I hate to say it but I think it is because they found out they can get lifetime disability from the vets admin. I know a couple of people who are doing just that. Their disability doesn't keep them from doing anything that I can tell.

I've met only 5 Iraq/Afganistan vets...and 4 of them were commiting PTSD fraud...one of em' chuckeled and called it milk money when talking to his friends.

@Jane Shaner

I know one doing that and training in mixed martial arts. Go figure.

If it's fraud report it. That's our tax dollars going to this "milk money" fund.

my military friend posted on his facebook yesterday that (@6am) he was trying to blow a .40 or better in his breathalyzer....I saw this as a suicide threat...many would probably disregard it, but I fear his state of mind if he was willing to post such a harmful post about himself. I hope all is being done for these kids....

you say weak, but I say a bigger capacity to relate to other humans....trauma was always there, just not brought to light. And many of these kids were raised by military men.....and so on....

Carl-929595

Another example of the weak children being raised today.

That's a pretty sick comment. These service members have had multiple deployments, (some as many as 6) over 11 years.) Grab a gun and head to Afghanistan, tough guy.

I also know that fraud runs ramped. A girl I know who says she hurt her back, no physical appearance of injury, hikes, pick up her pit bull, goes to school for casting Iron, lifts, etc, also claims PTSD, is now on disability for the rest of her life.....my boyfriend, shot on a UN food run for Samalia, Mogadishu, nothing!! not even healthcare!!! He doesn't want anything to do with what happened. (Battle of Mogadishu,15th Marine Expeditionary Unit)

The US becoming dependent on the Military Industrial Complex as a way of life for the US, has a lot more consequences than immediately meets the eye!

Carl, what an absolutely vile and repulsive comment. These people are serving in the United States Armed Forces. They are repeatedly ripped from their families and friends and sent for months on end into hellholes you and I cannot begin to imagine, often placed in mortal jeopardy, and many come back grievously wounded.

These people have served more deployments, and many have served more time in those deployments, than the soldiers who fought in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam.

We may disagree very strongly with the politicians who have sent them on these missions - I certainly do - but these people are far from weak. They are the true 1% of this country. They are the strongest of the strong, the bravest of the brave, and they deserve our respect and our support. I would FAR rather have my tax dollars go to pay for their medical and mental health care than for yet another bank bailout, oil subsidy, farm subsidy, wasteful weapons procurement program, or just about anything else.

Your comment is repellent and disgusting. And for those of you who claim that fraud is rampant based on your knowledge of one or two people who are committing it, I would encourage you to consider the broad gulf between anecdotal evidence and valid, useful statistics

sandtrich

YES CARL should grab an M-16 and go for it !!!!

The dumbass has never been there or done that. To add to the strength of your reply , I have this to add . Proven fact !!!!! The average VIETNAM VET saw more combat than the average WW11 VET did . I am taking nothing away from those guys as they fought one hell of a war . But studies have proven this to be true . Now multiply that by the number of deployments and you end up with one STRESSED OUT G.I. P.T.S.D. can bring you down at any time, any where. Not all of us who have it, showed symptoms at the same time. Some times it takes a trigger event to set us off . In other words we are ticking time bombs , just waiting for the signal to go off. For each one of us it is a different event.

bob

roadlesstraveled, and sandtrich,

you say weak, but I say a bigger capacity to relate to other humans....trauma was always there, just not brought to light.

These service members have had multiple deployments, (some as many as 6) over 11 years.) Grab a gun and head to Afghanistan, tough guy.

Both of you are spot on. I can't believe these folks posting their bull-@!$%#e. They don't sound very grateful for the sacrifices made for their freedoms.

More like a weak comment

A couple of things about the article and the posts:

1) If you haven't been there, don't feel free to comment. Unless you know that icy feeling of impending death, you have no inkling of what you are talking about. But this thing I will tell you --- I have known several people with real PTSD and all of them had one thing in common --- they would make light of it or try to laugh it off or do the very things you describe. They do it because of jerks like you that kick wounded vets.

