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Don't Count on the Gratitude of a Grateful Nation

Don't Count on the Gratitude of a Grateful Nation


This is part of what I heard in a speech given by a retired Army General who used to be very involved with Army budgeting and how billions of dollars are spent Department of Defense (DOD) wide. And it just gets my blood to boiling a tad.

Fallen SoldierHow do I put my feelings into an intelligent collection of phrases and sentences to make people understand? Whenever the economy is in trouble, politicians, (Republican and Democrat alike), start looking at where they can slash expenses. It makes total sense for anyone running a budget to trim the excess expenses. I get it.

But why, just about every time a war ends, do we start delving deeper into the health care benefits and the retirement benefits of those who served and not only served, but went to war defending this country. We have been at war, since September 2001, on two fronts, Afghanistan and Iraq. During these years thousands of Soldiers, Air Men, Sailors and Marines have deployed away from family to put their lives on the line and thousands of families have suffered at home trying to take care of the home front, all the while worrying about their loved one coming home in one piece, much less alive. Yet again, thousands have payed the ultimate sacrifice and many more than that have been wounded irreparably forever missing legs, arms, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, we have thousands of homeless Veterans, not only from Vietnam but from these wars. It's criminal in my mind.

But yet, the wars are now "ending" and troops are being brought home. All is good, now the rest of the world can get back to normal. Forget about those whose lives will never be normal again. And on top of that, Soldiers, Air Men, Sailors and Marines alike can now worry about if they will have their health care benefits slashed or not count on a retirement check for years of service given. Retirees who have already retired now need to worry about benefits already promised to them whether or not that will continue.

I personally think it's ridiculous. If you ask me, if we want to start looking at where to trim some excess spending, we should start at the top, but that's just my humble opinion. Lots of folks will jump on board to protect millionaires salaries and tax benefits and those who hold high political office, but those who actually went to war to fight for their country, those who were sent by those who hold high office, well.....


photo courtesy of creative commons in flikr by nukeit1
Posted Saturday Oct 22