My childhood next door neighbor, came home from Vietnam a second lieutenant with one leg and got pretty much the same benefits, (a little better but not much). I really liked my neighbor. I’ve often wondered how they worked it out that a vet that gave so much gets the same as a vet that gave practically nothing.

Seems like our politicians just don’t put a lot of thought into some of the bills they write. Or maybe there is just so much partisan tug-of-war going on that the bills they write turn into incoherent variations of the original intent of the bill.

I read in the article you linked to that “Only 12 percent of [California's] veterans actually collect the benefits they’re due,” and

“A report by the National Association of Veteran District Offices ranks California 35th in the nation for securing federal benefits, like disability payments or help with job training and placement”

Not good…

Profits über Alles

Auditor says California should do more to help veterans get federal benefits

“We had at one point 80,000 to 90,000 veterans homeless from the Vietnam era because we didn’t get ahead of their mental health and substance abuse and all the related issues and criminal justice issues. And we let them die on the streets–” McChesney broke off. Through tears he said, “We don’t want to do that again.”

And twenty years from now, someone will say the exact same thing with only one difference, the word “Vietnam” will be replaced either by the word “Iraq” or “Afghanistan”.