2) The article is only half of the PTSD/TBI/mental disorders story. The other half is the Vetran's Administration Hospital System. Those people are in the same shape. Google Ira Katz VA and you will find considerable testimony about mental disorders and suicides among vets. It's the same thing, just years down the pike.

3) I can so easily see how easy the things can be catching up with our troops. One year in Vietnam (67-68, Tet) was bad enough, but it was only 365 days and a bag drag. Now the troops go back and back and back in up to a dozen deployments to combat zones and no end in sight. Either something in your mind snaps or your rationally decide that they will keep sending you back until you are killed.

Carl 929595--What an idiotic comment...do you also think those struggling with Traumatic Brain Injury or severe burns/amputations as a result of IEDs/etc. are"weak?" It is obvious you have had no experience with those who put their lives on the line.

My uncle, a tail gunner shot down in a Flying Fortress in Italy, ended up as a POW. He graduated from Mizzou with his GI benefits, worked briefly for Westinghouse, & was laid off in the late '50s. He never held a job again, and died in 1984. I remember hearing comments about him from people like you when I was growing up. Now, 50+ years later, as a mental health professional who worked with Viet Nam vets in a correctional setting, I'm sure my uncle had PTSD, in addition to the heart attack in the '50s.

People like you are just part of why it's taken so long for veterans from many wars to get the services they need--the public likes to wave the flag & send its youth to war, but the public doesn't want to pay for the aftermath of war...they want to just "keep shopping" as Bush II recommended when asked how people could support the war. Supporting our troops takes more than waving a pretty piece of red/white/blue fabric in a parade, or making a speech in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner.

Oh, Carl! Thanks for being SO brave and posting that from your cushy chair while stuffing a third Hot Pocket into your piehole! What would we do without you? There'd be a shortage of idiocy, that's for sure.

Carl-929595 - Please take your worthly self over to the middle east and take one of this guys place. You seem to know so much and yet don't know anything.

Have you people given any thought to the fact that the "New" military is in a combat-stateside-combat-stateside-combat-stateside situation?

During WW2 and Korea our soldiers went to war and stuck to it, this was trying on their nervous system and sense of morals to be sure BUT they had a clearly marked enemy and didn't have to change their way of life on-and-off-and-on as our fighting cadre are today. Think about how that would throw off a person's mental balance. It began in 'Nam and I've seen the results of this in the soldiers that surround me both then and now at the VA.

Add to that the fact that it is WE that spoil our kids and grand-kids always wanting to give them more than WE ever had, (Parenting 101). So if you care to go around knocking our Men and Women in uniform as being "WEAK" keep in mind who made them that way. Remember when you point your finger at someone else, THREE fingers are pointing right at you

This from a weakling who prefers to let others do his fighting for him.

...as Carl chimes in safely from behind his well used keyboard.

Carl

Your comment is disgusting.

Unless you have been in combat or live with someone who has.SHOUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!

My husband has had 5 deployments 2 to Iraq during the worst of the fighting...He endured IED attacks where the Humvee in front was blown up friends died in the blast and from the blast my husband lost his eyesight for awhile and now has trouble seeing, He was throw from a Humvee and has hurt his back.

Roadlesstraveled you can have a back injury that doesn't effect you everyday.

My husband has seen his friends die and civilians, nightmares are a part of my families life, sometimes driving makes him anxious when traffic gets to close, we can't go to crowded dark bars. My husband doesn't even have it as bad as some of the men and women but you feel so helpless when they're going through this.

PTSD did not start in Vietnam, but has always been with us.

Was has always been with us (homo sapiens).

Fraud is everywhere in human life, and the whole system is set up by wealthy people who have law degrees, or who hire lawyers to give them every advantage over other human beings.

I am not a fan of war, but did take the place of others, unwilling to go in Vietnam (not a hero, by the way).

