On this Veterans Day there’s an email floating around suggesting we all send a Christmas card or letter to a recovering soldier at Walter Reed. Nice idea, easy to do and, sadly, pointless. Because of security concerns Walter Reed cannot accept mail not addressed to a soldier by name. If you recall there was that incident with anthrax being sent to Congress and newspapers you know, the terrorist attack that happened after 9/11 that still hasn’t been solved.
Still, our veterans do need to be recognized. Many have done, seen, heard, smelled and felt things more horrific than can be described just because we asked them to.
Did you know that there are 1.8 million veterans who have no insurance and no access to VA care because of income restrictions put in place by the Bush administration in 2003? That veterans between the ages of 18 & 45 make up 11% of the general population but 26% of the homeless? That thirty percent of Iraq vets will suffer PTSD, up from 10% for Vietnam vets? That the suicide rate for returning vets is higher than it has ever been?
In 2006 the Veterans Health Administration requested $76 Billion in funding. Bush gave them $31. In 2007 the budget was cut an additional 3%. The budget for 2008-2010 is cut an additional 2% each year. The most conservative estimate is that Iraq War Vets’ care will cost $660 billion and that doesn’t count the other 20 million vets from previous wars.
All that and Mr. Bush couldn’t make it to Arlington Cemetery for the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He took a 5 day weekend at Crawford instead and sent Dick I-had-other-priorities Cheney in his place.
So instead of sending a card or letter that can’t possibly be delivered, how about picking up the phone and calling your Congressman and giving them an earful about how we treat our veterans.
Christmas Card Hoax
Bush Policy Restricts Veteran’s Care
Supporting the Troops Bush Style
Andy Hailey