To solve a problem, first you have to have an understanding of it. Edwards explains it nicely:
America is asking for deep sacrifices from the brave men and women of our Armed Services, without providing them and our veterans with the support they need. The recent scandal at the Walter Reed military hospital is only the tip of the iceberg. The Defense Department and the VA are still having trouble sharing medical records. Extended tours of duty and rapid redeployments have put new strains on military families. College has never been more important, but the GI Bill is now available to only half our service men and women in Iraq. [GAO, 2007]
I know he isn't the only one but it is good to see that Edwards is outraged as we all are about the extended tours and rapid deployments. The same families are sacrificing over and over for this war. Then we have outrages like the ones at Walter Reed, and loopholes in the G.I. Bill that cheat our veterans out of the college education they signed on for? Disgraceful.
He then goes on to outline the problems in Veteran's healthcare:
Health care has been a cornerstone of our nation's commitment to our heroes since the first states undertook responsibility for caring for Continental Army veterans. Today, we are falling short on our historic commitment. Veterans report long delays for appointments at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, which have done valiant work under difficult circumstances. The Bush Administration has consistently underfunded the VA and his budget cuts veterans' health in future years, while shifting burdens to beneficiaries. A review of 1,400 veterans' health facilities has turned up more than 1,000 reports of substandard conditions. [DVA, 2007; Washington Post, 10/13/06; PVA, 2007; DAV, 2006]
The changing nature of warfare has created a new class of injuries and a new set of needs for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Body armor and other technologies have protected men and women from injuries that would have killed them 10 years ago. But they still suffer extreme injuries from explosive blasts, including burns and an unprecedented number of traumatic brain injuries. These brain injuries often lead to epilepsy, related seizures, and other disabling conditions. Nonetheless, this year the Pentagon cut the request for the vital Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center by 50 percent. The true cost of the war in Iraq includes substantial mental health issues. Nearly one out of every three veterans coming home are diagnosed with mental health issues. When they do get treatment, it is often poor; many are simply prescribed antidepressants or sleep aids. The vacancy rate in some services for active duty psychologists is nearly 40 percent, and many psychologists are not trained to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [House Committee on Veterans Affairs; New England Journal of Medicine, 5/19/05; Epilepsy Foundation, 2007; Archives of Internal Medicine, 3/12/07; Truman National Security Project, 2007]
Reading that is just dumbfounding. Is this respecting our troops? The ones who speak most about patriotism and supporting our troops have done all they can to shortchange them. Outrageous.
It is one thing to see injustice and be outraged by it. However, to lead one must use that outrage to find a way to make it right. Here are Edwards plans as President:
Fully Fund Veterans Health Care: The VA has already seen over 200,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. We must do everything we can to properly care for these brave men and women and help them get timely access to care by fully funding veterans' health care. Edwards is committed to providing the funding the VA needs to care for those who have sacrificed for the rest of us. [Washington Post, 10/13/06; DVA, 2007; VFW 2007]
If I have to defend this paragraph to anyone, you have stumbled into the wrong party. This is essential to respecting our troops.
Next he addresses the disgraces at Walter Reed:
Prevent Another Walter Reed: John Edwards is committed to helping the military medical establishment continue to deliver the best quality medicine in the world by properly funding all aspects of medical care, including maintaining the facilities and expediting boards and dispositions of the injured service members. As president, he will order a stem-to-stern review of military hospitals to ensure that our service members are getting the excellent care they deserve. He will also reject the Bush Administration's ideological drive to outsource federal jobs; a questionable decision to hire contractors to manage Walter Reed facilities contributed to the shocking conditions there. [Mattera, 2007]
I would just like to say that it is a sorry episode for our country that Edwards even has to include this paragraph in any policy. This whole paragraph needs to be enacted NOW!!! No "contractor" should be allowed to make a profit shortchanging our brave men and women who have served. The whole episode at Walter Reed was a sickening episode for this country!!
He goes on to address caring for the signature injuries that spring from policing a sectarian civil war:
Dedicate Resources to the Signature Injuries of Today's Wounded Warriors: The VA's prosthetics programs and polytrauma centers need increased resources. Traumatic brain injuries have been described by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the "signature wound of this war." Rather than addressing these problems, the Bush Administration is pretending they don't exist. As president, Edwards will increase the research and treatment of these injuries and the conditions that follow from them. [VFW, 2007]
Again, if I have to defend this, I think you may have stumbled into the wrong party. Please reconsider. Democrats want to show real respect for our troops and this is an excellent idea to do just that.
