ACTION ALERT: Write your papers and expose how Bush is against veterans!!

[LynneSin]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Veterans-Benefits.html

I just wrote this letter to the editor of my local paper:

Once again Bush has shown his true "patriotism" by pushing a bill through congress that would reduce the number of disabled veterans who can qualify for disability benefits. Several Veteran groups including the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans have denounced this bill.1

The greatest show of patriotism for those who have served our country in time of war is to ensure we take care of them after their time in the service is completed. And since the start of this last war in Iraq, neo-conservative republicans and pundits have been vocal in saying anyone who doesn't support the war doesn't support our troops and therefore must be anti-American. Yet it's these same neo-conservative republicans that are backing Bush in this bill that will clearly be a slap in the face to our veterans who have served in wars, many who suffer from disabilities from their time served.

According to a NYTimes article from September 15th "Currently, service-connected disability payments are made to about 2.4 million veterans, at an annual cost of about $17.6 billion. Payments also are made to some 315,000 surviving spouses and children of disability-qualified veterans." How about we cut back some on this costly war to Iraq and exuberant tax cuts that benefit mainly the wealthy to make sure we provide health coverage to all those who have served our country!

I urge everyone in Delaware to write to Castle, Biden and Carper and ask them to support the Democrats and Moderate Republicans who are against these cuts. George W. Bush has never been a friend to the military, please do not allow this false sense of patriotism that he tries to wave in our faces distract you when Election 2004 comes next year

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Please make sure you write to the editor and your elected officials and let them know they need to support our veterans after wars are overwith. To be honest, I can assure you that all 3 of mine, including moderate Mike Castle, will not support to slash cuts for our Veterans. But even more important is we expose Bush as 'anti-military' because well, HE IS!!!

[liberalhistorian]

1. Great letter!

I live in a repuke freeper area where people just love to wave the flag and wrap themselves in it while going on and on about the great sacrifices of veterans, honor those who keep us free, etc., etc., and scream that anyone who doesn't bow down at the veterans' feet is unpatriotic and unAmerican, but who never do a damn thing to REALLY support the veterans and care for their needs. I can't wait to write my own letter!

[Richardo]

2. Great letter, Lynne....

...I'll send one out today, with a copy to Roach DeLay's office to boot. (Since I'm not in his district I'm sure it will get zero attention - but it will make ME feel better.)

:yourock:

[LynneSin]

3. My letter to Representative Mike Castle

Dear Rep Castle:

I hope and pray that you will not follow party line when it comes to the cuts that Bush and the neo-conservative republicans want to make for our disabled veterans. I'm a liberal and I'm against the war and for the last year I've had every horrible name called to my face that I am un-patriotic, un-American and must not support my troops since I was opposed to the war. Mr. Castle, if I didn't love my country I would not have been out there protesting this war and I wouldn't be writing this letter to you now about the proposed cuts to our disabled veterans.

It makes me ill when I read about how Bush and the neo-conservatives are making cuts that could eliminated benefits for up to 1.5 million veterans including 2/3rds that are on disability right now (please see the NYTimes article link I've attached). These men and women made sacrifices and many of them are suffering because of their time they served in the military and in wars. The best way we can show our patriotism is to guarantee that all our veterans will have the health benefits needed after their time in service has finished.

With election 2004 coming next year, I can assure you that this is a topic that I will continue to push with my elected representatives in DC and the public. I've written a letter to the Wilmington News-Journal reminding the folks from Delaware that George W. Bush and the neo-conservatives have never been friends for our Veterans. However, I've always liked you because you are not a Neo-Conservative and I'm hoping that you will join up with other moderate republicans who have come out against this proposed spending cut. I would rather give back that measly extra $12 dollars a week I see in my paycheck to make sure our veterans have their coverage and lets face it, I'm no where near the top 1% who is making any money out those recent tax cuts by Bush.

I know you're a good person for a republican and I hope and pray that you do what is best for our soldiers. Real American Patriots know that we need to not only support our troops while they are serving (something that I've always done even though I do not support this war) AND support our soldiers when they leave the service and return to civilian life. Please put a stop to these horrible cuts. Our soldiers deserve a hell of a lot better!

Sincerely

Lynne M. SinXXXXXXX
Peace Lover and proud American!
Grand-daughter of USN Sgt WXXXXX RXXXX veteran of WW2 South Pacific