Promises to Veterans

rob · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 12:54 PM

Since the Revolutionary War to present our country has made promises to our vets that have never been kept. Gen Washington tried to get the goverment to treat is soldiers with honor and fairness. The truth is that once you have served you have to justify everything to the VA to get anything. It took over 20 years to get the congress to make good on their promises to the first military. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with the Goverment and VA that they care to share.

oceanbreeze · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 01:30 PM

Rob..I'll let you know on Nov. 10, 2010. I do know we have to fight for everything even though he's on active duty, right down to money that is owed to us, for TDY.

rob · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyofmts

Rob..I'll let you know on Nov. 10, 2010. I do know we have to fight for everything even though he's on active duty, right down to money that is owed to us, for TDY.

Lady, this is true, but when I retired, I didn't even file for diasbilty. I was so burned out that all I could think about was going home. I feel that the Army treated my medical ailments fairly while I was in and to this day they are still porviding me with low cost health care, even they promised me free medical for life, so I don't have any complaints.

I work with guys that are constantly trying differrent treatments to just increase their disability. I think as long as I am able to work that I shouldn't try to get "welfare money" from them. Tell your hubby to make sure that he makes copies of his medical records before he retires and get them certified.

Still Dizzy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 01:59 PM

America has a VERY long tradition of showing her appreciation to those who defend her by craping on them. We cap off 225 years of vet abuse, and in the case of the Washington bonus riots of killing them, with appointing Steve Bouyer head of Veterans Affairs. Congressman Bouyer (R) Ind. is also in the Army Reserves. His unit was called to active duty in Iraq. Mr. Bouyer petitioned the DOD for a exemption, based on his Congressional status. He was granted this, and someone else is now in Iraq DOING HIS JOB. I called in a talk show Mr. Bouyer was on and asked him if he was still in the Reserves. He replied "Yes." I asked if he is still being paid, and getting retirement credits. He replied "Yes." I asked if he didn't see a problem with being paid for a job he IS NOT DOING. He replies " I would love to go but don't want to give up my Congressional seat." He continues to this day to be paid TWO Government checks for doing ONE job.
When friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors are called up they are not given the luxury of having connections with the DOD, as Mr. Bouyer does, they must go.
The tradition continues.

oceanbreeze · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 02:22 PM

Thanks Rob...that is if the military doesn't "lose" his records as they have done with kids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Lady, this is true, but when I retired, I didn't even file for diasbilty. I was so burned out that all I could think about was going home. I feel that the Army treated my medical ailments fairly while I was in and to this day they are still porviding me with low cost health care, even they promised me free medical for life, so I don't have any complaints.

I work with guys that are constantly trying differrent treatments to just increase their disability. I think as long as I am able to work that I shouldn't try to get "welfare money" from them. Tell your hubby to make sure that he makes copies of his medical records before he retires and get them certified.

RASTAMAN · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Since the Revolutionary War to present our country has made promises to our vets that have never been kept. Gen Washington tried to get the government to treat is soldiers with honor and fairness. The truth is that once you have served you have to justify everything to the VA to get anything. It took over 20 years to get the congress to make good on their promises to the first military. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences with the Government and VA that they care to share.

Rob, I know I'll probably piss you off with this answer, but I have seen most benefits and promises taken away from the active duty and retired military service members by Republican Administrations.

Heres an example: During the 80's and Reagan.

1. The military retirement system was changed from the previous 20yrs service in exchange for 50% retirement of your base pay, to what is currently known to today as the "High Three"; whereas 20yrs of service only nets a service member 40%-42%. I can recall the retiree pay raise and cost of living kept past with how the pay was for a person on active duty.

2. During the 80's the GI Bill for many enlistees/service members was discontinued and replaced the GI Bill with a program called VEAP. This program called for the service mbr to par $2,400 and the Govt matched to a grand total of $8,100. Now the Veap program has since been discontinued and the regular GI bill re-instated, however, 100,000's of service members did not get this benefit b/c all they had was Veap.

3. During the 80's under Rep. Administrations we saw the slow eroding dismantling of the military medical and dental systems for active duty and retiree and their dependents. Many veteran signed on the doted line and were told they'd receive top medical and dental benees while on active duty and a life time of medical and dental benees (on military installations) for retirees.

Now you can see we are stuck w/ a program called TRICARE; which is Okay, but its not like the attention and service one would receive at a military hospital.

