A victory for our disabled veterans

Washington Tmes ^ | 11/29/03 | Sam Johnson

[kattracks]

As our military men and women continue to do a great job to keep us safe and secure, a heated debate has broken out over whether veterans should receive both disability pay and retirement pay. This issue is called concurrent receipt.

[U S Army EOD]

Well I will certainly benefit from this since I am rated 100% disabled and will be elgible for my retirement in September of 2004.

This is far different from what I went through in 1980 under President Carter when I could not use my VA points to obtain a Federal Job if I had over two years of college. During this period, Jimmy Carter was bringing back the draft doggers and deserters from Canada and giving them civil serice positions if they wanted them. If you don't believe this happened check the records.

Things sure are different now.

[america-rules]

I'm rated 60% and got a Gov't notice not long ago telling me I get an extra $50 per month now (Back to 1 Jan 03) and 50% of my retirement (Not Deducted) starting in Jan 2004. Does anyone know when the full retirement and VA pay will be totally separated?

[america-rules]

Just FYI: My active pay went up over $900 after Bush was elected. He gave three huge pay increases to us in two years which was almost 30% of basic pay !

[Conservababe]

Well, military has always been double and triple dipping from taxpayers. What is the difference now?

[Justa]

The difference is that if you get hurt in the private sector you are covered by employer medical insurance, workmen's comp, SSI, etc. and can sue your employer for injuries received on the job. Disabled veterans do not have these options. Instead they receive assistance directly from the federal government.

Imo the veteran system remains inferior to the private sector. Also, no one in the private sector asks their employees to take the risks the military does even in training. A modest level of care and assisting injured veterans to make it in the world after they get out is warranted and helps alot. I used the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation successfully and now have a great job that pays twice what I made in the Army. However, my medical treatment, recouperation and training took all my savings and then some. Not many injured vets have 35K in savings when they get out. I had to start my life over.

I would much prefer private medical care to the VA care.

You may be surprised to learn that many enlisted retirees continue working after they get out. Some have no choice. They are good people, honorable and hard working.

I'm guessing you have never suffered a serious injury. Or if you did it wasn't while you were working with and assisting others.

[Fledermaus]

Here's a radical idea - take away all the cushy benefits Congress gets and give it to real Americans!

[USMCVet]

Well, military has always been double and triple dipping from taxpayers. What is the difference now?

Wow! What a nicely swinish comment for a "Conservababe"!

I take it that it's just fine for other people to risk their lives and their bodies for your freedom but we should avoid costing you anything later!

To clue you in, for someone to qualify for the provisions of the CRSC, they have had to serve their country in the armed forces for over 20 years AND have permanent damage done to their bodies in combat. Trust me, I'd much rather have the pain go away than have any payment from my 'grateful' puplic...

By the way, just how much time did you spend serving your country?

[joesnuffy]

That remark will definately rate before B hole in the dictionary

[Fawnn]

Ping (for your ping list).

[Bethbg79]

BTTT!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Hondo1952]

Let me see if I've got this right. I spent 24 years in the Army. All of it on active duty. I'm 80% disabled according to the VA. I get NONE of the retirement pay I EARNED for my service. Exactly how am I double and triple dipping from taxpayers? Do you mean the fact that I'm unable to work at all now? Do you mean I got paid while I was on active duty and I shouldn't have because I had the honor of serving YOU. Do you mean the two or three trips I make each month to the VA hospital? Do you mean the medications I take each month that don't make the pain go away?

Please explain to me what you mean. I don't want to appear ungrateful. I would just like to know where all this money is I'm supposed to be getting. Don't get me wrong. I want no handouts from anyone. I want what I earned, I want what I was told were the benefits I was entitled to. I hold no bitterness for anything that has happened to me. I would gladly go back today. I would gladly go back and do it all over again. Why? I love this country. I love the people. Most of all I love my fellow veterans and those that support us.

Please I'm just an old redneck with a limited education, you know the type. We are only useful during time of war otherwise we are the butt of every kind of joke any political correct person can come up with. Just substitute redneck for any racial slur that is contained in any joke you can come up with and voila' it's no longer insensitive because we are too stupid to figure out we've been insulted.

[Hondo1952]

Thanks Linda. Come on down everybody.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Hondo, most Americans don't know anyone in the service today, and are just learning about both the character of our military and the sacrifices you make. Keep telling us, and thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This historic plan establishes concurrent receipt for far more disabled veterans than have ever been covered by law. It's a solution that's fair, responsible and that properly honors our nation's disabled veterans.

...those rallying for full concurrent receipt must not allow their well-intentioned zeal to blind them of real, substantial progress. To them I say, until Republicans took control of Congress, no Congress gave a darn about concurrent receipt. Until now, there was only rhetoric.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Fyi, Veterans and troops.
~ from Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), AF Veteran, former POW, good guy.

[MEG33]

Aren't you on the wrong board?

[Hondo1952]

I know RC. It still upsets me that supposedly informed people have no clue about us. There are all kinds of laws that apply to us and no one else.

[blackie]

A victory for our disabled veterans ~ Bump!

[Soaring Feather]

Bump to the top!!