Rumor Doctor misses the point on veteran health care
Our buddy, Jeff Schogol, also known as the Rumor Doctor at Stars & Stripes wrote a piece the other day entitled “Do veterans have a right to free health care for life?“. In his investigation, he has determined that no, we don’t have a “right” to free health care for life. But he misses the whole point.
I don’t think I’ve ever claimed that we have a right to free health care. Just like the military didn’t have a right to expect me to show up at a moment’s notice in the middle of the night to do their bidding…but there I was. Everytime. And I wasn’t alone.
I gave them my word that I’d go where they sent me…any where in the world, whenever they needed me. They trusted me. Just like I trusted them to fullfil their promise when my career ended. No recruiter promised me free health care for life. No contract was made…it’s just the way it was.
Now that I faithfully fulfilled my end of the bargain, they want to change what they bargained for. How do I go back and recover what I lost during those years to make up for what they’re refusing to make good on?
Is it any wonder that veterans mistrust government more than civilians. Is it really any wonder that veterans are conservative and want smaller government in such large numbers? I’ve never suggested that we sue the government for their piss poor treatment of us, we have no legal standing…the only thing we have are our lobbyists at the VSOs.
Category: Veteran Health Care
Well, after serving 20 years….I think I earned that right.
Damn straight you guys earned that right, Roller Dude…
I was promised that. Every re-up speech I was ever given, even when I was ACAPing, they said “are you sure. . . ? you know If you stay you get free Healthcare for life.” That was the promise made from the recruiter right up till the CSMs were getting out. As an institution it was promised, and it wasn’t just one NCO somewhere, it was the WHOLE institution. Pretty much this whole debate feels like a fat load of broken faith.
And, yes, you deserve it, without a doubt. Without a doubt. Even the shammers who applied for disability when they knew it wasn’t service connected deserve it, unfortunately. Nothing pissed me off more than knowing our Vets are not getting what was earned and promised, period. Those needs should trump every god-damned government program and congressman’s salaries if that’s what it takes to make good.
The idea that my vet friends might be denied there rightfully earned health care benefits sickens me. I am not sure its possible for anyone to trust our government any less than the average working stiff, but the fact is they are the only ones we can hold to account. Without a strong government private corperations run amuck, treating employees poorly and polluting the enviroment(I lived for 20 years next to one of the first superfund cleanup sites). I am not asking for a smaller government, I just want one that runs more efficently and puts our tax dollars where they are needed, not subsidizing corn, sugar, oil etc and spending more on education and infastructure.