Tracy;

An advantage to a weak economy and high unemployment is more individuals will join the military. When the economy is strong the number who sign up decrease.

Tom


>I agree entirely. Extinguish all benefits received by serving your country-afterall, there are few benefits left these days, but alot of risks still remain. Following that, we will not need to concern ourselves with how many verterans are trying to 'milk' the taxpayers for free medical service because the only people serving in the military left will be those that joined the military to avoid going to jail (no one else will see any benefit to joining the military anylonger) and those individuals will get their free medical when they go back to jail as most do eventually!
>
>(From someone with a service related disability but has never drawn medical benefits and doesn't plan to.)
>
>:o)
>
>>Bret;
>>
>>Serving in the United States Military should not entitle you to any benefits. To have a more perfect society I would suggest:
>>
>>1. Abolish all insurance companies and medical plans.
>>
>>2. Abolish all retirement plans (social security, private plans, company, etc.).
>>
>>3. Abolish all forms of assistance to others who are in need.
>>
>>
>>4. Give your entire paycheck to the government (local, state and federal) and allow them to return to you what they think you should get. I bet they still spend more then they take in.
>>
>>5. Work until you drop and just let the bodies pile up.
>>
>>Improving the condition of those in need is a weakness that we must stamp out. Only those that can afford to live should do so. Exterminate those that do not contribute to society.
>>
>>Tom - Yours for a better Earth. :)
>>
>>
>>
>>>Here is my criteria for VA hospital. The VA is only responsible for your care if you were injured while serving or if a later injuring can be proven to come from something that happened to you while serving or you have retired from the military. That is it.
>>>
>>>The VA has become socialized medicine for some and in turn some that need care are not getting it because the VA is overwhelmed and losing money. I feel that if you served 4 years and then got out, the government should not give you care at any facility unless the criteria above is met.
>>>
>>>We have to enforce the concept of work and pay for health insurance. But unfortunately, the US is getting to the point where a great majority feels the government owes them everything and they have to work for nothing.
>>>
>>>>>>I saw an interesting report on television news. Imagine veterans loosing hospital benefits at a time like this? If you are a veteran of the United States Military, up until now you had the right to receive hospital care from any VA hospital. That has changed effective immediately. Unless you have a medical condition defined on your discharge records related to the military you are not eligible for medical care! Those persons who do qualify have to wait up to six months for a doctor’s appointment.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Not all veterns require care from a VA hospital but I am concerned about those men and women that have just lost a benifit which has been in effect for many decades, require or will require medical care and use or could have used the VA hospital for medical treatment.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tom
>>>>>
>>>>>Just a question Tom, but who should receive care at a VA hospital? What criteria would you have set up?
>>>>
>>>>Bret;
>>>>
>>>>It is my understanding that any person who has served in the United States Military and received an Honorable Discharge is/was eligible for treatment at any VA Hospital. My understanding could be incorrect but up until the last few days that seems to have been the case.
>>>>
>>>>The report I saw said that in the future, eligibility may be based upon personal income and an annual income of $35,000 more would exclude you from VA medical care.
>>>>
>>>>To answer your question, “What criteria would you have set up”?, I think if a veteran needs medical treatment and has no insurance or means to pay he/she should be entitled to medical treatment at any VA Hospital.
>>>>
>>>>I realize everything costs money and that helping those in need is not at the top of the list for many people. Rather the majority has an attitude of, “dog eat dog”. Every day the number of vetrans decreases based upon deaths and the reduced number of people that were members of the military within recent times.
>>>>
>>>>Veterans of World War I were promised a bonus. In 1932 the veterans gathered at Washington D.C., and camped in vacant government buildings and in open fields made available by police superintendent Pelham D. Glassford, and demanded passage of a bill to received the promised bonus. The bill was overturned and the veterans refused to leave. Herbert Hoover ordered Douglas MacArthur to use the Army to evict them forcibly. MacArthur had their camps set on fire, and the army drove the veterans from the city. Hoover was much criticized by the press and the general public for the severity of his response.
>>>>
>>>>I can imagine the same thing happening today or in the future.
>>>>
>>>>Tom