quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

LEEDS, Mass. - Peter Mohan traces the path from the Iraqi battlefield to this lifeless conference room, where he sits in a kilt and a Camp Kill Yourself T-shirt and calmly describes how he became a sad cliche: a homeless veteran.

There was a happy homecoming, but then an accident — car crash, broken collarbone. And then a move east, close to his wife's new job but away from his best friends.

And then self-destruction: He would gun his motorcycle to 100 mph and try to stand on the seat. He would wait for his wife to leave in the morning, draw the blinds and open up whatever bottle of booze was closest.

He would pull out his gun, a .45-caliber, semiautomatic pistol. He would lovingly clean it, or just look at it and put it away. Sometimes place it in his mouth.

"I don't know what to do anymore," his wife, Anna, told him one day. "You can't be here anymore."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080120/ap_on_re_us/homeless_on_the_homefront_9;_ylt=AvqGtAxHwdJTB491iBJrQ9YE1vAI

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

This is only one reason why we need to get out of these "Outsourcing" deals disguised as "Trade Deals."
People need to be able to work in this country and make a good week's pay.
That's *one* reason I didn't vote for John McCain yesterday, anyone who says, "those jobs are gone forever" doesn't belong in the White House.
We don't need someone in the W.H. with a negative attitude.
All it takes is one stroke of the legislative pen and we can be free of "NAFTA", "CAFTA" and "GATT."
And instead of spending money overseas we need to be spending that money here in the U.S.
On things like rebuilding infra-structure that's crumbling and put these veterans to work at good paying jobs.
Whatever these guys need the V.A. should supply it to them.
I'd even support a tax increase for that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250


Whatever these guys need the V.A. should supply it to them.

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Actually that was a great post per Popeye.  Funny none of the prez ditzies even mention reversing NAFTA-  we probaly could last too long w/o that- as everything is made somewhere else now.

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ORIGINAL: PanthersMom

the government treats the vets like shit, especially disabled vets.  if you didn't lose a limb in combat they treat you like crap.  if you lost a limb, they "only" treat you like dirt.  you should hear the guys at the local VA hospital complain about how hard it is to get the benefits they've been promised.  it's criminal.

PM

quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

When will young men learn, they are just cheap disposable commodities in uniform and completely worthless when they take the uniform off.

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

This is only one reason why we need to get out of these "Outsourcing" deals disguised as "Trade Deals."
People need to be able to work in this country and make a good week's pay.
That's *one* reason I didn't vote for John McCain yesterday, anyone who says, "those jobs are gone forever" doesn't belong in the White House.
We don't need someone in the W.H. with a negative attitude.
All it takes is one stroke of the legislative pen and we can be free of "NAFTA", "CAFTA" and "GATT."
And instead of spending money overseas we need to be spending that money here in the U.S.
On things like rebuilding infra-structure that's crumbling and put these veterans to work at good paying jobs.
Whatever these guys need the V.A. should supply it to them.
I'd even support a tax increase for that.

Popeye:
Before you read the rest of this sit down and take a deep breath.  The world has not come to an end and hell has not frozen over.
 
 
I agree with you completely.
thompson

quote:

ORIGINAL: slavegirljoy


Your comments took a very long time to post since they were, "awaiting approval" but, now that it's up here for all to see, i wonder if you are proud of what you said.  This is, to me, about as disrespectful and disgraceful as anything i have ever heard said about our military men (and women - yes, they put their lives on the line for our country, too.) 
 
Maybe, you think that the men who volunteer to serve our country by enlisting in the military are "cheap disposable commodities" but, those of us who have volunteered and worn the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marines, do not see ourselves as such and, neither does our government. 
 
Those of us, including myself and my Master, who have raised our right hand and sworn to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" and who agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct, do so with a great deal of motivation, dedication and honor.  There's nothing "cheap" about it and my government has never treated me as a "cheap disposable" commodity, either while in the Army or after.  In return for my honorable service, the government paid for my college education, provides me with free medical care for the rest of my life, including very expensive prosthetic legs, and allowed me to buy a home at an affordable rate. 
 
