195,000 Homeless U.S. Veterans!!!
In today's Arizona Republic, there is an article that discusses the homeless veterans living in our midst - all 195,000 throughout the U.S.
For all of the anti-war do-gooders out there who brandish the slogan "Bring 'em home, safe and sound" like it is a sword, perhaps they should take a few moments to examine this problem more closely and consider opening up their checkbooks to help a wee bit towards correcting a terrible injustice to those who have served.
Now I'll grant you that there is a percentage of those homeless who are drifters by choice, i.e. favoring a carefree, loose, low-stress lifestyle with minimal expectations and responsibility to match.
But even if only half are homeless by fate's cruel decree, that's 100,000 ex-soldiers and ex-sailors who have no where to call home, no roof over their head if they can't find room at a local shelter, no means of self-support, etc. And yet, Americans gush with guilt at the plight of the illegal immigrants living here. It's increasingly more obvious that "we" simply cannot do enough for all of the undocumented people who are here illegally yet "we" manage to sleep comfortably at night knowing that those who served this Country and possibly fought in a war to preserve our freedom are homeless.
Go figure. It must be me. Personally, I see this as unconscionable on the part of our society, not pure happenstance.
Or, maybe, just maybe, I'm simply growing too cynical of my fellow Americans and this kind of inexcusable chit.
For all of the anti-war do-gooders out there who brandish the slogan "Bring 'em home, safe and sound" like it is a sword, perhaps they should take a few moments to examine this problem more closely and consider opening up their checkbooks to help a wee bit towards correcting a terrible injustice to those who have served.
Now I'll grant you that there is a percentage of those homeless who are drifters by choice, i.e. favoring a carefree, loose, low-stress lifestyle with minimal expectations and responsibility to match.
But even if only half are homeless by fate's cruel decree, that's 100,000 ex-soldiers and ex-sailors who have no where to call home, no roof over their head if they can't find room at a local shelter, no means of self-support, etc. And yet, Americans gush with guilt at the plight of the illegal immigrants living here. It's increasingly more obvious that "we" simply cannot do enough for all of the undocumented people who are here illegally yet "we" manage to sleep comfortably at night knowing that those who served this Country and possibly fought in a war to preserve our freedom are homeless.
Go figure. It must be me. Personally, I see this as unconscionable on the part of our society, not pure happenstance.
Or, maybe, just maybe, I'm simply growing too cynical of my fellow Americans and this kind of inexcusable chit.
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I trust that number is as accurate as the 3 million homeless during the Reagan administration? 0 -
I would sure like to know the percentage of those 195K that were drafted vs signing up on their own. A rather high % sign up because of lack of education, nothing else to do, in trouble in the first place. So they know the risk/reward ratio of signing up in the 1st place. Kinda like Cops, if they want to work for $10-15/hr for the luxury of getting killed that IMHO is their problem, not mine. 0 -
Slow Hand - I find it hard to express the level of contempt that I have for the people who would not invest in helping Our American Veterans.
Let's see... words like "scum" and "filth" come to mind.
I hope the Good Lord provides these ... (so-called) people with what they deserve.
Doug0 -
Injuries sustained (physical and mental) during the course of service should be treated fully, if for no other reason than to maintain the "contract" that soldiers have with the nation they defend.
But simply being a vet doesn't mean you are provided for your entire life...
I served my time. I was provided with food, clothing, shelter, medical care and skills I can use throughout my life. As far as I'm concerned, the Govt. owes me nothing. In fact, my service was an obligation I felt for living in the greatest country on the face of the earth.0 -
Here's the article that I read. It was first published in Boston.
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=192050&srvc=home0 -
I got out of the Navy in 1966,I got married three months later.I had one job that was a dead end job, quit it. The next job was not much better.My wife and I both agreed I needed to go back to school. I enrolled in a electronics school. The government payed okay for the first two years, I did have to pay for a month or two. The third year the government started to drop the ball every other month.I'd guess that 90% of the students were G.I's.My father in law helped me pick up the slack thru the third year.The school went broke in my final year, I ended up with nothing.My guess is the governtment is still doing what it has always done.. dropping the ball. It took thirty years for the V.A to be able to dig out the sharp metal out of my buddies body, and one eye.I guess you can figure what I think of are government and how it treats its vets. 0 -
Not every person that enters and serves in the military is smart enough to make it in corporate America today.
