Marble Composition

We Write Letters

Hey Guys,

I heard you riffing tonight on Veteran support, and here's something you can pass along to your listeners. Check this out:

While it is quick with rhetorical support, the Bush administration has repeatedly refused to take the actions necessary to provide the troops the resources they need. The latest example comes from the Army Times, which reports that the Pentagon is currently working on a proposal to triple the costs of the military health insurance program (Tricare):

Increases would be substantial — as much as $1,200 more a year by 2009 — with no end in sight because the plan calls for annual rate hikes in 2010 and beyond that would match inflation.

Steve Strobridge, government relations director for the Military Officers Association of America, said it best:

In the middle of a war, with troops and families vastly overstressed, recruiting already in the toilet, and retention at risk, the Defense Department wants to pay for weapons by cutting manpower and trying to cut career military benefits by $1,000 a year or more? That’s just flat unconscionable.

More soldiers have been taken off the battlefield in Iraq by injuries and illnesses than by enemy fire. An increase in health care costs would be a great burden for these soldiers. Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer recently wrote to President Bush demanding that he disavow the program.

You can help. Already, more than 22,000 members of the Military Officers Association of America have written Congress opposing the initiative. Contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and tell them what you think about Bush’s proposed policy.
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Think this is bullshit? Don't believe me? Go check out the Army Times article, here. Bush should be lowering the costs of insurance for people that serve, not raising their premiums. Now, this may seem like a little thing, but sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference in people's lives, and for fuck's sake, people that serve have it tough enough already. I beg of you, please ask your listeners to call their Representatives and Senators and make sure this change does not go through. You guys pull a lot of weight, and together, we can stop this shit.

I'm a Liberal. A hard core fucking Liberal. And despite the spittle that comes out of the mouths of junkies like Rush Limbaugh, we Liberals believe in a strong military, a robust national security policy, and making sure our men and women in uniform are cared for properly. This is one issue that Libertarians, Liberals, and Conservatives can all agree on. We should band together and demand the Defense Dept. and the Bush administration quit cutting Veterans benefits and start fucking increasing them, NOW. Consider this: the most intelligent and physically able young people go the extra mile and volunteer to serve our nation, and when they get home, we treat them like shit. It's a fucking NATIONAL DISGRACE.

Again, I urge you guys to throw your weight around. Let's put some serious pressure on our elected officials in Washington and force some changes. I know you guys care, and you must know you have millions like me out here that care too.

posted by FuzzFinger @ 1/27/2006 09:21:00 PM