Sometimes I Weep for My Country
Mark S. Garbin, CFA
@coherentcapital
“Jobless veterans, US national disgrace” July 17, 2011 – Daily Kos
“Overheard on CNN.com: Are VA hospitals a disgrace?” June 8, 2011 – CNN.com
“Audit: Sexual assault incidents with VA system underreported” June 8, 2011 – CNN.com
“Healthcare Cuts Loom for 130,000 Vets” April 17, 2011 – Military.com
“1.8 Million U.S. Vets Lack Health Insurance” October – 2007 -American Journal of Public Health
You get the picture?
There can be no greater national disgrace than the way we treat our veterans. I’m not getting political here. This is a failure… no, sorry, wrong word. This is a catastrophe of monumental proportions. We ask men and women to sacrifice for their country; especially when it could come to the ultimate sacrifice. These are people who put their lives on the line so we can have our double half caff low fat no foams and Royales with cheese.
So what do they get in return as the thanks of a grateful nation? No jobs and a healthcare system that leaves millions without healthcare. How politicians from both parties can look at themselves in the mirrors in the morning and not feel shame is beyond me. But then again, we have a Super Committee that is anything but.
Yes I’m biased. Here’s just one example: We could build that pipeline from Canada to Port Arthur transporting oil creating 20,000 shovel ready jobs and employ a whole brigade of vets along with it. Yeah, I know there are environmental issues. But we’re dealing with this NOW? Isn’t there ANY communication between government departments? We can’t figure it out along the way? We have an energy policy that since I can remember gives lip service to weaning us off foreign oil but is bereft of planning when we need it the most? ARRGGGH ! I’m probably too simplistic and unrealistic. Anyway that project was just put on bureaucratic permahold so I’ll just go back into my box.
Call my perspective limited but I don’t care. I also don’t care about what other countries do about veteran’s issues. So I’ll leave you with this:
What on earth do we stand for if we can’t stand up for the veterans who protected us and the soldiers who fight for us? Go see the first 30 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan” today then think about how different our lives would be without the vets. Remember it when you go to the ballot box next year.
This was a guest post from: Mark Garbin
@coherentcapital on Twitter