Obama's choice for Veteran's Affairs
Dec. 6th, 2008 05:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seticatJust in on CNN Alerts to my email: Gen. Shinseki to be nominated for top Veterans Affairs post.
Personal opinion follows here so be warned.
I have *always* said that the best folks to take care of the military are those who are or have been in the military. That whole 'walk a mile in their combat boots' thing. And the same with veterans. Vets taking care of vets because we have a better feel for the system.
I am *not* saying that there aren't good civilians out there doing the good work and helping us fight the good fight because there are. I've been blessed to have most of my care providers in the VA system and in service officers I've dealt with be on my side and fighting for me over the system. But at the top, well, it really takes someone who's been there to have that feel.
And that's what Obama just gave us. A career soldier with several combat tours under his belt and the guts to stand up and say what he thinks is right.
I can but hope he'll turn out to be the right man in the right place to help dig the VA system up out of the whole that the mismanagement of years gone past has put it in. The VA is trying really hard right now to do what's right by it's vets, but after so many years of budget cuts that have gone on before, it's left it in a place of having to play 'catch up'. And our vets and their families deserve so much more than a pat on the back, a handshake and a 10 points heiring preference in some government jobs - especially in this economy.
Right after Desert Storm, it took me 5 years total to get my claim settled in any fashion. Five years of fighting tooth and nail for the benefits I have now. And there are folks out there who have been fighting so much longer. A lot of have given up that fight - either the paperwork itself or have taken themselves out of this world altogether because they couldn't get the care they needed in a timely manner. They couldn't get the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual support and care that gave them a reason to keep on living.
It is my hope and prayer that this is about to change. For all my Brothers and Sisters out there.
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." [Hebrews 13:5]
That is all...
Personal opinion follows here so be warned.
I have *always* said that the best folks to take care of the military are those who are or have been in the military. That whole 'walk a mile in their combat boots' thing. And the same with veterans. Vets taking care of vets because we have a better feel for the system.
I am *not* saying that there aren't good civilians out there doing the good work and helping us fight the good fight because there are. I've been blessed to have most of my care providers in the VA system and in service officers I've dealt with be on my side and fighting for me over the system. But at the top, well, it really takes someone who's been there to have that feel.
And that's what Obama just gave us. A career soldier with several combat tours under his belt and the guts to stand up and say what he thinks is right.
I can but hope he'll turn out to be the right man in the right place to help dig the VA system up out of the whole that the mismanagement of years gone past has put it in. The VA is trying really hard right now to do what's right by it's vets, but after so many years of budget cuts that have gone on before, it's left it in a place of having to play 'catch up'. And our vets and their families deserve so much more than a pat on the back, a handshake and a 10 points heiring preference in some government jobs - especially in this economy.
Right after Desert Storm, it took me 5 years total to get my claim settled in any fashion. Five years of fighting tooth and nail for the benefits I have now. And there are folks out there who have been fighting so much longer. A lot of have given up that fight - either the paperwork itself or have taken themselves out of this world altogether because they couldn't get the care they needed in a timely manner. They couldn't get the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual support and care that gave them a reason to keep on living.
It is my hope and prayer that this is about to change. For all my Brothers and Sisters out there.
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." [Hebrews 13:5]
That is all...
