An Ohio Disabled Veteran's Letter to the Editor

[trailmonkee]

October 23, 2012
The Marietta Times

Dear Mr. Romney,

On behalf of all Ohio and West Virginia Disabled Veterans I apologize for being a Tax Slacker. Yep, you said that 47% of Americans don't pay our fair share and that we are the problem. Tax Slackers. It is a sad thing to admit that my Veterans disability benefits are not taxed. I am equally ashamed of my aged parents living it up on all of that Social Security and Medicare untaxed benefits they are receiving. Also, I really must have my daughter drop out of college and get a job of mowing the lawn at your country club so she can pay her fair share too. The world doesn't need any more doctors or teachers or skilled trades anymore. I'll tell you what Mr. Romney, you give me back my legs,and I'll get a job so you won't have to worry about anything as you sail away on your yacht.

Mack McHale
Lowell

http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/547518/Veteran-offended-by--Romney-s-comment.html?nav=5007

[trailmonkee]

1. link to op on Obama's comment this morning about Romney's shameful omission of Veterans in debate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014276327

[Danang1968]

2. Danang1968

Romney doesn't have a clue what vets go through. How just to see a doctor you have to get to the VA hospital hours early or you can't get a parking spot for starters. If anyone really gave a crap they would at least build a decent parking garage. I guess that is what happens when you have endless wars.

[trailmonkee]

4. They are building some nice new hospitals here in Colorado....

... I sell furniture to hospitals and there have been tons of VA dollars put toward new hospitals since Obama has been in office. There can never be enough hospitals or services to take care of our veterans, but at Least Obama is getting something done.... and with Congress slapping down everything positive that comes through, that's pretty impressive

[Autumn]

11. We went to the Denver VA last week. I was very impressed

and the clinic in Colorado Springs is good too. The new clinic they are building here should be done in 2014. I agree with you, Obama has made vast improvements in the VA hospitals since he has been in. Obama has not paid lip service to our vets, he has taken action.

[jsmirman]

14. We saw it all with my uncle

Of course, my "cousin" (because of age differences, he's more like an uncle - his father (my uncle) was my father's brother) hates Obama and fervently roots for the coward Romney to win.

To his credit, he was a wonderful son to his father, but as for his thinking on this...

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

16. Republicans generally don't care about vets

They always want more money for defense, usually for some project making weapons in their district, or their brother in law's home town.

When money for taking care of vets is discussed in Congress, the pugs get "fiscally conserative".

[Chemisse]

3. The military are just the pawns in his game.

And the veterans are freeloaders.

Romney doesn't like to stoop too low; the commoners might actually feel they are human beings worthy of respect.

[Buddaman]

5. God Bless you Mack McHale.......

I wish you all the best....you, our brothers and sisters deserve the very best and more.

[freshwest]

19. +1

[Danang1968]

6. VA

I'm glad to see hospitals for vets are being built in Co to help with the extreme overcrowding. I also believe the chicken hawk congress has done little to help the situation. However, where i live in Tx the lines are long and parking is extremely limited. When I saw the shrink the other day I had to get to the VA over 2 hours early to get a parking space.

If the little weasels in congress can have decent medical care then vets can too. If not, screw the wars and bring everyone home

[pinboy3niner]

8. President Obama has consistently increased VA funding

In his his 2010 budget he proposed and won passage of the largest increase for the VA in 30 years.

The President's budget for FY 2013 funds new VA hospitals in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Denver and Orlando, Fla. and continued construction of hospitals in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis and Palo Alto, Calif.

VA (FY13) Budget Request Tops $140 Billion for Veterans Programs
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2263

It's still a struggle to catch up after past underfunding of the VA, but this President is doing a lot to look out for vets.

Welcome to DU, Danang1968!

[mike dub]

10. Same situation in NC, Danang1968

The closest VA to us (Durham, NC) doesn't have near enough parking, and I can easily believe that veterans wait a long, long time to see their doctor here too.

I think the chicken hawks in congress have no idea, and couldn't care less.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[countryjake]

15. Welcome to DU!

Danang1968, I'm so sorry that you have to put up with the frustrating treatment which you have described. I would like to suggest that you contact the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, if you haven't already, and make your plight known to those who do have the means to highlight your particular situation, with the hope that more pressure on the obstinate rethugs may eventually turn some things around for Vets at the mercy of budget-slashing-crazy red states.