The only people who seem to see our military as "cheap disposable commodities" are people who have never served and who would rather talk bad about our government, our military, our veterans and, our V.A., than go and serve themselves.  It takes a great deal of courage and dedication to live by the Code of Conduct:

(1) I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
(2) I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.
(3) If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
(4) If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades.
(5) When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth.
(6) I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
 
joy (SSG, US Army, 1974-87)
Owned servant of Master David (Vietnam Vet, 1970-72)

quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

When will young men learn, they are just cheap disposable commodities in uniform and completely worthless when they take the uniform off.

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It can't be reversed. You can't go back and close the box.

quote:


You want capatilism? You've got it

quote:

ORIGINAL: slavegirljoy


Your comments took a very long time to post since they were, "awaiting approval" but, now that it's up here for all to see, i wonder if you are proud of what you said.  This is, to me, about as disrespectful and disgraceful as anything i have ever heard said about our military men (and women - yes, they put their lives on the line for our country, too.) 
Being in the military does not mean that you are putting your life on the line.  Remember it takes ten people to support one infantryman.
If you look at the history of how the Government, through the VA, has traditionally treated the returning serviceman you will find it is not always a pretty picture. 
 
Maybe, you think that the men who volunteer to serve our country by enlisting in the military are "cheap disposable commodities" but, those of us who have volunteered and worn the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marines, do not see ourselves as such and, neither does our government. 
You are not the only one who was ever in the military and your experience reflects only your position so it is more than a little presumptuous of you to speak for all vets. 
 
Those of us, including myself and my Master, who have raised our right hand and sworn to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" and who agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct, do so with a great deal of motivation, dedication and honor.  There's nothing "cheap" about it and my government has never treated me as a "cheap disposable" commodity, either while in the Army or after.
This would speak directly to your ignorance of the history of the U.S. and how it uses the military for the aggrandizement of the wealthy.  You might want to read a little book called "War is a Racket".  It was written by General Smedley Butler USMC MOH.  In it he details how the military especially the Marine Corps is used to further the interest of korperate amerika.
 
 
  In return for my honorable service, the government paid for my college education, provides me with free medical care for the rest of my life, including very expensive prosthetic legs, and allowed me to buy a home at an affordable rate.
This is more than a bit disingenuous.  The only vets that are entitled to free medical are the indigent and those with a service connected disability  
 
The only people who seem to see our military as "cheap disposable commodities" are people who have never served and who would rather talk bad about our government, our military, our veterans and, our V.A., than go and serve themselves.
General Smedley Butler USMC MOH hardly fits your characterization.  He won the Medal of Honor twice and at the time of his death was the most highly decorated man in U.S. military history.
 
 
  It takes a great deal of courage and dedication to live by the Code of Conduct:
This of course would leave out people like "Ace McCain" and Dubya.  Neither of which did so.

(1) I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
(2) I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.
(3) If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
(4) If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades.
(5) When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service number, and date of birth.
(6) I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
 
joy (SSG, US Army, 1974-87)
Owned servant of Master David (Vietnam Vet, 1970-72)
I too am a vet.  I have dealt with the VA hospital system and found it to be top notch.  The people I have dealt with have always treated me with respect and professionalism.  Once when my appointment ran long I mentioned to a member of the counter staff (not a doctor or a nurse) that my transportation was a "daylight only vehicle" and if I did not get in soon for my appointment I would have to leave because it is an hour drive home and it would be dark in an hour.  He smiled and told me simply ...."no problem buddy we will put you up here for the night and give you a chow pass for dinner and breakfast in the morning,no charge of course".  I do not know if this is how it is done other places but it happened to me at the Loma Linda facility in San Bernardino county California.

quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

When will young men learn, they are just cheap disposable commodities in uniform and completely worthless when they take the uniform off.