Republicans Seek To End Healthcare For 1.3 Million Disabled Vets

[meegbear]

I have great and deep respect for veterans. They have volunteered much of their lives to serve our country at home and abroad. They have taken bullets from enemies; lost their hearing from exploding bombs, and all too many have lost their lives. Many of them have sacrificed more than anyone in this nation including some very large corporations whom the conservatives have consistently circled the wagons to protect.

As we head into this Wall Street induced double dip recession, tax revenue will continue to dwindle. That means more cuts. The Republicans have proposed major cuts to everyone, from the elderly to our children. Now these same conservatives are going headstrong to cut benefits for our disabled veterans, homeless veterans and the countless other vets who deserve to be cared for.

According to Disabled Veterans Dot Org,

Republican Paul Ryan and the House of Representatives are looking to end VA healthcare for over 1.3 million veterans. These veterans are the least disabled veterans using the system, usually with disability ratings of 0 percent or no service-connected disability. Currently, the VA spends over $4 billion yearly to treat these vets, despite co-pays intended to offset the expense. Ryan’s cuts are intended to save $6 billion off the VA’s tab and $62 billion over the next 10 years. Instead of merely increasing the co-pay or taxing Wall Street, Congress wants to just cut your benefits out, all together.

VA healthcare is really just a cost of doing business. You break it; you buy it.

There are many veterans who historically vote for the GOP based on the perceived “support” for the military and veterans. Unfortunately, much like the conservative stance on protecting life in the womb, once the child is born they toss them aside to essentially fend for themselves, the same mentality applies to their treatment of our veterans. They “support” them while they are on duty, but once they are no longer an “asset”, politically, the GOP tosses them aside as leaches on society.

The Republicans had a choice, they could increase taxes on the top 2% of Americans and corporations back to 1990s level and reform the tax code to eliminate loopholes that have been bought and paid for by corporate lobbyists, or they could cut the benefits that help the most vulnerable in society. They chose the latter because of their ideological stance that tax breaks create jobs and expand the economy.

<snip>

http://www.politicususa.com/en/gop-disabled-vets

[Rex]

1. And people wonder why I named them repukes.

Their ideology is similar to vomit.

[Angry Dragon]

2. just pigs at the trough ............... Animal Farm

just see how well that ended

[Scuba]

3. Chew 'em up and spit 'em out. Once they can't fight, they're just "overhead"...

...they got paid while they were serving. Why should we owe them anything now?





Assholes.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. What?! No penises? Unrec.

Only kidding.
Rec and :kick:

[Zoeisright]

5. Now THIS is news. THIS is something that should be blasted on the media 24/7.

THIS is something that actually affects Americans. THIS is part and parcel of what makes repukes so despicable.

[gratuitous]

6. It's the Republican way

Any time a Republican says "Sacrifice now, you'll be taken care of later," you're being conned. In 1983, they said that it was unavoidable - every worker had to pay more into Social Security to keep the system solvent. So, the withholding was increased. It was a bit of a hardship, but the built-up surplus made the system more durable for everyone. Of course, that fat pot of money was irresistible to Republicans (and some Democrats), who couldn't keep their greedy mitts off it, and who shoveled it into the pockets of their wealthy campaign contributors. Now, after nearly 30 years of looting, the bills are starting to come due, and Republicans say we ain't got no money. Let's cut benefits for future retirees, those greedy bastards. And sadly, there are not a few Democrats gulled by this bait-and-switch.

We see it again here: Lots of flag-waving and admonishments to "support the troops" when we buy a brand new, shiny war. Ribbons on cars, decals on windows, oh baby, it's a wargasm! Lots of money available for contractors, weapons, mercenaries, and the other accoutrements of a star-spangled patriotic display of international violence. Then, the shiny has rubbed off, the war isn't quite as popular as it was (if it ever really was popular), and now those disabled veterans are nothing more than a nuisance, sucking up resources and impoverishing the country. Cut 'em off or we face the horrifying prospect of Charlie Sheen being taxed an additional three cents on each dollar he "earns" over $250,000 a year. And we can't have that! Sacrifice now becomes sacrifice again and sacrifice forever, because wealthy people can't be asked to help pull the wagon. They're too busy riding in the back. And quit jostling the cart so much, the champagne is losing all its bubbles!

[NNN0LHI]

7. What bugs me is the GOP gets away with this but if Dems cancel some trillion dollar new jet ...

... we don't even need they get accused of not supporting the troops. And it sticks.

Don

[indepat]

8. Maybe one day the public will wake up, smell the coffee, and recognize pub initiatives for what

they are: manifestations of obscenely depraved minds. :patriot:

[A Simple Game]

9. Your post is right on target except for the last sentence.

They did not chose tax cuts because of their ideological stance that tax breaks create jobs and expand the economy. They chose tax cuts because they are greedy. I don't think even they believe their own hype about job creation and economic expansion.

[pinboy3niner]

10. UPDATE: This provision didn't make the markup...

Update: the cuts discussed...did not make the “markup.” Once the topic was run up the flagpole, public outcry caused the House to go back to the drawing board. Instead, the House cut spending for the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims by half of the requested funds from the White House. This court is one of the last resorts for veterans’ disability appeals. Meanwhile, they did allow funding for the VA to police the hand washing of its employees using RFID technology. So while veterans may not get the care they need or the disability rating they deserve, VA employees will not have pee on their hands. At least the government contractor responsible for implementing the system will get paid.

http://www.disabledveterans.org/2011/04/16/republicans-seek-to-cut-1-3-million-veterans/

[hobbit709]

11. This vet has NEVER voted Republican.

Ryan is another goddamned chickenhawk.