him a million dollars a year he'd just go deeper into debt.

Answer 5

How low class you are for using this guy to make political points. I'm very sure that you know that no one, ( neither Democrat or Republican) wants a veteran to suffer.
If you have reliable information about any wrong done to this man, you should call or write your Congressman, and stop all the melodramatic nonsense.

Answer 6

It is hard to ad what the others are saying but here goes; At what point is a person supposed to stand on their own two feet. Okay, war is tough and sometimes debilitating. My uncle was a POW during Vietnam and he did okay by standing on his own. This guy spent himself into debt before he went to Iraq. That is solely his fault. He took the education and he had an obligation to his country at that point. You and he should think about those who didn't make it back. Their families signed no contract and yet they suffer from the loss of their soldier. Your sympathy is misplaced. Your soldier was not abandoned by anyone it seems. I'm a veteran and he is doing almost as good as me in the money department. I just didn't spend myself into the ground. Others have recovered from far worse in other wars.

Illtrix I have to respond; pay his house off? My house cost less than 100 thousand and his is what? 300,000 dollars. If you pay off his house then do I get an extra 200,000 dollars to make up the difference? How about if I was a successful attorney with a 500,000 dollar house? If I get wounded is it paid off. Have you mailed in your check yet?

Answer 7

This question doesn't have anything to do with the economy at all. Reread the article! He is $43,000 in credit card debt! Who's fault is that? The guy is making almost 3 times more a month than I am and he's getting all his medical needs paid for so I'd say he doesn't have a clue how to handle his expenses at all! As for him publicizing it he wants us all to bail him out because he's done so much for this country. If we 'pay' him for what he's done by bailing him out is he still a hero? And I have no clue how you get it's embolding the enemy.

Answer 8

He is not a representative of the economy. He is only a representative of his personal situation.

You know that if we got together here from both sides and petitioned our respective senators and congress-members we could probably get our point across that we are not willing to sacrifice the care and treatment of those who fight our wars.

Answer 9

He is given $4300/mo by our government, which is $3000/yr more than the median average. I feel for him and his family but his military service helped him get the education it took to achieve his previous lifestyle, when you sign up for military service and take the benefits of their training you also understand that you are a soldier and you could get severely injured in a training accident let alone a military engagement.

He had a $5700/mo mortgage on $100k/yr income before he got hurt. I make well more than that and I'm not stupid enough to have a $5700 mortgage. His irresponsibility before he got hurt is his problem not the $51000 per year we pay him for his service.

Answer 10

I sympathize with his emotional issues and all but not with his financial, not one bit! To use all the good things he's done as a reason to feel bad for him and then bail him out is wrong!! Big time wrong! I think your sarcasim is out of line too, I really doubt it will be just the 'cons' who find fault with this one.