Make money off of their loss...go to Ocwen.com and buy their VA repo'd homes.0 -
195,000 democrat vets, most likely...expecting the govt to care for them forever without any intensions of WORKING for their american dream regardless of a disability. most homeless vets i see seem to still be able to afford a 45.00 per carton per week smoking habit. no pity. 0 -
We have a bunch of homeless people that live in the woods up near Winn Dixie supermarket. A couple of them stand on the corners with signs saying they are American Vets "Will Work for Food" . I stopped and ask one if he would come mow my lawn, answer? "I cant push anything because of my back" Well then how about painting the soffits on my house, answer"I cant lift my arms above my head" , in other words he was looking for a handout, sat one day observing the group in their little "Woodsie World" and lo and bohold this same dude was wrestling with another guy playing around.. I have sat in front of the store watching these guys beg and as soon as they can get enough together they go into the store and come out with a case of beer and off to their "Woodsie Home"
I know there are a lot of cases of mental instability with many of our returning warriors, but around here 80 percent are just too damn lazy and Alcohol or drug hooked to actually try any better..0 -
In America if you are homeless you are homeless by choice.
If you are hungry you are hungry by choice.
These are the cruel facts but they are facts. Every city town and burg has a shelter. Every city town and burg has a church or food pantry; the ONLY reason folks have for either affliction is personal choice.
Vet or not if you sleep under a bridge or in the woods it is because you choose to do so.0 -
Don't worry I'm sure a few of them are Mendicant's[}:)] Just pretending to be homeless as they secretly ply their trade of eliminating the filth from society. Quitely praying on gangs, pimps and dealers, as well as some of the more currupt politicians. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrseatle
Don't worry I'm sure a few of them are Mendicant's[}:)] Just pretending to be homeless as they secretly ply their trade of eliminating the filth from society. Quitely praying on gangs, pimps and dealers, as well as some of the more currupt politicians.
I'd bet a nickel that a couple of them are pretending to be vets too. [}:)]0 -
I like what rack ops said. just because you're a vet doesn't mean the federal government needs to hold your hand forever.
I would also like to point out that plenty of people have served that were absolute idiots. Veteran status doesn't mean you are necessarily real bright.0 -
Don't want to pick a fight.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by Dave W.
I like what rack ops said. just because you're a vet doesn't mean the federal government needs to hold your hand forever.
I would also like to point out that plenty of people have served that were absolute idiots. Veteran status doesn't mean you are necessarily real bright.
You met that guy too, huh? [:D]0 -
First of all, yes I am a Vet. Yes a WW 2 Infantry vet who fought in several campaigns in the ETO for a couple of years. We had no G.I. Bill until late war when it was enacted. No re-up bonus. No re-up as you were in for the wars duration plus 6 months. Thanks to a gratefull country we were given education opportunities plus $ 300.00 mustering out pay. A lot more than I expected when I enlisted in '43 almost right from high school. After that you do "what turns you on" on your return to civilian life. "Uncle Sam" is not there to hold your hand anymore. One makes ones own life on discharge. Then it is up to you to decide your own life. If you want to sit back and be "homeless" , so be it. If you wish to take up a trade or further education do it, as I did. Otherwise take the path you wish, but dont complain about it to me. They, like me have had a choice. With 16,000,000 of us in the military in WW 2 how many "homeless vets" did one see in the late '40's and early '50's. Why so many now??? Were WE
so different back then??0 -
homeless vets are no different than the other homeless in america 0 -
quote:Originally posted by newtgingrich
homeless vets are no different than the other homeless in america
Except for the gig doing "honorable service to their Country".
BTW: America spells with capital "A".0 -
At the risk of sounding heartless, as with illegals, it is not our job or responsibility to find these people homes. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Polite Psycho
quote:Originally posted by newtgingrich
homeless vets are no different than the other homeless in america
Except for the gig doing "honorable service to their Country".
BTW: America spells with capital "A".
if they are homeless then they ended their "honorable service" to their country a long time ago0 -
quote:Originally posted by newtgingrich
if they are homeless then they ended their "honorable service" to their country a long time ago
'Tis better to have ended their service early than to have never served in the first place....0 -
quote:Originally posted by newtgingrich
if they are homeless then they ended their "honorable service" to their country a long time ago
Please, don't be bashful. Before Nunn warns me again about poking and prodding at you, do tell us about your "honorable service".
I'll tell you a little bit about mine; I've treated dozens of homeless brothers in arms at my ER. Asked for nothing else in return than time served.
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