GI Lament - I Went To War For Democracy And All I Got Was This Lousy Walmart Job

[TheMastersNemesis]

as a reward. And they got a federal tax credit to boot.

If that is all a vet can get after being shot at and living in the dirt for one, two or three tours, then as a country we have really lost our way.

Vietnam vets got royally screwed. Little has changed since.

[NYC_SKP]

1. What's more, they didn't even get their Democracy!

They come home to find less of it than when they left.

K/R

[bluedigger]

2. I noticed very few help wanted ads for ex-artillerymen when I got out myself.

Anybody need any shit blown up?

[earthside]

3. War is a racket.

Human beings need to learn the lesson -- but they never do: becoming a soldier is for suckers.

It was true four thousand-plus years ago and it is true today -- the grunt risks his life and often gives his life (now a days her life) for the interests of the rich and powerful.

Why is anyone surprised that veterans and/or old soldiers get moved aside and forgotten after the 'leaders' have obtained what the war was meant to get in them first place?

(With a very few exceptions ... arguably even WWII could have been avoided if the Republican Senators hadn't blocked U.S. participation in the League of Nations.)

The answer: don't sign-up in the first place.

[GP6971]

4. It's probably worse today

the Vietnam vet had a stronger VA they could go to.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. There are plenty of Vietnam vets who still need VA services

some more than ever, as nobody's getting any younger, yunno. With the VA in its hamstrung state, and getting worse, it's becoming an untenable clusterfuck as the baby boomers hit traditional retirement age.

[subterranean]

7. Is the VA really that bad?

I have no personal experience with it, but from what I've read, it's improved a great deal in terms of quality and efficiency compared with 20 years ago.

[AndyA]

6. Support the troops!*

*Until they return home. At that point, they no longer matter. They are a drain to the country. It costs taxpayer money to provide health care and job training for them. Money which the Republicans think is better spent going to wealthy individuals and corporations.

Oh, the right wingers will scream Support the troops! when we're at war, but that's only because their friends are making millions on war contracts, they don't really care if the troops have support. This is why so many were killed and injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone remember the lack of armored vehicles?

And now, our veterans wait for health care. Years, just waiting to get an answer if they'll be covered or not. Forget about job training, or a jobs bill that will encourage employers to hire veterans, the GOP blocked that when it came up.

In a fair and just world, members of Congress would have the Walmart jobs, and our veterans would be running the country. I'd be willing to bet things would be very different today if that were the case!

[No Vested Interest]

8. So very sorry to say

those who joined the military to fight for democracy have been had.
They were young and naive and are paying the price for naivete

The whole USA, to a lesser degree, was had, and we'll be paying for it the rest of our lives.