thedrifter
02-11-03, 06:41 AM
Subject: Veterans Search for a Voice by Thomas D. Segel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thomas D. Segel
Tomsegel@tiagris.com
1629 Clarke Street, Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 423 3126
Veterans Search For A Voice
1103 words
Harlingen, February 6, 2003: There is relative quiet now. But, as the
nation moves closer to its 2004 national elections, clouds of decent
will thicken and become a storm of protest. This occurrence takes place
among numerous constituencies during every election cycle. Still, when
anger originates within the veteran and military community, it seldom
gains the attention of our country.
From a political perspective, little notice is taken of complaints about
broken promises or discriminatory legislation. Politicians learned long
ago that those with concerns about, veterans benefits, care for disabled
former warriors, survivor benefits for military widows and care of
dependents left behind by the deaths of service personnel are not a
political force. The military community is just not strong enough to
make its demands a major issue in Washington.
Elected officials know they lead a nation, which has repeatedly failed
to keep faith with those who have always defended its very existence.
They also know this same veteran/military community has so many
issues.is so spread out across the country.is so disorganized, that it
has no power at all on a national level.
Military and Veteran organizations are so numerous, they are difficult
to count. In additional to those well-known bodies such as the American
Legion, The Veterans of foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League and the
Disabled American Veterans, there are new groups formed on a regular
basis.
A quick check of the Internet will show you there are veterans and
dependent groups which range from The Chosin Few to Spouse Net. You can
find the Italian-American Veterans, Helicopter Support Squadron 7 and
the National Atomic Veterans Association. If you are on active duty,
retired from military service or a veteran of past conflicts, there is
most likely an organization that addresses your specific interests.
For several years those within the veteran/military leadership have been
searching for a way their multi-issue organizations can speak to the
political elite with a single voice. The answer may be as simple as an
affiliation with the Veterans Voting Bloc (VVB).
The single purpose of VVB is to elect to the Presidency and Congress
people who honestly support veterans and military issues. Conversely,
they also seek to vote out of office, those who oppose a positive
veteran/military agenda.
Toward this objective, they ask members to abandon traditional political
party allegiances. VVB members are asked to vote in federal elections,
only for those candidates who have either endorsed or displayed by their
record that they are in strong support of veterans. These candidates
must have shown they are willing to restore eroded veteran benefits.
There is not a veteran or retired military member asking for anything
new. All seek the restoration of benefits which were once theirs and
have been taken away by those in elected office.
The Veterans Voting Bloc supports restoration of veteran and military
health care. There are a variety of health care issues, but all fall
under the VVB umbrella. These range from restoring promised lifetime
care to retirees, to improving veterans clinic and hospitals.
The organization also advocates restoration of earned military
retirement pay for those disabled military retirees who have been forced
to give up one dollar of their retirement pay for each dollar of
disability compensation receive.
The VVB seeks new legislation and fairness in the administration of
Survivors Benefits to the widows of deceased service members. Currently
these widows are penalized a portion of their benefits at age 62 when
Social Security can be obtained.
Those many retired service members now divorced, were obligated under
the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act to give up much, if
not most of their retirement pay to the former mate. The former spouse
even keeps those benefits after remarriage. The law is so poorly
written that the rights of the service member are not protected. VVB
seeks to have the legislation corrected so there is fairness for all
parties.
The Feres Doctrine, which is not a law, but a judicial president, needs
to be corrected. This doctrine denies a member of the military or a
military family from seeking litigation for military medical
malpractice.
These are the major concerns VVB leadership is addressing to the
candidates for higher office. Those who sign pledges to support action
to correct the injustice and discrimination advanced by these policies,
along with those candidates who have already proven themselves by an 80%
or better voting record in favor of veteran/military issues, will
receive VVB endorsement.
Will there be any value in this approach? Will the Veterans Voting Bloc
be able to convince the military family to speak with a single voice?
Strong movement seems to be in that direction.
Just prior to the last national election, VVB was formed in an attempt
to give the military community a greater voice in national affairs. The
combined 25 to 26 million veterans, 1.5 million active duty personnel,
reserve components and military retirees, plus their family members, add
up to the largest minority interest group in the country. However, this
same group is fractured due to dispersion across the United States and a
lack of political direction.
In the past 18 months, however, veterans have become very disillusioned
with the failed promises of those now in power. Numerous single-issue
veterans/military organizations have pledged support or embraced in some
form, the objectives of the Veterans Voting Bloc.
After an initial membership campaign that signed on more than 25,000
veterans, an additional 30,000 people have signed the VVB petitions and
started working on the organization's behalf. Key coordinators have
been placed in most of the fifty states. Within the next few months,
all states will have VVB leadership close to the members of this grass
roots movement.
Individuals are contacting the Veterans Voting Bloc daily at
http://www.thetexasfirm.net and seeking membership applications on its
voting bloc section.
This week it was announced the Home Town Veterans News, a monthly
national newspaper providing information to veterans, military retirees
and their family members has partnered with Veterans Voting Bloc. Four
pages of that publication will be devoted to VVB issues, including
individual state matters, each month. A membership application will be
printed in every issue.
Will all of this activity give the military community a stronger voice
in future elections? Total unity may never be gained, because human
nature is so complex people have always been difficult to organize.
There is one reality, however..the Veterans Voting Bloc is bringing a
growing voice to politics. Many incumbents, who time and time again
have failed their military constituents..are now looking over their
shoulders.
