Comments on: McCain the War Hero Veteran Refuses To Support New G.I. Benefits Bill

By: Bill Griffith

Bill Griffith — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:28:50 +0000

I am considered one of those thousands, if not millions, of the “Forgotten Vietnam Vets”. One issue that none of the Presidents (since Nixon) or any of the Congressmen seem to want to adress is the situation that currently effects us. That situation being the herbicide and pesticide poisoning of all the Air Force bases located in Thailand with a dioxin laded chemical Agent Orange. “The Boots On The Ground” policy needs to be lifted so that all of the “Forgotten Vietnam Vets and Vietnam Era Vets” who lived on these polluted bases for years can qualify for Veterans benefits and Medical treatment. This is the travesty that makes up a big part of the VA’s backlog. Thousands of vets and the children of these vets, who served this nation in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand during the Vietnam War, have been excluded by only a few miles outside of the prescribed war zone of Vietnam from medical treatment for herbicide poisoning. They are now finally coming to the conclusion that the US military has been lying to us for over forty years. Apparently, this GI Bill still does not change anythings as far as we “REMFs” are concerned. This is the travesty of the Vietnam War. The US military and several chemical companies (Dow, Mosanto, Shamrock, etc.) poisoned it’s own and they are still not ready to accept any responsibility for that criminal act, which violated the Geneva Convention.

In hindsight, my son will never serve in the military of this country because in essence, there are some in this country who are not worth defending. The lucky ones are on the “Wall”. “We all died in Southeast Asia, and no one had the decency to tell Us.”

By: Angellight

Angellight — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:02:51 +0000

There was a time in American that life was hopeful and one could live out the American Dream, but this was all under Democrataic rule. Since Republicans have gotten into power, the dream has slowly died until it is now almost dead and in its deaththroes. The GOP has done nothing for the American families or way of life, although they always spout “family values”. If we allow them to fool us again by their clever way of manipulating words like a “dagger” on their opponents and the use of their tricks – “now you see it, now you don’t”, then may be we deserve high gas prices, increased food prices, more wars, a loss of jobs, higher health-care costs and complete desolation of America, who will become a third-world country! Unfortunately, McCain and the GOP have no positive ideas on foreign policy or anything else. They say no the Farm Bill; No to the G.I. Bill, No to a higher minimum wage; No to helping those with foreclosure problems in otherwords no to charity and taking care of one’s brother. The Bible teaches us that anger only begets anger and that we should love. What happened to these values we used to live by? How can a party which pretends to be religious live with such an anti-Christian way? They say and do the antithesis of the teachings of Christ!

This massed negativity has been a real detriment to American economic progress and peace in Iraq. Such pretenders and shapeshifters are like a millstone around the neck of humanity, crippling true effort. They proclaim Family Values, yet do nothing but impede true progress while the American way-of-life is dying. Any bills offered by Democrats which will benefit the American families, the GOP votes NO! This massed, organized negativity has been what has enabled them to work so ruthlessly with power and success at the destruction of all that has attempted to get in the way of their projects, desires and greed. They refuse to recognize that humanity can solve its problems without aggression and force and instead use the energy of goodwill and diplomacy, sharing and cooperation.

If you disagree with the Pretenders’ politics, however, (I do not say policies for they lack true policies) in unison they attack by subterfuge, distortion and lies to disguise their true intent –the control of money and power for the GOP family only (so much for family values). Masters in fear mongering and shapeshifting, they hope to incite fear in an unsuspecting and gullible American public and to get them to embrace their plans out of fear and against their own common sense and good judgment! Only this time, we will dispel this Illusion and not be fooled again by these “fakers, con-artists and Pretenders”, and our united House, born out of need and true change, will withstand the onslaught of this False, now Fleeting Wind that has devastated the American way of life, no more; their House of Cards are Falling!

By: rawdawgbuffalo

rawdawgbuffalo — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:45:28 +0000

he a trip have a safe weekend folk

By: Corpsmanup_2_4

Corpsmanup_2_4 — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:12:01 +0000

There is no doubt that there is the need for the G.I. Bill to be modernized and to allow for a better benefit than now. But, this continues to create an inequity that the Korean and Viet Nam veteran feels. When I started going to college I was receiving $150.00 per month. I had to pay tuitiion/general fees/books/room and board and try to have some funds for discretionary use. The college I went to cost me $750.00 per semester. There were no jobs available. I could afford to go to college only two semesters when I had to leave college and go to another state and find a job. I found that job and worked for six years to get out of debt I had accrued. I went back to college part time while continuing to work full-time. The monthly amount I got under the G.I. Bill was still less than $200.00 per month. Because I had done a “Kiddy Cruise” (Minority Enlistment) I was only eligible to use my G.I. Bill for 8 years after separation. I continued to go to college and never received all of my benefits from the G.I. Bill. When the VA stopped susidizing my college I still had 26 months of benefits left.

So this new G.I. Bill is a great idea, but, why create the animousity of the “Forgotten” veterans of Korea and the overlooked “Losers” of Viet Nam?

When I became older I finally found out that I was eligible for “disability compensation” for wounds received on active duty. When I finally got the disability rating I was told that I might qualify for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling program. I originally was denied that because my rating was not high enough. When my rating finally became high enough for consideration I was told that I was not eligible because I was employed.

Congress can pass all of the improvements it wishes; but, they don’t tell the veterans’ that there is a time limit on the benefit and that if it is possible to deny the benefit the bureaucrats will.