We Veterans are our own worst Enemy!

[Vietvet1]

How greed dilutes what would be programs to benefit all vets and not just a puddle to wet the problems. PA Governor "Fast Eddie" Rendell allotted $2.2 Million to be given to the 4 largest VSO's in our State. They represent more of PA Veterans than any. Well.... "Fast Eddie" threw a breakfast for the entities who help Vets, gov't reps as well as VSO Reps. Now the WA-WA!!!!. Some of the smaller VSO's started CRYING that they didn't get a piece of this so Rendell cut the total 8 ways. I can assure you that the smaller VSOs do not in any way represent me because they foolishly think they have a membership size worth even considering. Now you have a pie that is doled out in smaller portions and that puts even more limits on everyone. No one wants to acquiesce in order to benefit the majority of Veterans. They just cry for their share. The 4 who originally were suppose to receive the money are the same ones that help form the "Independent Budget" that is place at the Government's table EVERY YEAR. I don't see the names of the others on that report. That Budget is a very accurate guideline to how much the VA Needs to serve the Veterans and if the Government* approves a lower amount, it is usually increased throughout the year to come closer or exceed the projected monies the Independent Budget asked for in the first place.People, this money was to help train more of the Service Officer Corp. We now watered down the amount of money that could be concentrated and more effective. But no... we have VSOs who pound their chests and cry, what about ME. Personally, though I am a member of many of the orgs I would have like the $2.2 Million to go to the PA IG Office of Veterans Affairs Directors as opposed to satiate the GIMMEE of some of these smaller orgs. PA has 67 County Veterans Affairs Directors. I don't know about the other counties but in mine... the VA Director and his partner are both certified and trained to do claims from step one to the final. They bring in approx. $1 million per year in benefits from claims for the Veterans of our County. So their success in serving our veterans is shown on the brow of these two. One is a retired Army Col. 37 years service from enlisted rank to Warrant to Officer. The other is a female retired Air Force E-9. Well over 60 years of Military total and as capable as anyone to lay out a claim and to get it for the Veteran. They get paid less than what they are worth. If your Veterans Affairs office in your county isn't doing the same.... take a good look at who you have. If your Organizational State Service Officers aren't doing that, maybe they need to be looked at too. I feel the money should go to where it would do the most benefit and not some "hangers on" who think they should HAVE because they have a seat at the trough. This isn't a power struggle we are talking about.. it is HELPING the Veteran by being frugal and get the most BANG for the buck. We aren't doing that when mice pick at the finite supply and cry they aren't getting their supposed due "Respect". Sometimes we have to do what is RIGHT and just shut up for the good of the many and not just a particular group. I do think that the original 4 allow for membership of Veterans of ALL Wars and Services when it comes to claims.... the others further categorize and dilute.*But that is my opinion I guess. *

[grunt1]

i see what you,re saying.,,but all vets must stand together in order to do whats right for all of us.
seems we,re no different than civilians sometimes.
it,s hard to get vets to agree,and fight for our cause anymore.,,not like the nam vets that fought dc for all of us

[TinCanMan]

it,s hard to get vets to agree,and fight for our cause anymore.,,

First of all, "Veterans" really don't have a cause. A veteran is a veteran is a veteran is wishful thinking. Vets aren't a single homogeneous group. We have combat vets, disabled vets and retired vets among others. Each group has their own interests and they are largely at odds because they all compete for a limited pool of money. Note the "Veterans Party" is pretty much an abject failure.

Then we have the facts. The VA tells me we have 23.5 million living veterans. The U.S. population is 305 million. Do the math. Less than 8% of the U.S. population is a veteran. That's down from about 30% 20 years ago. With the WWII veterans pushing up daisies at the rate of 1000/day and the decrease in U.S. forces, it's only going to get worse. Vets are no longer an influential voting block. I think we are experiencing our last hurrah.

[Guarango]

Hi TCM
We can aslo count the veterans wives, adult sons and daughters, cousins, parents (if alive), aunts and the rest of their kin. That should bring up the numbers. If we look at it that way we may findthat we may have a deciding vote and if not a persuasive one. There are others whomare not vets who also sympathize with us. I wonder what the numbers would be then? By the way TCM, hope you and yous are all well. Life here in Spain is good to us.

[TinCanMan]

We can aslo count the veterans wives...

Sure, but it doesn't quite work out the way you'd think as the other end is also possible for the extended sphere of influence of non veterans. Each person tends to vote their own pocketbook. As an example, in the day when I had children, I tended to favor school bond issues. I now have grandchildren and wouldn't vote for a school issue if paid to do so. Influence doesn't extend as far as we'd think.

Here in the states we have an organization known as the VeteransParty which favors veterans issues and attempts to influence voting. Bottom line, it's a failed idea because veterans do not and will never agree on what they want. This is why it is even possible for people like clinton or obama to even be potential candidates for President.