Disposable Soldiers

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This article is too long and too substantial to be effectively excerpted, so I'm posting the link -

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100426/kors/single

I'd be particularly interested in hearing from those who have served. Do the details add up? Does the story make sense? It's clearly written to provoke the emotions of the reader, so I wonder.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

sounds about right. you should read up on gulf war syndrome after desert storm/desert shield and learn about the ####### military members went through over that.

and it was 1-7 cav, one of my old units. garryowen!

[Nagishkaw 510]

What is astonishing is that sports figures, movie stars, singers, congressmen,etc., live in mansions and are basically worshiped by the American public.Whereas the veteran who put his/her life on the line defending this nation gets sick and often times has to be treated in rat infested facilities where they, the real hero's, are treated as nobodies.

[Pooky 3,786]

This article is too long and too substantial to be effectively excerpted, so I'm posting the link -

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100426/kors/single

I'd be particularly interested in hearing from those who have served. Do the details add up? Does the story make sense? It's clearly written to provoke the emotions of the reader, so I wonder.

Yes it makes sense. Yes it is a sick betrayal of the men and women who serve this country in the Armed Forces. Yes we need to stop the practice.

It is not a question of money. It is about making sure veterans receive the care they deserve and the respect they are due, when something like this happens. And it is about weeding out the incompetent jobsworths who are perpetrating this vile practice, not covering up for them.

Obama tried it once as a Senator and got part way. Now he is in a much stronger position to make a difference. I hope he follows through on his earlier attempt to halt discharges by reason of Personality Disorder.

[alienlovechild 75]

Whereas the veteran who put his/her life on the line defending this nation gets sick and often times has to be treated in rat infested facilities where they, the real hero's, are treated as nobodies.

That's not what many posters said when the subject was healthcare reform. They told us isn't the VA government healthcare and how wonderful it is.

[Pooky 3,786]

What is astonishing is that sports figures, movie stars, singers, congressmen,etc., live in mansions and are basically worshiped by the American public. Whereas the veteran who put his/her life on the line defending this nation gets sick and often times has to be treated in rat infested facilities where they, the real hero's, are treated as nobodies.

When war is far away, it is easy for Joe Public to put it out of their mind and forget about it. A sad indictment of the priorities of the general population.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Obama tried it once as a Senator and got part way. Now he is in a much stronger position to make a difference. I hope he follows through on his earlier attempt to halt discharges by reason of Personality Disorder.

I believe he worked with Grassley back then. What are the chances of that happening now?

[Pooky 3,786]

I believe he worked with Grassley back then. What are the chances of that happening now?

Depends on his priorities. Most likely not, as the Democrats appear to be entering full campaign mode, with a full 7 months to go before the mid-terms. And something like this is not a big attention grabber, or vote winner to the Democrats' activist base. It's war-related and that doesn't fit well with the far left.

And it's not a big enough issue for the Republicans to care much about, unless some bright spark wants to harp on about Obama not following through after bringing this issue up as a senator. Ironically, if they did that, we might get bipartisan action to do some good. Now wouldn't that be something.

[Peikko 1,575]

Depends on his priorities. Most likely not, as the Democrats appear to be entering full campaign mode, with a full 7 months to go before the mid-terms. And something like this is not a big attention grabber, or vote winner to the Democrats' activist base. It's war-related and that doesn't fit well with the far left.

And it's not a big enough issue for the Republicans to care much about, unless some bright spark wants to harp on about Obama not following through after bringing this issue up as a senator. Ironically, if they did that, we might get bipartisan action to do some good. Now wouldn't that be something.

I am beginning to wonder if anyone really expects politicians to do anything except campaign to get elected in the US. More money, time and energy is spent on ridiculous campaigns than is ever spent on implementing policy. Utterly pointless and ridiculous.

[Pooky 3,786]

I am beginning to wonder if anyone really expects politicians to do anything except campaign to get elected in the US. More money, time and energy is spent on ridiculous campaigns than is ever spent on implementing policy. Utterly pointless and ridiculous.

You're catching on nicely

Compare that with the wham-bam-4 weeks and done General Election back in the UK and you start to wonder how this country continues to function when it's continually facing non-stop campaigning.

Edited April 15, 2010 by Pooky

[Peikko 1,575]

To think, political parties in the UK are expected to produce comprehensive manifestos (whether or not one agrees with the ideas, at least they are expected to come up with something on paper) - does anyone produce one of those over here at all? Or is it just these stupid TV ads where each sides makes pointless petty claims about the other side and expects the voter to care?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

To think, political parties in the UK are expected to produce comprehensive manifestos (whether or not one agrees with the ideas, at least they are expected to come up with something on paper) - does anyone produce one of those over here at all? Or is it just these stupid TV ads where each sides makes pointless petty claims about the other side and expects the voter to care?

You really ought to do your research.

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html

http://www.gop.com/2008platform/

[Peikko 1,575]

Ah, an answer, from 2008!

Does anyone read them?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Ah, an answer, from 2008!

The last Presidential election was in 2008.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The last Presidential election was in 2008.

Brits are such amateurs!

Before the internet, all the serious candidates wrote books, and made the talk show circuits, whoring their books, and playing down their aspirations, perhaps only confirming an exploratory campaign, during the summer, a year prior to the general elections.

With the internet, even the most obscure candidates, and the even more obscure at times third parties, are well published, ad nauseum!

Edited April 15, 2010 by ##########