Many are jealous that some veterans get compensation. If they only got $25 a month, most would not be jealous.

Even other veterans are jealous of those with high compensation pensions. I used to joke in my therapy groups, and say that it was a sure sign of PTSD if one vet was saying, "i have it, but that guy is faking!" LOL

Jealously, cheating, lying and the unfairness of life run rampant wherever you look in the human spectrum.

Veterans deserve the compensation they get, and much more. The ones who deserve it the most are those in body bags who never got any life or reward after their war experience.

The politicians party, the wealthy spend their money, while the military people risk their lives and mental health. THAT'S HUMAN NATURE FOR YA'.

Roger Stavitz in Danforth, Maine.

@JEM

Although there havent been exactly a plethora of victories, not too many armies are effective in assymetrical warfare. As far as conventional ones go, what do you consider the first Gulf War?

Gulf War One had to be done over, so it can't be called a victory.

Victory can only be claimed when the threat for which the war
was fought is actually eliminated.

Do you really think it is a productive use of life and treasure to
continue to press on in Afghanistan at a cost of $11 billion, 182 dead
and 1364 wounded solders per year plus whatever the costs the war
may be inflicting on the Afghans?

While we are pondering, do you really think Iran would be a threat today
if our CIA had not overthrown the only elected president the Iranian people
ever had back in 1953 so that the Shah could be put in place?

Our "Foreign Policy" is doing far more harm than good and is putting the
American people at risk. Lets withdraw while we can and bring our troops
home.

Lets adopt the foreign policy of Norway. It is no accident that terrorists target
Americans rather than Norwegians.

Sorry Jem

we beat the hell out of the NVC and NVA. In the early 90's their government finally admitted as much with well over 1,000,000 KIA. The truth is they didn't roll into South Viet Nam till our military presence didn't amount to much more than Embassy marines...and even that wasn't until actual combat actions by us had been over for quite some time, almost a couple years.

Just in case you guys have forgotten !!!!

We haven't fought an honest war since WW11. All that came after were political wars. Brought to us by the Military / Industrial complex . Keep the economy going ( and we are a war based economy believe it or not ) with profit at any and all cost. As long as it it not my kids fighting in it.

bob

No, Korea was an honest war. A war we fought to save a people and it was the UN that came together in a heartbeat to do it.

WWII from the US point of view could have been prevented. We could've easily stayed isolationist, but the Japanese bombed us because we offered them tons of sticks and no carrots. The Iranians would do the same thing today but they don't have the capability the Japanese had.

We haven't won a war since 1945 b/c no one in our government has had any balls since 1945. We are still trying to assuage our guilt for blowing people up in 1945. And, since Vietnam, we have been too busy being politically correct to actually accomplish anything.

Nuke the middle east for morbid. Take the oil. And then dare anyone to retaliate.

We have become spineless losers who puff out our chests and then pay to rebuild everyone we huffed, and puffed, and blew down. Pathetic.

I hope Troy is kidding. The USA is not the whole world after all, and IMHO, we - as a country - are maturing. I supported the first Gulf War because it was justified and supported by a great many countries. The second one though, was not. Remember, no Weapons of Mass Distruction were ever found and thousands of our young people were killed and many more were injured, disabled, and/or mentally wounded. The same happened to many more innocent Iranians and others there. Like any war, ever. And remember, we had no national debt when G.W. Bush took office and would not have one now if we weren't sticking our noses where it doesn't belong. Bush II was quoted a while back in AARP magazine, while in verfy comfortable retirement, that he "had no regrets" about what he did as president. Of course, he was just the goofy puppet of his V.P. and other advisors. I'm a Viet-Nam era Vet, BTW, but did not serve there. Of course, I support our Vets all the way (except those faking innesses) and wish we did better by those that need help.

scotlee09

The Vietnamese government reported to the Russian government that 1205 US prisoners were being held.

Only 591 prisoners were released.

Therefore, the Vietnamese government kept 614 prisoners.