As you can see, these are serious erosions of benefits well deserved and fought for by service members of the past. Yet during the 80's millions of active duty and retired service members overwhelmingly voted for Reagan and Bush I. We were voting against our best interest. Politicians of both parties only respect and appreciate this nations military during times of war and major conflicts. The politicians have figured out a long time ago how to divide and conquer active duty and retired military members to eventually erode military benefits to pay for other programs.

rob · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

Rob, I know I'll probably piss you off with this answer, but I have seen most benefits and promises taken away from the active duty and retired military service members by Republican Administrations.

Heres an example: During the 80's and Reagan.

1. The military retirement system was changed from the previous 20yrs service in exchange for 50% retirement of your base pay, to what is currently known to today as the "High Three"; whereas 20yrs of service only nets a service member 40%-42%. I can recall the retiree pay raise and cost of living kept past with how the pay was for a person on active duty.

2. During the 80's the GI Bill for many enlistees/service members was discontinued and replaced the GI Bill with a program called VEAP. This program called for the service mbr to par $2,400 and the Govt matched to a grand total of $8,100. Now the Veap program has since been discontinued and the regular GI bill re-instated, however, 100,000's of service members did not get this benefit b/c all they had was Veap.

3. During the 80's under Rep. Administrations we saw the slow eroding dismantling of the military medical and dental systems for active duty and retiree and their dependents. Many veteran signed on the doted line and were told they'd receive top medical and dental benees while on active duty and a life time of medical and dental benees (on military installations) for retirees.

Now you can see we are stuck w/ a program called TRICARE; which is Okay, but its not like the attention and service one would receive at a military hospital.

As you can see, these are serious erosions of benefits well deserved and fought for by service members of the past. Yet during the 80's millions of active duty and retired service members overwhelmingly voted for Reagan and Bush I. We were voting against our best interest. Politicians of both parties only respect and appreciate this nations military during times of war and major conflicts. The politicians have figured out a long time ago how to divide and conquer active duty and retired military members to eventually erode military benefits to pay for other programs.

Rasta all this is true, but what did the Democratic adminstrations do for the vet? They didn't help us either so both parties have turned their backs on us.

RASTAMAN · #8 (**permalink**) 08-28-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Rasta all this is true, but what did the Democratic adminstrations do for the vet? They didn't help us either so both parties have turned their backs on us.

Yes they have, I'm in full agreement. Theres even talk now in Congress of changing the current military retirement system with instead of allowing service members who served 20yrs or more retire and immediately start collecting their retirement; the plan is now not allowing pensions to start until after you turn 65 years old. These folks are down right vicious and calous.

Chateauroux · #9 (**permalink**) 08-28-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASTAMAN

Yes they have, I'm in full agreement. Theres even talk now in Congress of changing the current military retirement system with instead of allowing service members who served 20yrs or more retire and immediately start collecting their retirement; the plan is now not allowing pensions to start until after you turn 65 years old. These folks are down right vicious and calous.

IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN! What would be the incentive for a "lifer" to put in his/her 20 years? Patriotism? Give me a f*ckin' break! It's always been that a person could enter the service after high school, keep from getting killed by different Adninistrations wars and retire in their late 30's or early 40's. Than work for the Post Office or other entity for another 25 years and start triple-dipping with Social Security at 65. It would take a real jingoistic nut case not to be looking at the gravy train 20 years down the road. I met a lot of lifers in Viet Nam. A lot of them were lazy bastards but they weren't stupid.

rob · #10 (**permalink**) 08-28-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chateauroux

IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN! What would be the incentive for a "lifer" to put in his/her 20 years? Patriotism? Give me a f*ckin' break! It's always been that a person could enter the service after high school, keep from getting killed by different Adninistrations wars and retire in their late 30's or early 40's. Than work for the Post Office or other entity for another 25 years and start triple-dipping with Social Security at 65. It would take a real jingoistic nut case not to be looking at the gravy train 20 years down the road. I met a lot of lifers in Viet Nam. A lot of them were lazy bastards but they weren't stupid.

Chat, beleive it or not I have heard the same things. I counter with the comment that if they do this, then the Congressmen & women not be able to draw their pension until the same time. I am not sure if this is well know or not, but our Federal elected officals don't pay into social security. If they did you can bet they would make sure it was solvent when they got ready to retire.