Vast failing as a nation, or deliberate failures of political persona's?

PV2 Duane Schlender — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:16:07 -0400

I have seen quite a few awareness, self help, and other posts on RallyPoint since joining the community here. Some things I have answered with varying degree's of bluntness, others I have not. I wish to compile a all-in-one post regardless veteran's issues, which I hope is helpful to everyone. It is also my hope that I do not offend others with my very blunt nature.

In a general sense, we all know that veteran's have a great many problems at times. Whether it is political issues, personal issues, or other issues regardless of what those issues pertain to or their overall effects. I see a GREAT failing in this country as pertains to military veterans and their families, and it bothers me enough to write this commentary (please do not think to any regard that what I write here ONLY pertains to military veterans, as many of the things I write pertain to the entire nation, and should be taken as I am writing this).

The failings I see in America pertaining to veteran's is as follows :
1) Lack of care to veteran's needs based on callousness, greed, monetary predisposition, "I'm doing my job" thinking, criminalizing veteran's based on their service, press coverage, promotion based bias, etc.
2) Political roadblocks
3) legal roadblocks
4) Professional roadblocks
5) (what i refer to as) Generalized bias disorder
6) age, race, creed, etc of the veteran

All of the above categories can be directly applied to over 98% of veterans in one regard or another. The above mentioned categories can ALSO be directly applied to veteran's in both the negative AND the positive. Many veterans or claimed veterans get things they never should, while other veterans get nothing and desperately need it. The veterans who do NOT get what they need often become ill, die, or take their own lives. Still other veterans suffer in misery every day as a result of the failures in the system.

It is fairly obvious by now that I am being somewhat vague in my writing, while still being blunt. This is on purpose for a reason. The TRUE and worst failing, and the entire point of this writing is the way the failing is being handled by America at all levels.

It is my honest and absolutely 100% true opinion that veterans (and others who suffer the same) in America do so because of what I am about to write below.

1) The people in America feel un-empowered to do anything about anything in America, partly due to the wallstreet standoff and the generalized government lack of care to others. Many people feel that they have no voice, and will never be listened to. They do not stand up for themselves out of fear of the government taking away what little they have. The people feel overworked, oppressed, used, abused, and have, in some ways, become victims of stockholm syndrome to the government which is SUPPOSED to be FOR THE PEOPLE and not just the rich, powerful, and political.

2) The government doesn't care so long as those working in public service get promotions, monetery gain, press coverage, or some other thing which gives them power and position above others (evidence of lack of care is easily traced based on military equipment being "lowest bidder", or in the case of protective gear, class III armor being used instead of dragon skin armor due to back door contracts for profit, etc etc.).

3) Rules and regulations are put in place based on what best suits rich, powerful, well positioned people with little to no regard to anyone else, and many rules and regulations are put in place in secret so that illegal gains can be had.

4) The judicial system targets veterans specifically based on how they are trained, and railroaded in court systems (sometimes based on their skills, or worse, their skin color). When veterans stand up for themselves in obviously biased courts, they are treated like terrorists, not well meaning soldiers they were trained to be.

5) Politicians are afraid of doing what is right, because other politicians will railroad them for their own dishonest gains, leaving some veterans left behind, and in sometimes, leaving veterans as POW's in their own country.

6) We live in a world where no matter what you do you MUST rely on others for EVERYTHING. There is little to NO place you can truly go anymore to be SELF SUFFICIENT. If you want a job, someone must approve you. If you want veterans care you rely on others to approve you. If people you rely on are callous, heartless, bigoted, dishonest, self serving, or any other thing whatsoever, then you will fail because THEY fail, not YOU as a veteran.

I could go on and on and on. However, my point is to raise awareness of a glaring problem America faces, and hopefully get help for those who need it. I have given up trying to help myself, because nobody in a position of power will ever let me succeed. SO perhaps I can try and change the system so others do not suffer as I do every single day of my life.

SO, I ask this of you my fellow Veterans, Veterans families, American citizens, and U.S. Political personas and public officials.... What will you do next? Continue to live in oppressive suffering, or stand up the right way (non violent!! Do NOT harm anyone!!) and change the system together as ONE UNITED group of positive people..?
Change is needed, and not just for veterans. But, as veterans, shouldn't we lead the way?

Sincerely,
Duane Schlender, D.A.V.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 6 at 2019 9:43 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:43:08 -0400

We all base our opinions upon our experiences, and I would never impune you for yours Duane. Fortunately, my experience has differed from yours.
I think about half us us are frustrated and disgusted with the current state of our nation. It does seem that there are so many issues where we've abandoned the basics that were the foundation upon which we built our lives. The real problem is the other half of our population could make the same statement because their opinion of our feelings is that we are the obstructionists. Fortunately, we can voice our opinion at the ballot box. The change that comes with replacing those whom we disagree, either fortunately or unfortunately, is not revolutionary, which many of us would prefer, but evolutionary, which takes time.
You speak of government as though it is a living thing. In a way it is because the agencies tasked with making our government work are living beings. To classify them as all against you, or we veterans, is a generalization that many do not deserve. There are many of those government or civilian workers who are rooting for us all to win. Some of those in the justice system have gone so far as to create special courts where the seated judges are especially mindful of our veterans experience and what we face now.
Have faith my friend. We have as many supporters as we do detractors, some of us just don't have the good fortune of running into them when we need them.