It is likely that this was known to Nixon and several presidents since.

Finding oneself so desperate to end a war as to deliberately leave several hundred prisoners
to grow old in enemy captivity just to make the war stop does not sound like much of a victory.

Google "John McCain and the POW Coverup"

It's very difficult to achieve a "Total" victory when you're not engaged in a "Total" War.

The definition of the word "Victory" this passed half-a-century is fleeting. As near as I can determine its definition is, "Accomplishment of One's stated and limited purposes at the time of disengagement". The trouble with our engagements of late is that the "Stated Purposes" have either been lies (remember the Military Industrial Complex?) or constantly is a state of flux which will not allow a positive definition.

Jem:

interesting point but one that completely avoids the reality of the disparity of casualties between the two countries. Look at the total number of casualties of NVC and NVA over that time period and compare to the age cohorts percentage vs the total population...sorry but they simply didn't have many able bodied young people with which to left with which to fight. The reality is that in many instances the best regiments of the NVA army had been wiped out repeatedly over decades and were simply incapable to continue fighting.

The desperation from a military standpoint definitely was coming from communist Viet Nam by 1972 and a brief comment by one of their own commanding generals underscores that point. General Tran Van Tra said at the time that "The Military Region 9 Command (Western Nam Bo) sent a message straightforwardly that the Regional Command order and immediate cessation of hostilities so that we could reorganize our forces. The troops were no longer capable of fighting!" (Tra, Vietnam: History of the Bulwark B2, 6)

And that was no isolated incident. All across the north the manpower pool had dried up. We outfought the NVA/NVC for better than a decade so much so that THEY were begging for the reprieve of peace talks in order to catch some breathing space. They lost 1.1 million troops according to their own government, albeit only belatedly did they admit this in 1995...and to a French newspaper no less.

You are a @!$%#ing idiot AgentSTS. Audie Murphy the most decorated soldier in American history suffered from PTSD. Was he also weak?

PTSD didn't exist when he ran his plane in to the ground in 1971, tough guy. That only came around when some snot nose liberal douche thought the world needed another acronym for being a p*ssy. You get medals for killing others, so maybe you need to find a better hero, especially one better at winning against gravity.

What the hell do you think shell shock was in WW1 you jackass? PTSD has been around for a hell of a long time just with different names for it.

My father came home after over 3 years in Africa and Europe in 1945. He suffered the rest of his life from those memories. Never talked about those times except maybe my mother. I dont think the man ever forgave himself for all the killing he had to do and never forgot best friends he left there.

AgentSTS, in addition to being an utter moron, has apparently never heard of "shell shock." Give us some more wisdom from your air conditioned living room, O, Wise One!

Agent,

My father is 92, served in WWII and Korea, he has been sad, forelorn from my earliest recollections. My Dad told me that he saw and did things that no human being should see or have to do. After that comment, he never spoke of his service again. There times when he would withdraw from family and social life, there were times when he would cry and pace. But my in Dad's era shell-shock/battle fatigue was never really recognized or really treated. My Husband, Viet Nam vet, he refused to seek help or admit that he had a problem, his symptoms were and are classic--he has finally admitted he couldn't cope anymore without help. He is better, our family is better, our children are relieved that their Dad is healing. To tell our Vets to suck it up is beyond the pale. Your comments were callus, mean spirited, insensitive, hurtful. Agent your are an ass! My Dad and Husband ae Heroes as well as all that have follwed them So shut up and go away.

skyparrot- Sounds like it's been rough. Please thank your father and husband for their service. They Are heroes! Sounds like you deserve a medal too girl, if just for keeping/holding the family together! Our hurting Vets should have the best treatment available.

Don't let the cowardly clowns on the vine ruin your day. :)

ellen

Our 'kids' today don't often have what it takes to do the particularly nasty things that previous generations coped better with

LOL So you are saying they are "weaker" because they have a better moral compass? Your logic is so circular it's making me dizzy. You don't have a clue as to what your talking about "Agent."

