Today we remember those who have fallen in service for their country. Tomorrow lets to commit to an even greater effort to take care of those who have served and live.
Approximately 1.7 million men and women have served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our veterans suffer higher rates of depression, suicide homelessness and joblessness. Jobless rates among veterans are on the rise in a slowing economy with employers wary to hire vets who may have to return to duty and dare I say it..... vets who are already being branded as loose cannons, cocked pistols, timebombs by the media and popular culture.
Senator Jim Webb's updated GI Bill is a good first step in addressing the issues that veterans face today but much more needs to be done.
What we need;
- Comprehensive employment legislation that puts teeth into penalties for discrimination against veterans.
- Real retirement benefits. Not everyone stays for 20 yrs. veterans should not be financially punished for serving their country yet not opting to stay for 20. Some sort of 401k or Long Term incentive program needs to be established which rewards veterans for any length of service. It should be structured so that upon leaving the service veterans can roll it over to a civilian plan such as a 401k or other corporate pension program. It should be retroactive.
- Veterans healthcare needs to be fully funded and free forever for every veteran. Period.
- The children of veterans should attend state colleges and universities for free. (This war was fought largely by reservists who already have college degrees. as a result many cannot take advantage of GI Bill benefits. Their children should be able to.)
Veterans are those who served and lived and its time we paid them back.
(Disclosure I am a Vet)