Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra
Tammy's views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his pastor, Tammy's neighbors, Earl Fisher, Betsy Johnson, Joe Corsiglia, Rita Bernhard, her grand kids, Tony Hyde, Pat Robertson, Corsiglia's dog, or Claudia Eagle's Cat.
This Tammy's Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she wont' take crap off of anyone.
See Standard Disclaimer.

hope my country has not forsaken me,
I served proudly, and I would serve again.
God Bless the USA.
Approximately 2.9 million veterans are disabled in America today.



While the debate rages on regarding illegal immigrants, the reduction of hourly wages to legal citizens, the loss of jobs because of illegal immigrants or the modern day slave trade that many of us are encouraging by allowing corporations to get away with exploitation of the workers. I believe that the people who are defending the illegals to be allowed to live and work in the USA with out the proper documentation are only adding to the exploitation of these people. The people who are supporting the idea that the illegal person should have health care, housing, an education 1-12- and college might channel their energy to legal citizens, our Veterans of war.
Today in America there are approximately 23.8 million veterans, the median age of WWII veterans is 84, Korean War 76, and Vietnam War 60, with an average of 1,800 passing away each day and 686,00 each year. Right now The number of homeless veterans is 495,000 but that number will be increasing tremendously in the coming months and years, the reason for the huge flood of homeless veterans is due to the conditions and extended tours that they are experiencing in Iraq. Their problems are related to post-traumatic stress, brain injuries and the loss of limbs. The number of disabled vets just from the Iraq war is staggering and a huge number need extensive care and rehabilitation for the rest of their young lives. There are approximately 2.9 million disabled veterans today in America.
Once the veterans come home and the war is over, TV coverage will stop and the American people will forget about the war and the after effects that it has on the veterans as the American people have done after every war. These people are our brothers, sisters, moms, dads, uncles, and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. How can we be so callous and not do nothing! Why are we not demanding that our government act upon the ills of these people now! Why would some march to demand that illegal immigrants who have not given to this country get more consideration than those who have served? I really do not understand their thought process.
This country and the American people have ignored veterans for hundreds of years. In the post-Civil War era, homeless veterans sang old Army songs to dramatize their need for work and became known as "tramps," which had meant to march into war, After World War I, thousands of veterans many of them homeless camped in the nation's capital seeking bonus money. Their camps were destroyed by the government, creating a public relations disaster for President Herbert Hoover. The end of the Vietnam War coincided with a time of economic restructuring, and many of the same people who fought in Vietnam were also those most affected by the loss of manufacturing jobs. Their entrance to the streets was traumatic and, as they aged, their problems became more chronic.
The VA is trying to help, as many veterans as they can, but money is scarce, veteran hospitals are pitiful and the need for more facilities is on the rise. The National Alliance to End Homelessness report states that 5,000 housing units be created per year for the next five years dedicated to the chronically homeless that would provide permanent housing linked to veterans' support systems. It also recommends funding an additional 20,000 housing vouchers exclusively for homeless veterans, and creating a program that helps bridge the gap between income and rent. Congress is trying to increase the money needed to help the crisis of homeless veterans. The cost will be billions to get the needed programs in enacted. The cost is worth every cent spent if it will help one veteran.
This brings a point that I would like to make, while ROP diligently supports illegal immigrants, their right? To live and work in the USA why don't ROP work as diligently to help War Veterans? March down the streets demanding fair treatment, hospital care, housing, jobs, educations to the people who fought, died, for the red white and blue, enabling groups like ROP the freedom to march on our public streets, write letters to the media, and voice their opinion for or against any issue. I believe that our veterans deserve better and their welfare should come first and foremost before an illegal immigrant. I am ashamed the way that our country and my fellow citizens treat Veterans.



TAMMY






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