Do you believe the government really cares about our vets?

Question

The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports:
Homeless veterans are mostly the vast majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45% suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. 47% of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. More than 67% served our country for at least three years and 33% were stationed in a war zone.

In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness -- extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care -- a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm
http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm#facts
As a nation, do you believe we should be doing more for our Vets?

Answer 1

I believe they do somewhat. The government is just the US citizens running it

Answer 2

well this is the first time the government has been in charge of delivery of vaccines and we see how well they have handled that. there isn't even one agency that you can name that they run effectively but yet they will magically be able to overcome this and we must trust them with our lives and 1/6th of our economy. this so called health care bill isn't about health, it is about control on every level of our lives. wake up ppl. the end result of every thing this admin is trying to ram down our throats has the end result of 'redistribution' and unprecedented executive power expansion. in other words, socialism. ps Jimmy: the VA did the same to my brother, he died three years ago after horrible suffering. the wound is still fresh. ps 2, we MUST pay to ss and medicare, we MUST be on medicare at age 65, we do not get a choice and if you look at what they were suppose to be and what they became, you would understand why they are both broke and may soon end at any time leaving those who has no CHOICE totally out! you most likely will never see either take care of you when u are age 65 so don't be so sure they are so wonderful. btw: congress doesn't subscibe or pay into either of these programs and they also excluded themselves from this wonderful plan they want for us. that should tell you something if you have half a brain.

Answer 3

Here in NH, we had 3 homeless veterans die of exposure last winter due to the lack of beds at veterans shelters. Yet, the federal government continues to cut funding for veterans shelters and soup kitchens where (in my experience) about 1/3 of the users are veterans.

America was horrified when we learned about the poor treatment of returning soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Now there is a new shocking statistic: 25 percent of the nation's homeless are veterans.

We have a president and vice president who wave the flag of patriotism and call America to support the troops, and they let this happen. When so much is being made about whether candidates wear a flag lapel or hold their hand over their heart during the playing of the national anthem, the true display of patriotism is found in how we treat those who have put their lives on the line for the country they love.

It's not that (I think) the government hates veterans, especially the homeless. They just prefer not to think about the long-term effects of the wars they wage.

Answer 4

Thank you so much for asking this I know so many veterens that have nothing to go to after they get out of the military. The amount of jobs out there are in no way enough or even pay enough to support a population of veterens after they get out of the service. The government expects disability is enough, but ask those same Government officals if they could live off of it and I bet you they would say not on your life. It would not cost the government much to take over old hotels and convert them to homeless shelters for verterens or be able to feed them and have a place where they can help them get a
livable wage once they get out.

I remeber when I got out of the service all I could find was work with temp agencies and it is not enough to live on. I had to find that on my own work because the veterens affairs office expects veterens to live on minumum wage when they get out at least in the military you don't need a whole lot of pay because your food and shelter is covered. In the real world they expect a person to live on less yet not provide food and shelter. If people are going to pay dirt wages they should at least feed and house people. Support is not there for either the citizens or veterens. Once your out of service your no longer anyone's problem and while the fat cats in Washishton are getting fatter. The men and women that give there life and limb always seem to get the shaft.

Answer 5

There are over 3 million people in the government, and, I'm sure, individually, many of them do care about veterans, among other things.

But, collectively, the government is a souless beuraucracy and is incapable of caring about anything other than expanding it's power and it's budget.

Answer 6

No, of course I don't believe our government really cares about our vets; I read the article last week which confirmed it and then saw a special on CNN about it, but honestly the two veterans I spoke to about it felt the same way.

Answer 7

Look at it this way - if the government cared about these people why would it leave them in poverty so they have no choice but to enlist then send them overseas to risk their lives and murder a bunch of people they don't even know?

The army is for protecting your country not for sending off around the world to protect US economic interests ie. rich people's bank balances.

Look at the war in Iraq now they keep going on about supporting the troops when what they really mean is keep them over there getting screwed up so we can steal the oil. No one will care about these men once they have returned maimed and messed up and no one ever really has.

Answer 8

No they are trying to say that post traumatic stress doesn't exist so they don't have to pay for it. And a man I know that had shrapnal through the gut and lost half his intestines isn't being given full disability cause even though he is in chronic pain and in a wheel chair apparently its not the gov't s problem

Answer 9

"Homeless veterans are mostly the vast majority are single"

I can't quite understand that sentence. Do they mean "Homeless veterans are the vast majority? Or that the vast majority are single? I'm not a stickler for grammar, (quite the opposite o.o), but I can't understand that sentence. I'd also like to see the link, I'm not too well informed on that subject. :)

Appreciate it!

Hey! What's with the thumbs down! Can't a kid be curious?

Answer 10

Failed again. and this morning I learned that if you are an injured vet the government takes back your sign on bonus.