NOT THAT YOU ASKED
NOT THAT YOU ASKED
By JOHN BOXLEY
I thought I sent this in last week, but computers continue to get the best of me. I'm sending it again because it's still relevant.
In light of Congressman Rick Crawford's inexcusable vote to deny help for veterans, I'd first like to point out how ridiculous that vote was, and offer a solution that even he might vote for.
First of all, for Crawford and every other member of Congress who refuses to vote for any spending bill because it adds to the deficit, here's a news flash--the country is broke. Every cent we spend adds to the deficit. If you refused to vote for the veteran's bill because it adds to the deficit, then you have to be consistent and vote against any spending bill, for the same reason.
But it turns out that that is not the case with any member of Congress, including Crawford. While he refused to vote for the veteran's bill because it would add to the deficit, he has voted for other spending bills that would have increased the deficit more than that one would have. Don't bother trying to explain why you did that, Congressman Crawford, because frankly, you just can't.
Also, I would like to remind you that even with this spending bill the deficit is going down. So is the unemployment rate. Things are getting better. This is no time to cut spending, especially for a worthy cause like taking care of our veterans. I know that this recovery has been slow, but that's because of how deep a hole we were in economically when this President took office.
Now I'd like to offer an idea that even Congressman Crawford might vote for, but then again, who knows? Let's abolish the Veteran's Administration. It has never been very effective, and most veterans have been disappointed and or disgusted with the way that the VA has treated them. So, let's just close down every VA hospital and office. We would save millions of dollars, and every service it provides could be rendered by existing government agencies.
Health care and insurance could be run by the Department of Health and Human Services. The Commerce and Labor Departments could help veterans to either look for work, or start their own business. The Education Department could help veterans get loans and grants to get whatever extra education they might want, whether it is at a technical school, vocational school, Jr. College, four year college, or even post graduate education. The Housing Department could provide low interest mortgages so veterans could buy a home, or possibly help them pay rent. The infrastructure to help veterans is already in place. The Veterans Administration is just a waste of time and money.
Since abolishing the VA would save money, and I'm one of those big government liberals who likes to spend money, you might have guessed that I want to spend those savings. You would be right, but I think you will like how I want to spend it.
First, every veteran wounded in the service of his or her country should be eligible for Medicare. They've certainly earned it, and Medicare is much more efficient than VA health care of VA hospitals. Second, we should bring back the GI Bill. That's not really a cost, because the government would eventually get every cent back. The prosperity this country experience in the 1950's and 1960's was a direct result of the education benefits World War II veterans got from the GI Bill. It allowed them to get the education that allowed them to get jobs that paid them much more than they would have earned without it. The income taxes they paid in their lifetimes more than paid back what it cost.
So there you go Congressman Crawford, I gave you and the Tea Party just what you have been asking for. I cut the size of government, saved money, and most importantly, I took care of the veterans who took care of us. Now, what are you going to do?
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