Well it is nice to see the media doing its job instead of the usual lazy reporting and fudging of facts. Yep its the same media that the pro war crowd accuse of being "Liberal " that is looking out for vets by highlighting there disgraceful treatment. In terms of the treatment of vets the US should take a leaf out of Australia book.

um, I hate to be the one to say this, but why is it the american peoples responsibility to give him money for free, for the rest of his life, and him to sit on his but and do nothing all day?

I realize that war sucks, and I realize that being hurt sucks. He should definately recieve the medical care he needs for free, but why should the american people be responsible to feed him, and his family he has or wants to have.

I think a better alternative would be to find jobs for him within the government that can use him. He can still work, even if its just sitting at a desk.

before I end this though, I am not disagreeing about the medical care, I agree we need to treat him completely and throughly, but I believe in workfare, not welfare. Anybody can work, even if its simply filling out forms all day, or answering emails, changing diapers, cooking food, etc.

I truly hopes he gets what he needs medically, as well as any other disabled vets out there. Thank you for your service.

Cheers,

Camain

The link wasn't working, probably a good thing since I know anger causes heart issues, but I've read over this subject before and it makes me so angry how the VA is treating our soldiers. CNN deserves an applause for this one. This should be thoroughly investigated and anyone who is caught in money laundering should be placed right at the center of all of our vets whose documentation, finances and rights have been denied. Shame on the VA.

[edit on 18-11-2007 by laiguana]

I hate to be the one to say this, but why is it the american peoples responsibility to give him money for free?

Okay, I'll bite to the troll. The reason why this fellow should be given his VA pension and medical disability payments (if they pay these in America?) is because he put his life on the line so you could whinge and wine about him receiving payments for 'free'. You are wrong! He does not receive them free, he used part of his skull and brain, part of his left arm and right fingers, and a visage you would not wish to own in your worst nightmare as unintentional downpayment. I should think it was not a radical premeditated plan on his part to be a financial vampire upon the American people.

Your post strains incredulity with its lack of conscience.

[edit on 18/11/07 by elysiumfire]

War a tragedy upon itself. I understand that everyone has an opinion but I couldn’t disagree more with Camain. This individual and of course many others who have lost through any war, whether we agree with that war or not, should be respected and treated with dignity. This individual, whether he believed in the war or not, has sacrificed more for his country and countrymen then just physical loss and pain, but continual psychological and emotional loss and pain. Being in a war from my understanding and from the posts before me is not a fall from the roof, sprained disk, disability claim. This individual should be supported in everyway including financially and by his family, community and government.

What a betrayal he must be feeling..

Kudos to CNN for taking up the battle on behalf of the Vets.
Some of their reporters have first hand knowledge of battle conditions over there and the horrendous injuries that can be caused by a roadside bomb or a RPG round, unlike some politicians.
A lot of what they see, they have to suppress from the general public because of the fearsome graphic nature of the damage done to a human being.

As an ex serviceman of the Royal Navy I too saw the damage done during the Falklands war and still have the scars to show for it.
My salute to those still currently serving in harms way and to those who went before.

A middle digit to those who feel their country owes nothing these brave people who suffer so much for freedom. Yeah I got angry!

Thanks guys for showing us this.

The government is not only screwing the soldiers that is putting in harms way for a war that has nothing to do with my freedom of any other American's freedom but is also screwing the American people when it dumps the responsibilities of providing care and treatment for this soldiers coming back maimed.

I feel that is not the American people the one should be putting forward the money for treatment unless is voluntarily in the way of donations but it should be the war profiteers that made this war possible the ones to be force to pay for our soldiers care.

That is my take on the situation and if somebody wants to push the patriotic card on me sorry but in my book our soldiers has been used for personal agendas driven by the corruption that has taken over our political system.

Everybody take a hard look at what this war for profits is doing to our soldiers and we should be demanding and end to it but rather we keep telling ourselves that is all for freedom.

Is more where this one comes from as a matter of fact is hundreds of thousands of soldiers that will never be able to comeback into society and live a regular life anymore due to injuries.

Like many media outlets CNN is just showing what is good for them and what it sells.

I trust not media at all and neither their intentions.

[edit on 19-11-2007 by marg6043]

Wow, Steep away for a couple hours, and the whole house is in a tissy.

K, first, I never said abondon the guy, or any veterans. I said that he should recieve all the the medical treatment possible to get him back to as normal as possible. This includes phychological treatments. He should also recieve re-education to assist with jobs within the government. I believe this is the case for any and all disabled vets, additionally it should apply to anyone on disability.

My beef isn't with taking care of him while he is hurt. My beef is still taking care of him 60 years down the road, Paying out money for him and other through taxes for him to sit at home all day and watch Days of our Lives.