The truth is, our troops are heroes - both past and present. And as far as a abnormal pattern of behavior, I would be more inclined to have a look at their environment, including anything they might be exposed to, before I'd assume that these brave people are flawed in any way!

How many Vietnam Veterans has the INS deported back to Mexico?

Why would the INS deport US citizens JEM?

Suds Have to agree. Ive met a lot of Viet Vets in AA and NA. Their problems started for the most part while they were there. Never understood how people could blame soldiers for following orders, especially soldiers that were drafted. Sad commentary on those times.

Brokeinarrow

JEM must have been referring to the PORTO RIC-ANS that fought along side us. Some were enlisted and some drafted . All served proudly and bravely.

Brokin,

One does not have to be an American Citizen to serve.

Google "Banished Veterans". The US has deported veterans from various wars to lots of
countries.

In fact the wife of a fallen Marine was recently deported to Japan.

She is a citizen according the rules of the USMC so she is receiving death benefits, but she
is not a citizen according to the rules of the INS, so she cannot live in the country that her
husband died for. Something to do with differences in the legal definition of "marriage"

Google it

JEM - Googled it.... quite disturbing actually to see this type of thing is still happening. That's definitely something that needs to be fixed and fixed now. Oh, but congress is busy trying to pass legislation on Olympic uniforms >.<

"older soldiers just 'dealt' with it."

Yes, often by suicide or drinking themselves to death. People pretend that PTSD after war is a "new" thing. It's not. It just has a new name.

I recently saw a documentary about PTSD it had soldiers from WWII discussing how they themselves think that the soldiers now have a higher instances of PTSD because of the limited amount of demobilization and debriefing. In WWII the soldiers came home on ships which gave them at least 2wks to demob. Now the men and women come home almost immediately from deployment.

My friend and I were actually just discussing that very thing the other week. How the troops in WWII came home on ships which took a lot longer, and all they had to do while on board was sit and talk about the crap they went through with a bunch of their friends that had been through the same stuff... basically they gave themselves group therapy on the way home.

PJ, I also had two uncles serve in WW2. When his kids were in school they had an assignment to ask what their dad did in the War. One uncle was in the infantry at Normandy and flatly refused to answer any of their questions. The other uncle flew on a bomber in Europe and he won't stop talking about his time in the military. I figure uncle no.1 saw stuff a little too close. Wasn't it called "Shell Shock" then? Telling a combat vet to "man up" when you have never been there is disgusting and should have the cr@p beat out of you. Glad your son is back.

I happen to know firsthand that MANY of those "suffering form PTSD" are receiving Disability Benefits from our Government for having a "mental disorder", yet, ARE NOT, let me repeat, ARE NOT mandated to receive any kind of Medical Intervention or Mental Health Treatment.

My ex, who did 4 tours in the ARMY including Bosnia & Iraq, was coached by his own father as to just how much of a percentage of disability to claim. Ex. "If you say you have nightmares and get agitated, but don't have thoughts of suicide, you'll get a 30% rating and they'll pay you a monthly disability BUT YOU CAN STILL KEEP YOUR SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE, YOUR FEDERAL JOB, AND HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPON!"

WHAT?!!

I know there are many soldiers suffereing the after effects of these wars.... But if they are truly suffering, SUPPLY THEM WITH HELP, jobs, counseling, therapy, etc., NOT Non-Taxable CASH MONEY...

being treated to PTSD is considered a precondition for those looking for private medical insurance. 30% disability allows a veteran to use tricare.

I think they all, hurt by anyway deserves to be paid and took care of. Even really little things can beat a person in the brain. This great grandmother is for all service personnel.

They're not volunteers. They're paid professionals. They chose that career knowing the risks.

You're kidding, right?

I'd much rather have volunteers to my left and right than a draftee who didn't want to be there and probably didn't pay attention in boot camp.

