G.I. Oughta
Published by Mark Von Nida on May 27th, 2008
By Mark
As we wrap up the Memorial Day week-end, I’m still fuming over the dust-up between rivals Obama and McCain over Senator Webb’s new GI Bill. To review the exchange in the most generous terms for McCain look here.
The arguement is over educational benefits for veterans. Webb’s bill extends benefits equivelant to that of WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Veterans. Senator McCain surprisingly joins President Bush in objecting that Webb’s GI Bill is too generous. Specifically, the concern is that it creates an incentive for service personnel to get out of the military to take advantage of the benefits.
What? This is exactly what frost my mug! This war has become even more than Viet Nam, not America’s war but the war being waged by our military. The leadership of this country has tried to run the war at no cost to the citizens.
Draft our youth? Naaa, we can do this with volunteers. Raise Taxes? Naaaa, don’t worry there’ll be oil money and we’ll cut taxes. No victory gardens. No bond drives. No sacrifice necessary.
Except on the part of the military and their families. The idea that we as a country will rely on a cynical policy that leaves our service men with “no place else to go” as a means of coerce them to stay and fight is unconscionable.
Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of summer. The day that marks the high point of gas prices as Americans take to the road on holiday and vacations. We celebrate by buying furniture at Memorial Day sales. We just don’t seem to remember the true meaning of the day.
For a stirring post on the sacrifice of those serving in the current wars, look here. One last thing thing…Remember.
Filed under National Issues, Uncategorized
May 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am
As reported on the blog Powerline. Obama seems to have no idea about the true meaning of Memorial Day.
“What was really offensive about Obama’s New Mexico appearance on Memorial Day weekend , was what followed his very brief, but generally appropriate, tribute to America’s war dead.
He continued with a town hall-style question and answer period that cast veterans in the only role with which the Democrats are comfortable–victims–and sought to politicize the holiday.”
May 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Ron,
I’m not sure you get the point. Education benefits are a consideration for 70% of enlistees. They are not victims they are people who deserve our gratitude. These benefits help maintain troop levels!
The idea that this country should only offer “Lite” benefits so that service members don’t leave is morally bankrupt. Shame on anyone who offers that rational.
May 27th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Why should the veteran’s receive just cash benefits for education? Seems like the fairer way would be to offer four yours of training at any institution. That way returning GI’s could attend places like Duke, Harvard, or Northwestern. Now, the dollar amount doesn’t afford them the opportunity to attend these elite schools. Let places like Harvard, with its $35 billion, yes $35 billion, endowment, subsidize the tution cost.
The veterans are not victims, but they are treated so by a pandering democratic party.