Provide a "Plan for Coming Home" for Every Service Man and Woman: As a nation, America did not deal well with the care and reintegration of veterans after the Vietnam War, leaving thousands of veterans without the care they desperately needed. We need to admit our mistakes and learn from them. As president, Edwards will require that all service members returning to the U.S. or leaving the military be provided with a new "Homefront Redeployment Plan," including thorough PTSD screenings, benefits information and seamless transfer of medical records. [VFA, 2007; PAV, 2007]
Now this paragraph really shows the mark of a true leader. It is the mark that Edwards has recieved much criticism for and that is when a mistake is made, own up to it and do your best to make it right. Edwards is exactly right on the horrible treatment Vietnam veterans recieved when they returned home, and our country cannot repeat that disgrace. With so many of the same troops serving over and over in Iraq, this plan would be a really great way to help them, and their families and give them real respect, not talking points.
This next paragraph is very good too:
Create a National "Chain of Care," with Improved Treatment of PTSD: Once our service members become veterans, we have to make sure the system doesn't fail them. As president, Edwards will create a new national chain of care to ensure that no veteran again falls through the cracks. Because many veterans receive treatment outside the VA system, this chain will coordinate treatment and benefits in outreach centers and clinics in every county where a veteran resides, both within and outside the VA network. Edwards will also improve training for health personnel to recognize and treat PTSD; establish uniform standards for mental health care to address the wide range of quality of care; increase counseling resources within TRICARE and VA networks and permit access outside of the networks; and ensure that outreach is extended to family members who can help recognize symptoms. Caring for the newest generation of veterans must be accomplished without neglecting the continuing needs of veterans from previous generations.
This plan shows that Edwards wants to be equally committed to our service people when they become veterans and help them deal with the problems that can arise from having been a soldier. We simply must provide for the brave people who served in our military. There is no excuse for not doing it!!
Now, not only the men and women who serve in the military are affected by the needs and problems of service men and women. Most of them have families and loved ones who are left behind who sacrifice as much for our country as the people they love, and are seperated from. Edwards doesn't ignore military families, and has ideas to help them too:
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have put our military and their families under incredible pressure through frequent extended tours and an unsustainable operations tempo. Army management policies aim for at least two years at home between deployments for active-duty personnel and mobilization of Guards members and Reservists no more than once every five or six years. But today we are sending some troops back with even less than a year's rest and recently extended Army tours from 12 to 15 months. On top of everything else, health care coverage for families of mobilized Guards members and Reservists is often disrupted or becomes costly if they wish to keep their civilian coverage. [MOAA 2007]
Again, identifying the problem. Now lets see how Edwards would solve it:
Close the Gap Between Military and Civilian Pay: After 30 years, it's time to finally close the gap between military and civilian pay. The White House's recent decision to "strongly oppose" improved pay and benefits as "unnecessary" is part and parcel of this Administration's neglect of our troops and their families. Edwards believes we need to do everything we can to better stand by those who stand by us, starting with a commitment to closing the pay gap, and strongly supports legislation now in Congress to do just that. [MOAA, 2007]
Now from an administration that is constantly lecturing all of us on our support from the troops, the fact that this paragraph had to be included is a disgrace once more to our country. Edwards has shown in this campaign that he will fight for higher wages for the American worker in the private sector. This paragraph shows that he is committed to obtaining higher wages for our military too. Again, this is just showing descency as a country and respect to our soldiers. It also helps provide for their families.
Next we have three ideas that show a committment to easing the stress on military families:
Enable Guard and Reserve Families to Continue Health Care Coverage: When Guards members and Reservists are mobilized, health care coverage for their families is often disrupted. Edwards has proposed a specific plan to guarantee health care for every man, woman and child in America. Under Edwards' plan, Guard and Reserve families will be given the choice of receiving military health care or receiving help to continue their families' existing health care coverage. [MOAA, 2007]
Give Military Families a Voice in Family Policies: As president, Edwards will create a Military Families Advisory Board within the Department of Defense to give family members a voice in considering how to adjust family policies -- such as separation allowances, life insurance and savings rules -- based on operational needs.