And Joe, yeah while we joined knowing the risks, a lot of us also joined not knowing our esteemed leaders would keep us at war for more than a decade.

This is indeed a crucial issue. Medical Marijuana is the best treatment for many people with PTSD.

Lets give our Veterans some freedom for the sacrifices they made.

Legalize Pot!

Your story does not surprise me, Klein. Thank you so much for your service, sir.

they will never end all wars...too much money for it for the rich people. as long as them or their kids dont have to go, its ok!

The "old US Military" also segregated the blood of Negro and white soliders so one would not get "the wrong kind". I'm assuming you have not been in the military. What's wrong with getting a college education while serving your country? You come out smarter and can get a better job that just a high school diploma or a GED. You've seen too many John Wayne movies.

It was called Shell Shock or Battle Fatigue in WW2. It wasn't named PTSD until the 70's. If you look at the data, after a month of uninterrupted combat (being at the front line ALL of the time, like our soldiers are now because there technically is NO front line) more than 95% of WW2 veterans displayed some degree of psychological trauma.

If you don't think PTSD is real, then by all means YOU go fight. And when you come back with psychological symptoms, we'll just hang you out to dry.

PTSD is painfully real in WWII vets. They are filing in by the thousands into VA clinics now in the twilight of their years.

I'm sure the Republicans will cut the VA when they get a chance. It's cool though, the system was already overloaded by Vietnam Vets before 2001, now we have the young guys in there with their fathers and now grandpa can go too.

Thanks uhmerikah for sending generation after generation to war for naught.

In all fairness, I'd slap the F out of Matthew Williams. Like you have any idea what it means to be in the military. WWII vets came back with zero problems... sure bud. Maybe might wanna volunteer at a Veterans meeting and here some stories. Not hardened old vets when they've been fighting nightmares for 70 years. You make me puke.

"Funny how you never hear of PTSD for veterans from WW2"

Bullshlt. They called it "shell shock" and you're an idiot. Get off your backside and open a history book.

Hey, Dopey. You, Mathew Williams. I'm sure in other areas of your life, you're a pleasant guy, but your comments do not reveal that here.

Use Google and search for LET THERE BE LIGHT (1946) and you'll find you can view John Huston's war documentary, for free, online. About 20% of the returning WW II vets had what was then called shell shock or combat fatigue.

This film was censored by the US Army for many years, and has only recently become available to the general public.

WW II was a time before you grew up, a time before Phil and Oprah, before televions and call in talk radio. Loose Lips Sink Ships was the motto, and the only topic WW II vets talked about was sports and other safe topics. You are a real fool if you think that WW II veterans did not suffer PTSD, or get compensation for it.

I say, put you in a sand bag, drop you off in Afghanistan, and put your butt to work, saving the lives of combat troops...LOL When we hear you scream, we'll know you took one for the team.

You must be too old, too fat, or too stupid to get drafted. Otherwise you wonld'nt want the draft.

Why? Draft is only necessary when the country is clear and present danger and the professional army can't handle the heat.

Neither have true since WWII. Today's US army is used almost exclusively for illegal local conflicts that weaken the security of this country, not strengthen it.

I think it would be good for each citizen of the United States to spend at least two years serving their country. They graduate HS then off to service. It might give some a job skill they would otherwise not have. Others could stay in if that is what they want. But it would give everyone a taste of the sacrifice their fore fathers gave and maybe make them more appreciative of their countries.

I really thought they were going to bring it back with Iraq and Afghanistan. But it ain't over till it's over.

Drafted solders tend to be inferior to volunteers. A draft would likely weaken our military.

The point of the draft here is not to provide bodies for our military but to take young people

out of the workforce.

This could devolve into a way to force young people out of high school to spend two years doing
the work that was recently done by illegal aliens. Allowing institutions of slavery might be a very
dangerous thing.

jonofjon...thank you--for your own service, & your dedication to the future, so that my son (once to Iraq & now in Afghanistan) will have better services. I am so sorry we let you Viet Nam vets down.

