>>>Both yours and Bret's positions are doubtless "economically" sound and technically correct. But there is another factor here that to me is overriding - the debt of society to these veterans!
>>
>>Lets stop here a minute Jim. My senario never left out the debt. But the debt is paid for and complete if a person leaves service and has no medical problems whatsoever. Just because a person served does not mean that for ever on the Government owes them something. You see I look upon service a my debt to the U.S. for being able to live here. Yeah I know that is radical, and I will stick out like a sore thumb. But you see I enjoy living in this country and I feel that sometimes people need to pay this country back for the privelege. If not military, then community service. Giving back to this country a little for the rights and freedom we all have.
>
>I have no problem with your personal view, but I do wonder why you feel that it should be imposed on everyone else.

I can't impose anything Jim. My statements have no bearing on you or anyone else. I made statements as a wish list. I am not in charge of the VA. I just, like you, have opinions.

>That the debt is "paid" upon leaving "in good health" is highly questionable to me.
>I mentioned my dad and his siblings/friends of the time because he was physically "healthy" alright, but there's a lot more to life than physical health. And I would say, personally, that one who has served IS eternally owed something by the government.

Point taken, but as I mentioned in my previous wih list to Tom. If the person can prove their problem whether mental or physical is due to their service, then let them get the care they need. But that won't be assured today Jim because the system is being over run by those who are (when their case is brought to light) getting VA care that they don't need or don't deserve.

>Then there were all manner of "tests" that your armed forces did involving personnel. Anything from VD effects to radiation effects to ... and they possibly go on even today (vaccines, pills for xxx, etc). And the effects of depleted uranium (to name one thing) is claimed, as Agent Orange was, to be non-problematic.
>I'm not so quick to accept that a "clean bill of health" can actually be proven at any given point in time.

Good, point. But I live knowing that there are bad men and women in all times past and present. Some looked out for people under their care. While others chose to get people killed or injured. They will have to live with their choice and one day (as I believe) we will all have to stand before God and explain at lot of things.

>
>That many - probably most - veterans opt to leave any recognized disability opportunities unclaimed is a credit to themselves. But I don't think it is right to extend that to then conclude that anyone who may choose to claim a right is a freeloading ingrate.

Jim I have stated if they have been injured because of military service, then care for them. I am not stopping that. If you read my post to Tom you would see that.

>
>The other day a news segment showing anti-war demonstrators in Arkansas (I think it was) had the reporter asking a lady observing what she thought and she said she thought it was anti-American and should be stopped. The reporter made no further comment and moved on to another person. But it was clear to me that the woman was the one who was anti-American, a base tenet of your constitution being freedom of speech. It is technically impossible for ANY talk of any kind to be "anti-American", is it not?

Reporters have an objective to get a story alined with a certain senario. If the person did not answer they way that senario played out, then the report had to find someone who did. I have learned over time that the media is slanted and I don't beleive most I read or hear out of them.

Yes when you have free speech how can it be Anti-American? Well I would guess when your speech is bent toward overthrowing the Government, then it could. I was in the military protecting her right to say waht she did as well as the reporters right to have a job. It is a great country full of all sorts of questions and problems. But in my opinion it still is the greatest country on Earth. Remember opinions are like rear ends. We all have them and sometimes people think they stink.