Posted on Sep 22, 2015
Why Are Veterans Not An Issue in the Debates?
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Why Are Veterans Not An Issue in the Debates?
RP Members do you agree with the article and the lack of concern for Veterans in this upcoming election or are there more important issues?
Your thoughts and comments welcome!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dustin-demoss/veterans-debate_b_8164118.html
With the 2016 presidential election quickly approaching, campaign season is in full swing and boasts no shortage of candidates. Presidential hopefuls from all sides of the political spectrum have pulled no punches when it comes to the multitude of issues currently concerning the American public. In fact, candidates have weighed in on any number of topics, from immigration reform to civil liberties, with incredible diverse and aggressive opinions. Perhaps this willingness to engage and volunteer opinions is what makes the lack of attention to one topic in particular so striking, especially in the glare of the ongoing G.O.P. presidential debates.
Do you know where the candidates stand when it comes to veterans' affairs and healthcare needs?
A Growing Lack of Attention to Veterans
The lack of attention to American veterans and the care they receive once they return home is not necessarily a new development when it comes to presidential debates. Veterans and their supporters faced this same problem in the 2012 debates, for example, where only repeated urging convinced the candidates to briefly consider the topic. And as more and more people are aware, the number of candidates with any sort of military service background is constantly shrinking. Not only is this concerning for a country that is still in the midst of a war that has already spanned 14 years, but it's especially worrisome considering that one of the major topics up for debate is the looming ISIS/ISIL threat and how the United States will engage with it.
RP Members do you agree with the article and the lack of concern for Veterans in this upcoming election or are there more important issues?
Your thoughts and comments welcome!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dustin-demoss/veterans-debate_b_8164118.html
With the 2016 presidential election quickly approaching, campaign season is in full swing and boasts no shortage of candidates. Presidential hopefuls from all sides of the political spectrum have pulled no punches when it comes to the multitude of issues currently concerning the American public. In fact, candidates have weighed in on any number of topics, from immigration reform to civil liberties, with incredible diverse and aggressive opinions. Perhaps this willingness to engage and volunteer opinions is what makes the lack of attention to one topic in particular so striking, especially in the glare of the ongoing G.O.P. presidential debates.
Do you know where the candidates stand when it comes to veterans' affairs and healthcare needs?
A Growing Lack of Attention to Veterans
The lack of attention to American veterans and the care they receive once they return home is not necessarily a new development when it comes to presidential debates. Veterans and their supporters faced this same problem in the 2012 debates, for example, where only repeated urging convinced the candidates to briefly consider the topic. And as more and more people are aware, the number of candidates with any sort of military service background is constantly shrinking. Not only is this concerning for a country that is still in the midst of a war that has already spanned 14 years, but it's especially worrisome considering that one of the major topics up for debate is the looming ISIS/ISIL threat and how the United States will engage with it.
Election 2016
Elections
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Issues
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 121
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How many combat vets are there in office? The fewer vets in office the less attention veteran issues are going to get.
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PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr.
Sarge, it seems the electorate are afraid that such a "leader" would be gung-ho for the rat-a-tat-tat.
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Sgt Truman Cunnish
I would say that if their are any vets in office most of them are cleaning an running erro
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“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”
– 1789 General George Washington, our first Commander-in-Chief
– 1789 General George Washington, our first Commander-in-Chief
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PFC Don Palumbo
Good for you Commander. Fortunately for us we understand this. Many citizens also understand it. However not like we do. Many, simply don't care. Our salvation is that more do than do not. We do have most of the country on our side. That is a refreashing thought. I salute you Sir.
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Veterans should always be a concern in every elections. This country was built and kept safe by the service members who are now veterans.
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Col; I believe that (1) Veterans Health and all other Veterans issues from the way we are paid, to the way(s) we are used, (2) Illegal Immigration & Control of our Borders, (3) Tax Reform... should be the top three Issues that ALL the Candidates should be addressing!
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The simple answer to the question is that all the republican candidates agree on the same topic. Why would you want to argue in a debate with everyone that agrees with you? They are arguing with their differences to persuade conservative voters. You will see the Veteran topic come up during the presidential election and the republicans will push it at that time... which is the right time.
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PFC Don Palumbo
All of the republicans that are running are using Trumps issues. They have none of their own so they are trying to play catch up tag.
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Veterans have not been an issue in many political debates because of the obvious fact that most politicians only thrive doing photo-op but are disingenuously inclined to the issues that matter to any average Veteran. What then is the recipe? Veterans and transitioning military service members must aspire to occupying political offices so that clueless individuals will not be tasked with dishing out 'aveteran-centric' programs.
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PFC Don Palumbo
They will only listen to us when we let them know who we are. They are politicians, they will kiss our ass for a vote. Be involved, it's the only way to get their attention.
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To build on what everyone else may have said, no one cares about the service member once the uniform us mothballed. Also, and this came from a counselor during a SLC briefing, now that we are veterans, we "are just numbers on a spreadsheet."
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PFC Don Palumbo
I cant fall into that thinking Sgt. The real general public really cares about us. It's the friggin coward liberals that despise us. They only hate war and soldiers because they are afraid they may have to serve one day.