Sempers,
Roger
United We Stand
God Bless America
Remember our POW/MIA's
I'll never forget!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thomas D. Segel
Tomsegel@tiagris.com
1629 Clarke Street, Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 423 3126
Veterans Search For A Voice
1103 words
Harlingen, February 6, 2003: There is relative quiet now. But, as the
nation moves closer to its 2004 national elections, clouds of decent
will thicken and become a storm of protest. This occurrence takes place
among numerous constituencies during every election cycle. Still, when
anger originates within the veteran and military community, it seldom
gains the attention of our country.
From a political perspective, little notice is taken of complaints about
broken promises or discriminatory legislation. Politicians learned long
ago that those with concerns about, veterans benefits, care for disabled
former warriors, survivor benefits for military widows and care of
dependents left behind by the deaths of service personnel are not a
political force. The military community is just not strong enough to
make its demands a major issue in Washington.
Elected officials know they lead a nation, which has repeatedly failed
to keep faith with those who have always defended its very existence.
They also know this same veteran/military community has so many
issues.is so spread out across the country.is so disorganized, that it
has no power at all on a national level.
Military and Veteran organizations are so numerous, they are difficult
to count. In additional to those well-known bodies such as the American
Legion, The Veterans of foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League and the
Disabled American Veterans, there are new groups formed on a regular
basis.
A quick check of the Internet will show you there are veterans and
dependent groups which range from The Chosin Few to Spouse Net. You can
find the Italian-American Veterans, Helicopter Support Squadron 7 and
the National Atomic Veterans Association. If you are on active duty,
retired from military service or a veteran of past conflicts, there is
most likely an organization that addresses your specific interests.
For several years those within the veteran/military leadership have been
searching for a way their multi-issue organizations can speak to the
political elite with a single voice. The answer may be as simple as an
affiliation with the Veterans Voting Bloc (VVB).
The single purpose of VVB is to elect to the Presidency and Congress
people who honestly support veterans and military issues. Conversely,
they also seek to vote out of office, those who oppose a positive
veteran/military agenda.
Toward this objective, they ask members to abandon traditional political
party allegiances. VVB members are asked to vote in federal elections,
only for those candidates who have either endorsed or displayed by their
record that they are in strong support of veterans. These candidates
must have shown they are willing to restore eroded veteran benefits.
There is not a veteran or retired military member asking for anything
new. All seek the restoration of benefits which were once theirs and
have been taken away by those in elected office.
The Veterans Voting Bloc supports restoration of veteran and military
health care. There are a variety of health care issues, but all fall
under the VVB umbrella. These range from restoring promised lifetime
care to retirees, to improving veterans clinic and hospitals.
The organization also advocates restoration of earned military
retirement pay for those disabled military retirees who have been forced
to give up one dollar of their retirement pay for each dollar of
disability compensation receive.
The VVB seeks new legislation and fairness in the administration of
Survivors Benefits to the widows of deceased service members. Currently
these widows are penalized a portion of their benefits at age 62 when
Social Security can be obtained.
Those many retired service members now divorced, were obligated under
the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act to give up much, if
not most of their retirement pay to the former mate. The former spouse
even keeps those benefits after remarriage. The law is so poorly
written that the rights of the service member are not protected. VVB
seeks to have the legislation corrected so there is fairness for all
parties.
The Feres Doctrine, which is not a law, but a judicial president, needs
to be corrected. This doctrine denies a member of the military or a
military family from seeking litigation for military medical
malpractice.
These are the major concerns VVB leadership is addressing to the
candidates for higher office. Those who sign pledges to support action
to correct the injustice and discrimination advanced by these policies,
along with those candidates who have already proven themselves by an 80%
or better voting record in favor of veteran/military issues, will
receive VVB endorsement.
Will there be any value in this approach? Will the Veterans Voting Bloc
be able to convince the military family to speak with a single voice?
Strong movement seems to be in that direction.
Just prior to the last national election, VVB was formed in an attempt
to give the military community a greater voice in national affairs. The
combined 25 to 26 million veterans, 1.5 million active duty personnel,
reserve components and military retirees, plus their family members, add
up to the largest minority interest group in the country. However, this
same group is fractured due to dispersion across the United States and a
lack of political direction.
In the past 18 months, however, veterans have become very disillusioned
with the failed promises of those now in power. Numerous single-issue
veterans/military organizations have pledged support or embraced in some
form, the objectives of the Veterans Voting Bloc.
After an initial membership campaign that signed on more than 25,000
veterans, an additional 30,000 people have signed the VVB petitions and
started working on the organization's behalf. Key coordinators have
been placed in most of the fifty states. Within the next few months,
all states will have VVB leadership close to the members of this grass
roots movement.
Individuals are contacting the Veterans Voting Bloc daily at
http://www.thetexasfirm.net and seeking membership applications on its
voting bloc section.
This week it was announced the Home Town Veterans News, a monthly
national newspaper providing information to veterans, military retirees
and their family members has partnered with Veterans Voting Bloc. Four
pages of that publication will be devoted to VVB issues, including
individual state matters, each month. A membership application will be
printed in every issue.
Will all of this activity give the military community a stronger voice
in future elections? Total unity may never be gained, because human
nature is so complex people have always been difficult to organize.
There is one reality, however..the Veterans Voting Bloc is bringing a
growing voice to politics. Many incumbents, who time and time again
have failed their military constituents..are now looking over their
shoulders.
Sempers,
Roger
United We Stand
God Bless America
Remember our POW/MIA's
I'll never forget!