Coby Dillard on service
Our buddy, Coby Dillard, sent us the text of his latest editorial and he said that he’s interested in what veterans have to say about it, so he sent it here for your opinions;
TOO OFTEN, when we start talking about the nation’s fiscal health, the discussion begins with cuts to the military and veterans. Under the Obama Administration, the Department of Defense has made more cuts than other cabinet agencies combined — and that’s before sequestration began. Military retirees face changes and increased out of pocket expenses for the TRICARE program.
One would think that it disrespectful to ask those who risk everything, every day, to bear the brunt of our politicians’ irresponsibility. However, there is a group of veterans who, if asked, might be willing to make another sacrifice on behalf of their country.
The VA’s disability compensation system pays veterans based on the disability percentage assigned by the VA; the higher the percentage, the more the veteran receives.
A veteran who is 100 percent disabled and unmarried receives a monthly payment of $2,816; when spouses and children and dependent parents are included, the payment exceeds $3,000 a month. In some rural areas, this is enough to live in a degree of comfort.
A veteran who is 10 percent or 20 percent disabled receives a payment of $129 or $255. This may cover a few expenses, but is not nearly enough to allow the veteran to live on without finding work. While veterans rated at 30 percent disability or above can receive additional monies for spouses and children, those below that threshold cannot.
To be certain, a disability percentage does not equate to a higher or lower degree of sacrifice; all who serve bear the weight of the nation. Also, a truly grateful nation should work to take care of those who have borne the battle, as President Lincoln said.
Suppose, however, that the government asked its veterans rated at 10 percent and 20 percent to give up their compensation as an act of sacrifice; as their final act of service.
Temporarily, of course; the compensation could be reinstated when the nation is in better fiscal health. But what if the government requested that these veterans — especially those in lucrative jobs — voluntarily give up their compensation until the nation was better situated to fully show appreciation for their service?
How many 10 percent and 20 percent disabled veterans would take them up on their request? As one, I know I would.
We as a nation have lost the true meaning of sacrifice. For many, it means forgoing the iPhone 5 for the iPhone 4. Veterans don’t have that problem; we know, better than most, what it means to forgo something — birthdays, holidays, anniversaries — in service and support of a greater good.
And if asked to do so again, I believe many of us would.
Category: Veterans Issues
Truth is, at 90% diability, being evaluated for 100%, I would give it up on a couple of conditions. 1. Put politicians on the same pay and benefits as Soldiers. 2. Cut the damned hand outs! OK and 3. STOP sending money to our enemies!!
My busted ass can still get up and work, but, I earned every cent I get. Why can’t the rest of the freeloaders???
I’d sling a “knife-hand” at this proposal, but the Marine Corps Times says the Marine Corps frowns on that behavior now.
Here’s my middle finger instead.
I don’t know who put Coby Dillard up to asking this, but whoever it was should hang their head in complete and utter shame. Why not ask our vets for another arm or leg? How about some more blood? A few more burns wouldn’t hurt that much, would they? WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ASK SOMETHING AS F**KED UP AS THIS??
How about this? How about 10% of the elderly’s Social Security checks? Or, how about a 10% cut in the Congresscritter’s pay? How about cutting 10% of the Secret Service detail that guards the President? Or take back 10% of every foreign aid package we send out? If 10% is so damn little to give, why don’t the bloodsuckers who think this is such a grand idea lead the way.
I wrote my response early in this thread, and have watched the answers all day. I think the thing I take away from this more than any other is not that the vets feel taking away and earned benefit is wrong, but that nobody trusts the government to do the right thing and stop with the 10-20%…..it’s almost as if, by virtue of our service, we no longer believe the government will deal from a position of trust.
We served honorably, the government has told us so, but we have no such expectation in return….
I’m not sure what that says about the government and those who have truly served it, but I am pretty confident it might not be a net positive….
#38, Mr Dillard I can only say look at what SS has become from the original intent.
Look at Tricare a little here and a little there.
Then the proposals (what was it VA comp or military retirements?) not getting the same COLA as SS, welfare and the like.
Sorry, there are plenty of ways to save some money, one is put Congress in SS and medicare/medicaid instead of the big pensions for far less than 20 years service.
I say too many live too high on the hog with Govt hand outs they have never earned, until then I will pass.
This proposal needs to be given the attention it deserves. Immediately take it and throw it into the Garbage Dump where it deserves to be. I seriously have to wonder what the authors of this piece were smoking when they wrote it.
@ 46. I live in Oklahoma and voted for Rep then Sen Coburn in every election he has run in. Right now there is nothing more I would like to see than a successful recall of his worthless ass. That man has done more damage to veterans and military retirees than any other Senator I can think of. Oh, he keeps talking about wasteful spending, but does nothing about it. All the while proposing cuts to veterans’ and retirees’ earned benefits.
If at the least they put term limits on Congress (representatives and senators) and didn’t give them a “pension” for even being in position for just 2 years, think how much money that would save right there? (getting elected gets you a pension: wtf is wrong here?)
The President (and even VP?) taking more vacations in one year than the average American (who pays for it) does in 20 years stopping now, would be another good start.
Many things started out with a good original intent. but because humans were involved, those ideals get abused consistently.
The Government is supposed to be there to ensure abuse isn’t happening in programs, but they end up letting abuse happen (and loopholes get abused) because it gets them re-elected and/or money for their campaign.
In the 80s my mother was raising two kids on her own and working between 2 and 4 jobs at any given time. When she asked for just a little help, she was told “you work too many jobs and make too much money, quit your jobs and we can help you.” WTF, over?
The Gummint lets abuse occur because it helps with getting career politicians re-elected.
How about if someone on welfare can’t “get” a job on their own, the government puts them to work to earn their money? There are plenty of jobs available the gummint can’t fill (check usajobs.gov). Give them a crappy GS-1 job for a while and see how quick they go find a “real” job.
Here’s one example of what constitutes a VA rating of 20%: unstable knee with missing ACL (unreconstructed) plus some missing cartilage.
No, that certainly won’t keep someone from working. But it does somewhat limit their career choices.
And it’s also not something an individual forgets about, either. It has a way of reminding the individual it’s there from time to time. Like daily.
Thanks to all of you….even the ones who’d probably like to kick my ass. No malice intended in writing it; I see now that it’s a non-starter.
#54, you did hit on something….I’m one of those few people who trusts the government to do the right thing-in most circumstances, and not without some pushing. Maybe it’s my relative youth.
Took a lot of lessons from this….so, thanks again.
@59. That’s a nice way to end the matter. At least you didn’t get all butt hurt and defensive and, who knows, you may have come away from this with an altogether different topic for an editorial or story. Good luck.
Mr. Dillard,
I too would like to thank you for your courtesy even though your idea got run out of here on a rail!!! I would be very open to what you suggest (I am 50% disabled) until I hear the likes of Nancy Pelosi object to a Congressional pay cut because it would be “beneath the dignity of the office”. Well, it is beneath the dignity of these hero’s who post here to consider giving up what they EARNED defending our country. And the REALLY sad thing is that the politicians always seem to come back to the veteran when they need some savings. When I joined the Marine Corps the first time in 1982, I was guaranteed free health care if I made a career of the Corps. Well I did, and guess what, that has kind of evaporated. And I agree 100% with all those who commented that once we agree to give something up, even temporarily, as a way of helping, we will never get it back.
Before you depart, Mr. Dillard, you must review the broken promise of the government to World War I veterans over the war bond payments they were promised.
http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bonusm.htm