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SSG Michael Hartsfield
Ummm... I'm a liberal and I put in 20 years. I have hard, pipe hitting individuals that are liberals. Also, you might want to look at Conservatives that routinely vote down increased funding for Veterans and Veterans services while at the same fighting for a photo op with those same Veterans during elections. It's good that we have support from the public, but it doesn't mean anything if the politicians you revile as well as the ones you revere don't give the same support when we are out of the uniform as when we are in it.
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Because we as veterans must take a stand , and march on Washington to show them there is strength in numbers. Then we will not be over looked and receive the treatment and respect we have worked so hard for.
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To the American people in general there are more important issues. We veterans are a disposable commodity in this nation, we are loved when needed and easily dismissed when not. It is a sad truth that comes along with this profession. Many of us can remember the time before 9-11 when there was not this outpouring of support, there were no massive amounts of discounts offered to military, there was no one in 1st Class giving up their seats for us. After 9-11 the nation knew they needed us and they were so thankful that we had volunteered so they or their children would not have to go to war. So now that the wars are "over" the public can turn their 5 minute attention span to other issues like rebel flags and transgender Olympians. We have a president that says climate change is a greater threat to the nation than terrorism. It is sad that we all volunteered to fight and die for the people of this nation and now that we are done we do not fight for ourselves or have a loud enough voice in our government.
The last time that Americans truly cared about her veterans was in WWII, and that is because the nation as a whole felt the affects of the war. Everyone contributed. You can see this in how the nation remembers the generations.
The last time that Americans truly cared about her veterans was in WWII, and that is because the nation as a whole felt the affects of the war. Everyone contributed. You can see this in how the nation remembers the generations.
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PFC Don Palumbo
Sgt., Don't be so down on the people. Believe me, we do have it far better than any other group that served. No other veterans in our history were taken care of like us. It was the Vietnam Vets that got us so much. Before then you would have a hard time getting an aspirin from the VA. Many of those guys are working in the VA and I for one salute every one of them. They also are very big in the DAV. Believe me I was denied a hearing aid and was told there is nothing in my medical file to prove that I had a problem. That was well over 30 years ago. They lied to me. When us guys got discharged many years ago they did not give us our records. When they passed the law under the freedom of information I learned that they have to give us all records under the law. I filed for them and I received a package of records the size of a telephone book. needless to say I was really pissed off. There was more than enough there to get me rated 100%. Every thing is out there for us but it is up to us to go after it. You can apply these days on line for all your records, and the wait time is much faster than when I received mine. Cheer up my brother. It's a lot better than you may think.
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I think that veterans are not a primary issue AT THIS POINT in the campaigns and debates because many of the candidates have not passed the test of kindergarten behavior, exchanging snide personal remarks, bullying and not following basic protocol of waiting for a turn to speak after the conclusion of someone else's' time block, nor following the directions of the moderator and staying on topic.
It is early and the world is volatile. Our equipment is aging and our military leaders seem to be given a lot more responsibility at a younger age. We cannot back down and become isolationist. But our equipment is aging and can no longer be held together with spit and a promise or a piece of gum. Parts need replacing on aircraft, ships, tanks, weapons. Our troops need something to work with in the field of the non traditional war our military was not built for; we planned for war in two fronts, tops. We are cannabilizing in the field just to keep going.
The tactics of war are changing and we need equipment to keep up with that, also. But by not spending money on military, we are affecting many manufacturing jobs, with frequent layoffs, which, no surprise, affects the economy in so many unexpected ways, especially in the middle class, and I think this might force some discussions in later debates concerning jobs.
There are a lot of hot spots so we must be prepared. I am of the camp that by building a strong military force, we can get to an uneasy peace (Cold War II, if you must.) I don't think we need to get into every fist fight everywhere but there are many countries strengthening their militaries while we continue to cut and tie the hands of the leaders at the fronts. We need to be prepared and to be prepared, we must bring it into open discussion instead of a random remark and create a reasonable working plan before it is too late. History DOES repeat itself
It is early and the world is volatile. Our equipment is aging and our military leaders seem to be given a lot more responsibility at a younger age. We cannot back down and become isolationist. But our equipment is aging and can no longer be held together with spit and a promise or a piece of gum. Parts need replacing on aircraft, ships, tanks, weapons. Our troops need something to work with in the field of the non traditional war our military was not built for; we planned for war in two fronts, tops. We are cannabilizing in the field just to keep going.
The tactics of war are changing and we need equipment to keep up with that, also. But by not spending money on military, we are affecting many manufacturing jobs, with frequent layoffs, which, no surprise, affects the economy in so many unexpected ways, especially in the middle class, and I think this might force some discussions in later debates concerning jobs.
There are a lot of hot spots so we must be prepared. I am of the camp that by building a strong military force, we can get to an uneasy peace (Cold War II, if you must.) I don't think we need to get into every fist fight everywhere but there are many countries strengthening their militaries while we continue to cut and tie the hands of the leaders at the fronts. We need to be prepared and to be prepared, we must bring it into open discussion instead of a random remark and create a reasonable working plan before it is too late. History DOES repeat itself
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