[Packo]

I also believe in choice. There is my "we're veterans and a grateful nation set this up for us, EXCLUSIVELY! I love that we have our own system. A system that should be the best in the world. This country HAS the money to do this, especially with all the wastefull crap our tax dollars go to. What I see as a trend in VA facilities is the same trend our nation took towards it's veterans when WE became veterans. Those dirty crappy drug addicted Vietnam Veterans. They are all crazy and murderers so who gives a shit about their care. As our nation continued to disrespect veterans, our symbols, (flags, anything "patriotic"), when the movies reflect nothing but government conspiracies to hurt everyone in the world, when small things like Pledges of Alligence are challenged in our schools, when it is uncool to love your country, and when the torch was passed to a new generation, THEY PISSED ON IT, this all contributes to the decline. It has been the Vietnam Veteran who has been on the for-front of getting these things to change. WE went out and raised the funds to make a monument and dedicate it almost exclusively to our brothers and sisters who did not come home. All we got from our "grateful nation" was the land. We were next in-line to become the forgotten warriors, just like what happened to our Korean War brothers and sisters. There were some KW vets who said to me...."how come you guys get a monument before us? We are the forgotten warriors." My response was that we would not allow us to be forgotten and if your gonna sit on your ass for 40 years and allow that to happen it's your fault. Oh, they wanted to forget us, but WE didn't allow it to happen. I truely believe that WE who went to fight in Vietnam are really America's finest generation. WWII was a no brainer. How could you NOT go to that war. But as our war dragged on and more and more of us were being killed and maimed for basically nothing, WE STILL WENT! Now that takes balls.

We will probably have a Veteran Friendly Congress and President in 2008. This is where we have to step up to the plate, not only for us, but for our Iraq/Afghan brothers and sisters and what's left of the WWII/Korea brothers and sisters. I want our own system, just for us, we who bore the brunt of the battle, our widows and orphans. But by God if we are not going to take the steps to make this system the finest in the world, then give me the choice to bow out of it and get my care elsewhere. Actually I have that option as I continue to pay for my Fed Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but how sad is that. I'm 100% SC combat wounded veteran and for my own safety I must pay for my own insurance, including dental and eye care. A disgrace. This is NOT a Republican/Democrat issue as BOTH over the years are equally guilty in my eyes and to anyone who is not so biased they can't see that both sides have tried to continually screw us. This is the opurtunity for real CHANGE and we must strike while the iron is hot. I recommend that until the VA is FULLY FUNDED(not the way they do it today and all of the yesterdays, Gimpy can explain this better than I), I say NO MORE EARMARKS....I.E. PORK FOR ANYONE! Let's get these assholes to make that pledge or give me the option to get my own care somewhere else.

Sorry for the rant.

Pissed off Pack

PS Thanks everyone for the kind comments.