Just because someone is disabled, it doesn't mean they can't work. People can run a fax machine, answer a phone, return emails, etc. There is absolutely no reason why he can do any of this after he has successfully completed treatments.

BTW, I am not trying to troll. This is a discussion about VA, as well as the care that they recieve after they are wounded. I also think its horrendous to not have them get the treatments that they need, or the care that they need. Its a proven fact that early intervention brings about the best resolutions.

Next, While I respect the men and women in uniform. I do so no more then anybody else. They signed up for a job, plain and simple. He knew the chances when he signed up, and if he or any other vet ignored them, they did so at there own conscious. I as well as every other American should not be forced to fit the Bill for people who are not willing to provide for themselves.

In conclusion. Do I think he should recieve treatment, absolutely. Do I think that treatment includes mental services, yes. Do I think I should have to pay for the rest of his life for his choices, NO.

There is something called personal responsibility. I am a firm believer in it, and think everyone should apply it.

Regardless, I wish him as well as everyone else here the best of luck in there treatment, and hope they can someday get off the system.

Cheers to you all, and happy holidays,

Camain

Hi There,

Step away for a couple hours, and the whole house is in a tissy.

You received a response appropriate for the post you made...its tone and context was wholly inappropriate to the soldier's suffering.

I feel that is not the American people the one should be putting forward the money for treatment...

They wouldn't have to if they got off their backsides and resisted the buffoons running the country of said Americans. In either case, it does not excuse the fact of the reason why this soldier ended up in Iraq, and in getting the appalling injuries he recieved. As a soldier, he does not have the same option of protest as you, he cannot say no to being shipped overseas into harm's way. Those whom do have the voice of protest have done little to even save their own liberty and freedoms as set down in that brilliant document called the Constitution.
The time will come (I feel) when the civvies will have to act both morally and physically to save their country, but sadly, this will not happen until the totalitarian noose nips at their necks as it tightens about them. You are being called to stand up for what you have taken thus far for granted...bear in mind that the Constitution that has guaranteed you your right to life and liberty unfettered and unassailed by the govenment, requires that you (not the military) fight for its principles to be upheld at all times. If you don't have the moral backbone to do that, if you don't have the character to resolve yourself to the steadfast ideas of life and liberty...well, morally, you cannot moan about a soldier receiving monies due him because of injuries received in combat.

I too totally and vehemently disagree with the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I hate to see the armed-forces of both your country and mine doing the dirty work of criminals whom don't sacrifice anything of their own, but reap the vast rewards paid for by the flesh and blood and life of our soldiers. This is not a 'conscience' war, but one motivated out of greed and profit; the civillians of both your country and mine have the voices whom can speak and protest for our soldiers. Let us do what we can for them before many more are killed or maimed fighting a very unnecessary war with Iran.

bout time, they need to also Look into the VA an the military denying GI Bills!

I payed into it and have been 100% denied. wheres my 2k? let alone my current going Gi Bill wage would of been 38k.

Are they backing out?

elysiumfire, please review my first post. If my post was inflammatory, I apoligize. My beef isn't with treating the hurt and wounded. My beef is that by giving him/her a disability payment no strings attached for the rest of there life, you are enabling them to be a sloth on our society. I don't believe in welfare, S.S., or disability payments. Its a system designed to allow people to be lazy. I think they should all be scrapped and redone, but thats beside the point.

The issue at hand is Vets not recieving appopriate care after there fighting is over for whatever reason. Be it mental or physical. This I find disgraceful, as they did serve there country.

The question though is, How much is that service worth? I feel that its a job, just like any other job. As such, the benefits they recieve should correspond to the job market.

If I'm hurt in my job, they cover 100% of my medical care up to 1 million. After that, they drop the coverage. As far as disability insurance goes, I get 80% of my pay for 3 months, 60% for month 3 through 9, and 40% till the end of the year. If I don't go back to work I don't eat.

I'm not saying that this is what should happen to vets, because I don't feel that it is necessarily fair, but I do think the principle is fair. Once a person is physically healthy, a reduction of benefits should occur, that corresponds with mental treatment, and job skill adjustment and replacement. Additionally the VA should find them jobs within the government that they can do.

While the initial outlay is higher, not having them on a system indefinately not producing anything would cost more, IMO.

In closing, let me remind you that I have tried to be polite, please don't debase this thread with inflammatory remarks, as it just debases what it was originally created for(identifying an issue with VA treatment).

I hope these VET get all the treatment they need, and have some happy holidays. May whatever you believe in bless you, and grant you all serenity this holiday season.

Cheers,

Camain