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
http://veterans.senate.gov/index.cfm



My own Senator in Congress, Patty Murray, has been invaluable to the Veterans in my state and has been one of the leading fighters against the appalling apathy that some in this nation hold for our retired service men and women. Writing to her, personally, has proven effective for many many Vets who find themselves in similar positions as your own.

http://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/veterans

[heaven05]

7. brutally true

[porphyrian]

9. . n/t

[Danang1968]

12. Obama

Vote Obama

[The Wizard]

13. What Romney and

his chickenhawk ilk in the Teabagger Repube Party fail to understand is that we, this band of brothers, have looked death in the face and hunted people who were hunting for us. We weren't on a French beach knowing we had no chance of facing sudden death every day.
Our sense of the world is far different than the vast majority, and the Veterans Health Care system, with all of its shortcomings, has a better grasp of what we experience every day.
We need better parking for sure, and more doctors and staff will go a long way toward serving those who have borne the battle.
So we, this band of slackers, can only hope our needs are met with full funding.
Where will the funding come from? If Romney wins and creates and even larger deficit with his irresponsible policies skewed toward the wealthy elites, this generation of veterans and the next can look forward to neglect at the hands of the people who have sworn to make us whole from damages received in war.
For veterans, voting Republican is not a serious option. Unfortunately, too many veterans are driven by hatred and bigotry and will vote against their own best interests.
We have two weeks left to ensure that the benefits we have are not threatened because of tax breaks for war profiteers and more unnecessary wars. Get out and do whatever you can to get Barack Obama reelected and work to get more Democrats in Congress.
We're all in this together.

[countryjake]

17. kickety

[queentonic]

18. Queentonic

Not to complain, but I have to drive 150 miles round trip over three mountain passes to get to the VA hospital for a routine exam. During the winter months this is a helluva trip when the snow and ice happens. My wife on the other hand has insurance that allows her to shop for a doctor locally and get all her care within our city area. Why can't Veterans have the same health care access as Blue Cross/Blue Shield people?

[riverbendviewgal]

22. in ontario we have travel grants

These cover the cost of gasoline and motel when we travel out of our home area for health care.

And there are no charges for treatments.

It is sad America can't do better for it's people, especially Vets.)

[Cha]

20. I cried when I read Mack's OPED.. he writes very

eloquently. Don't Mess with VETS, mitt.

[Danang1968]

21. 150 miles to the VA

I do believe Obama has tried to help veterans and has been hampered by a GOP House. However, I doubt few people have any idea of the scope of veterans problems. Don't get me wrong, consider yourself lucky if you can't wrap your head around it. Having to drive 150 miles to a VA center is ridiculous and sounds very dangerous in The winter.

Driving long distances in Tx to a VA center is common but most parts do not have mountains. Standing in lines for up to an hour to get any basic test done is ridiculous. My having to sign in at 5:00am (not easy to drive at night with my glaucoma and other eye conditions)to see my Tx vet rep (these people are state funded not fed)before he books up is crap. Having the VA center tell you that you have to get there by at least 7:00am to get a Parking space regardless of when your appointment is scheduled is crap.

But I won't have to put up with this shit too many more years because I'll be dead from old age. I feel sorry for the younger vets with serious conditions like multiple amputations. As these vets get older the cost for their care will soar. I hope they get better care than I got.

Why can't vets get coverage like Blue Cross ?

[mountain grammy]

23. Why don't we have a medicare for all system so all Americans have access to health care?

Including vets, of course. One word answer to this question... Republicans!!! Vote em out!

[queentonic]

24. Medicare for All

Actually, if you want to learn about socialized medicine in the US of A, look no farther than the Army Medical Corps. So I agree with mountain grammy, Medicare for all just like the rest of the civilized world. Corporate health care is about making profits for the share holders, not taking care of patients.

[blazeKing]

25. That Romney comment sums up EXACTLY who he is

He doesn't care and has NO COMPASSION AT ALL for people like Mack.


And the thing that makes me so SICK TO MY STOMACH AND I ALREADY AM FUCKING SICK is Rove cutting some compassion ad of Mitt Romney hugging a Vet with no legs. I don't wish ill on Mitt, but my God if he ever felt what these people suffering go through he would NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN say the things or believe the things he does. He's a very cruel individual, very cruel.