Joseph Dolliver ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
: http://www.msnbc.com/news/844162.asp?cp1=1#BODY
:
: I noticed that there were no news stories about today 61 years ago.
: Thoughts and prayers to all service men and woman around the world
: who serve our great country.
:
: Never forget who we are!
:

It's a shame that the government has reneged on its promise to the vets
of free lifetime health care:

   http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/19/retired.veterans.hearing/
   CNN.com -
   Court Overturns Ruling On Vets' Free Lifetime Health Care - Nov. 19, 2002

  "From Terry Frieden, CNN

   WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A federal appeals court Tuesday ruled that the
   U.S. government does not owe free lifetime medical care to World War
   II and Korean War veterans who agreed to serve 20 years in exchange,
   despite promises made to them when they were in the armed forces.

   The ruling represents a victory for the federal government, which had
   argued the veterans were not entitled to the benefits. The ruling will
   potentially save the government billions of dollars in health care
   costs.

   The 9-4 ruling by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
   Circuit in Washington, D.C., overturns a ruling by a three-judge
   appeals panel in February, 2001, which ruled that the veterans were
   entitled to the lifetime health care based on the military's promises.

   In the opinion issued Tuesday the Court said that action taken this
   year allows for free care in the future, but that the government is
   not obligated to pick up the medical expenses incurred from 1995 to
   2001.

   "Because [the law] at most authorizes space available treatment and
   not free health insurance for life, we hold that the Air Force
   Secretary lacked the authority in the 1950s when plaintiffs joined to
   promise free and full medical care," the Court majority said.

   The majority of judges, however, clearly seemed sympathetic to the
   veterans against whom they ruled.

   "We ... can do no more than hope Congress will make good on the
   promises recruiters made in good faith to plaintiffs and others of the
   World War II and Korean War era from 1941 to 1956 when Congress
   enacted its first health care insurance act for military members,
   excluding older retirees," the court majority said.

   In an emotional dissent four judges sided with the veterans.

   "If Congress can appropriate billions for this aspect of national
   defense and not know how it is accounted for, then God save the
   Republic. Of course Congress knew; of course the service secretaries
   authorized promises in return for service; of course these military
   officers served until retirement in reliance, and of course there is a
   moral obligation to these men," read the dissent."

   http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=14&ID=73816&r=1
   Government Breaks Its Health-Care Promise to Vets

  "Saturday, November 30, 2002
   By Jonathan Turley Special to the Los Angeles Times

   It may be one of the cruelest bait-and-switches in history. At issue
   is a promise by the government to World War II and Korean War veterans
   that their health-care benefits would be guaranteed for life.

   Now that this bill has come due, the government has reneged and said
   it is not legally bound to make good on its promise..."

But the government has plenty of money to subsidize business ventures
with Communist China:

   http://www.exim.gov/country/ebd-y-05.html
   U.S. Exports to The Peoples Republic of China

  "All of Ex-Ims programs are available to finance the sale of U.S. goods
   and services to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Ex-Im Banks
   exposure is approximately $6 billion, the largest of any country in
   the world...."


--Jerry Leslie   (my opinions are strictly my own)
  Note: [log in to unmask] is invalid for email

  "Sure, you can trust the government.  Ask any Indian"

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