Dear Dora Lea

I've written to Jonjojon, and I think he volunteers with the PTSD group located near White River Jucntion VA hospital in Vermont.

I think that had there been no draft in Vietnam, there might not have been the antiwar sentiments that we had back then. A lot of that anger came out of guilt of not serving, or not wishing to be drafted.

But that's like saying if there had been no slavery, then perhaps there would not have been a civil war. Perhaps it is impossible to disassociate historical circumstances from the outcomes or causes of war.

It's quite obvious fromt the hundreds of wars around the globe in the 20th century, that people love a good war. It's like sex. It's hard to live a life without indulging. I guess that for the people not in the war, it is like watching pornography, watching someone else do something you do not wish to do yourself?

Anyway, it is much healthier for the returning veterans to treat them as valued members of society, people who served and did what the rest of us refused to do, as opposed to how us Vietnam Veterans were treated by our peer group and many of the older WW II veterans who felt we had let them down.

Roger Stavitz in Danforth, Maine.

If SFG does it, you had BETTER GD do it. Get my drift? (Top "Go Team". 6th Group (Psyops) & 5th Group, Ft. Bragg, N.C., ETS from active duty 1972.) - RC

(Don't cross swords with me, I have 3 lightning strikes against you (and then some)). - RC

With all respect, Joe, I think what you are describing is VIETNAM REDUX. That's what happened in Vietnam, and it didn't seem to have a positive outcome there, either?

And by the way, I was one of the penises who was drafted while those with a vagina got a free ride, and then complained about EQUAL RIGHTS and HAVING IT ALL.

The reason I did two tours was due to my own niavete, but not because I was forced to do multiple tours, like today's professional soldiers.

Also, we got draftee wages, and as you remember, NOT ALL WERE DRAFTED. In 1968, 2/3 of my high school graduating class of 750 kids went off to college, and many were protesting the war.

BASICALLY, YOUR IDEA IS WELL MEANING, but I think it has been tried before.

well when you cut the budget without thinking, caring more about numbers than people, this is what happens. See, people who work in VAs are considered (uh oh) Public workers.

So you've fleeced us for the funding we need to provide good service, and threaten our jobs and cut our pay (not to mention, demonize us) so who would choose to serve in the VA?

If Teapublicans looked beyond their checkbooks, and Fox for one second they would see the consequences of their rhetoric. Fat Chance.

Maybe we're all brain damaged, Joe.

I use humor, but look at the wealthy politicians like Bush, Kerry (Senators John and Bob, not related), Obama, LBJ and Richard Millhouse Nixon (and his right hand man, V.P. Spiro Agnew, who took several thousand bucks for a bribe while governor of Maryland, causing him to resign his office in shame...LOL).

So, Joe? WHO AMONG US IS NOT BRAIN DAMAGED? LOL

As the old joke goes, THE FUNGUS IS AMUNGUS

First of all it's "knows" not "know's".

Second, I'm surprised that, if you're really a grandma, all those years of life experience didn't teach that you can tell a LOT by the way person walks, sits, or runs. My grandma certainly could.

Typically age and wisdom come together, but in your case maybe age came alone?! Think about that.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

"Until you idiots stop sending your boys off to fight your little wars, then you have to foot whatever bill you sign up to pay to these vets after the war."

You got that right.

Sounds like you have a real PTSD and you're not faking it!

This is what happens when you fight illegal useless "wars". You can't really even call it a war since there is no military objective to achieve. It is not the wars that people support, so there is no sympathy for the soldiers that fight there. It sucks, but that is the way it is.

VA will be cut again. It always is after the last war fades into memory.

Yup. The righties are blind sided by greed, forgetting the consequences of your proposed cuts.

The blood of soldiers is on the hands of most republicans, who killed the Not One Homeless Vet program. Have you looked at how your teabaggers vote, and what it means? Or just sponging the Faux News?