New Respect and More Resources for Family Readiness Groups: Currently, it is difficult for Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) to raise sufficient funds to support their activities. FRGs are critical to maintaining a sense of community among military families during deployments, and providing crucial services. Edwards believes FRGs play an invaluable role supporting families under stress and deserve more resources and respect.
Is there really any of the other candidates supporters who want to come out against any of these things? All sound plans that show leadership and again that word, RESPECT to our military families.
Finally, Edwards talks about the challenges of returning to civilian life, and has several more ideas on aiding soldiers making that transition:
Guard and Reserves members comprise half of our force in Iraq. One quarter of Guard members and Reservists are college students, and many more are graduates with student loans. When these patriots fight for our country overseas, they continue to pay interest on their student loans at home -- as much as $1,400 a year for the average service man and woman with loans.
While service men and women gain valuable training while serving, their experience often goes unrecognized when they go look for a job. The unemployment rate among young returning veterans aged 18-24 today is 15 percent, compared to 8 percent for Americans of the same age who did not serve. [American Legion, 2006]
Again identifying the problem, and now ideas to solve it:
Modernize the GI Bill: Edwards will enact a new Total Force GI Bill that meets the needs of all of today's military and veterans, including Guards members and Reservists. It would give members of the Guards and Reserve benefits proportionate to the service they perform. It would also expand benefits for all eligible personnel and veterans, including job training education for high tech jobs and other growth sectors of the economy.
This is actually a very good idea!! Can we not all agree on that? With all the National Guard members who served overseas in Iraq don't they deserve benefits equal to their level of service? It is disgraceful they don't ALREADY have that!! Doing this would not only respect our troops, but help them become productive in our economy when they return to civilian life.
This next one is just a no-brainer:
Provide Student Loan Relief for Mobilized Guard and Reserves Troops: No one should return to civilian life in deep debt because they served their country. However, under current law, interest on federal student loans continues to accrue. As president, Edwards would make sure our troops do not pay interest on their loans while defending our country.
Again, if I have to argue this point to anyone on here, I think you have wandered into the wrong party. Please reconsider. Edwards again show he would show true respect for our troops.
And finally, the last one:
Restore Vocational Training for Disabled and Occupationally Challenged Veterans: The Bush administration terminated the well-regarded program at the Department of Labor that offers skill training and job placement for veterans whose military specialties are not easily transferable to the civilian workforce and disabled veterans. Edwards would renew the program to help meet the post-Iraq needs of large numbers of military personnel returning from active duty. [American Legion, 2005]
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Again it is disgraceful this paragraph has to be here, but if all of those paragraphs that shouldn't have to be there weren't, what would we be fighting for? This shouldn't have to wait for Edwards to be President, it should be done IMMEDIATELY.
So there is the Edwards plan to provide a "Sacred Contract" between the military and veterans, and the civilian leadership. Once again, just the length of this diary is a testament to the depth of John Edwards understanding of the problems that face real Americans. I know that people will comment and trash Edwards for various reasons when they read this, but I ask, no I challenge any of you to look at this plan and tell me what parts of it disqualify Edwards from leadership. I again challenge you to go to any candidate and ask them what they would do for soldiers, veterans, and their families and what plans THEY have. Have they identified this problem and put this much thought into solving it?
I am a blue-dog Democrat. I come from a union household and can't imagine several generations of my Irish-American Democrat working class ancestors rolling over in their graves when I cast our first Republican vote. Its just not going to happen. I think Edwards was tied up in the DLC but realized that they were never going to let him talk about what he cared about and were advising him against what he believed. I think he has come to believe the campaigns in 00 and 04 were lost by the DLC "centerists" who ran the campaign. If he has, I agree.
Why has he admitted mistakes? Because he has decided that he is going to run on what he really believes even if it is against the advice of the insiders. Why do you think they hate him? They know he is serious about bringing change. They no longer have control over what he will do. I think the man is completely genuine and an Edwards Administration would be a very great thing for America and the world.
I respectfully ask anyone who is undecided, or even supporting another candidate to go to Edward's website and take some time reading and watching some of the video. Take a look at some of his speeches. Look at some of the policy proposals besides this one in this diary. We have all made mistakes but this campaign is truly dedicated to bringing about real change and justice and respect for all in this country. Join us in electing John Edwards to bring real leadership to the White House!!!
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