Support the Troops this Holiday Season

Want to do something for the troops? Given a bunch of them a call home to their families this holiday season. After you do that, read and weep about what Bush is doing for the troops:
Daily Kos :: F You! You support the troops.

Did you know that 6.8 million veterans choose the VA as their health care provider? OK, forget about them if you must (although I will not). Now think about the thousands that are coming home wounded and disfigured physically AND mentally for the rest of their lives. They will need health care right? Too bad. At least 250,000 veterans are forced to wait for their disability claims to be resolved by the Veterans Administration (VA). Sometimes up to two years. Despite the fact that thousands of veterans returning from Iraq will file disability claims, the FY 2005 budget reduces to number of staff responsible for processing those claims. In an effort to "restructure" to VA, the Bush Administration announced the closing of seven hospitals. (NY, PA, KY, OH, MS, CA, TX) That's a total of approx. 5,800 beds nationwide. A 2002 study showed that 150,000 veterans wait more than six months for an appointment for primary care. Oh yeah, here is the kicker. For every dollar in disability these wounded warriors will collect, they will have to forgo a dollar of their Social Security benefits. How is that for one last kick in the ass? Democrats have fought to end this. It's something called "mandatory funding." Or obligatory funding, or even gauranteed funding. Take your pick. It would ensure that funding for veterans benefits is MANDATORY in budgets passed by the United States Congress. But Republicans wouldn't even let it come to a vote on the floor in the House or the Senate last year. Here are the bills: Senate Bill 50, The Veterans Health Care Gaurantee Act. And HR 2318 The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act. Let me leave you with a quote from a historic American that knew a little something about being Commander in Chief.

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how the perceive Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington

Complete Article
F You! You support the troops.
by ttagaris
Thu Dec 23rd, 2004 at 21:43:13 PST
I was driving around to pick up the last of my Christmas gifts today, when the car infront of me slammed on their breaks because they missed the entrance to Best Buy.
I came alot closer to that Nissan Pathfinder than I would have liked; close enough to see two bumper stickers in clear view.
1.) Support the troops.
2.) A George Bush bumper sticker. You know, the one with the 7 stripes and 20 stars (I never understood that)
I was so f#*king pissed. But for some reason, not about the near accident. I'd like to share with you why I was so angry. Because SUPPORT THE TROOPS and W '04 GO TOGETHER LIKE OIL AND VINEGAR.
And not just because of body armor, or the overall mess in Iraq. Follow me below the fold, you might learn something...
Diaries :: ttagaris's diary ::
I remembered reading this piece a few days ago; it's about the unknown number of children whose parents have passed without ever getting to know them. You see, at last count there have been 900 children whose parents have died in Iraq; 40 never got to see their father or mother. They were born before the parent ever made it home.
Army Pfc. Jesse Givens,
34, of Fountain, Colo.
Givens was killed May 1, 2003, when his tank tumbled into the Euphrates River when a riverbank gave way. He wrote what follows to his sons, Dakota, 5, and Carson, who was born four weeks after Givens' death:
"Dakota -- You are more son than I could ever ask for. I can only hope I was half the dad. You taught me how to care until it hurts, you taught me how to smile again. You taught me that life isn't so serious and sometimes you have to play. You have a big, beautiful heart. Through life you need to keep it open and follow it. [...]
"Bean (his pet name for the unborn Carson) -- I never got to see you but I know in my heart you are beautiful. I will always have with me the feel of the soft nudges on your mom's belly, and the joy I felt when we found out you were on the way.
"I dream of you every night, and I always will. Don't ever think that since I wasn't around that I didn't love you. You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love. Please understand that I had to be gone so that I could take care of my family. I love you, Bean."
Did you know that the wife of Jesse Givens will have to pay taxes on benefits for widows of veterans slain combat?
Did you know that when she turns 62 years old that her benefits are decreased.
If Pfc. Givens had one last wish before he gave his life for the president's failed war and even poorer planning, what do you think it would be? If you don't know, re-read his letter home and take a guess.
But it doesn't stop there
Did you know that 6.8 million veterans choose the VA as their health care provider?
OK, forget about them if you must (although I will not). Now think about the thousands that are coming home wounded and disfigured phyically AND mentally for the rest of their lives.
They will need health care right?
Too bad.
1.) At least 250,000 veterans are forced to wait for their disability claims to be resolved by the Veterans Administration (VA). Sometimes up to two years. Despite the fact that thousands of veterans returning from Iraq will file disability claims, the FY 2005 budget reduces to number of staff responsible for processing those claims.
2.) In an effort to "restructure" to VA, the Bush Administration announced the closing of seven hospitals. (NY, PA, KY, OH, MS, CA, TX) That's a total of approx. 5,800 beds nationwide.
3.) A 2002 study showed that 150,000 veterans wait more than six months for an appointment for primary care.
Oh yeah, here is the kicker.
For every dollar in disability these wounded warriors will collect, they will have to forgo a dollar of their Social Security benefits.
How is that for one last kick in the ass?
Democrats have fought to end this
It's something called "mandatory funding." Or obligatory funding, or even gauranteed funding. Take your pick.
It would ensure that funding for veterans benefits is MANDATORY in budgets passed by the United States Congress.
But Republicans wouldn't even let it come to a vote on the floor in the House or the Senate last year.
Here are the bills: Senate Bill 50, The Veterans Health Care Gaurantee Act. And HR 2318 The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act.
Let me leave you with a quote from a historic American that knew a little something about being Commander in Chief.
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how the perceive Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
- George Washington
Let's become the party that supports the troops with more than just bumper stickers, hollow slogans, and yellow ribbons.
Let's be the party that does everything it can to keep the promises made to our veterans.
I am tired of all this talk of, "you signed the contract, deal with it." You wrote the mother f#@king contract, dicks. Live up to your end of the bargain now.
Thanks for listening,
Tim