Veterans vs Harper government

[jacee]

Ottawa reminds nation that veterans are not mentioned in Support our Troops

"We support the troops, but I have no clue to where the idea of supporting veterans came from" said Julian Fantino the Minister of Veteran Affairs in a press conference yesterday at CFB Petawawa.

"Troops make better photo ops with their uniforms, guns and equipment. All veterans want to do is drone on about post-traumatic stress, housing, pensions and how they defeated Hitler. Boring."

"We gave them a pat on the back and we'll see them at Remembrance Day." Fantino added.

(Yes, The Beaverton is satire.)

Edited August 10, 2013 by jacee

[Wilber]

My impression is that under the present system, they seem to cease to exist after they hit 65 and that is what needs to be addressed.

[PIK]

I think this PSTD is starting to be abused.

[Smallc]

I think this PTSD is starting to be abused.

Based on what, exactly?

Edited August 10, 2013 by Smallc

[PIK]

You are reading about more and more, people saying they suffer from it for a excuse for something they did. Not saying that is the case for all, just something that needs to be watched.

Edited August 10, 2013 by PIK

[Smallc]

Or maybe we're becoming more aware of the reality of why people do things, and what happens to people in traumatic situations.

[CPCFTW]

Wow, I never knew it was that simple. If you just buy ETF's, many of the stocks in them don't pay dividends and others pay much lower than 3% so you are not likely to average 3% in dividend income. I know none of my ETF's have, that is why most of my market exposure is in individual stocks. If you just go for high dividend good quality stocks, you are going to pay a premium for them these days because with interest rates so low, that is what everyone else is looking for as well. If interest rates go up, the value of these stocks will fall or at least stagnate and you can kiss your 5-10% annual capital gain goodbye for some time. Not very long ago, all my stock portfolio was in dividend paying stocks but recently I have started to buy some non dividend stocks in search of capital gains, because good dividend stocks have become overpriced. Same goes for good pref shares. Many good ones are trading at or above their redemption value. So yes, you do need to be somewhat savvy or at least get good advice and follow it. You will also have to endure some dry spells. You can't grow capital and spend it at the same time.

Xiu (etf on tsx 60) has 3% ttm yield. I think spy (s&p500) is around 2% but you can mix in a us dividend etf to get up to 3. It's not that hard.

[bleeding heart]

Or maybe we're becoming more aware of the reality of why people do things, and what happens to people in traumatic situations.

I think that roughly sums it up, yes.

[jacee]

/tensions-over-veterans-charter-remain-as-canada-marks-remembrance-day

As Canadians honour the men and women who have fought in past wars and those who are currently serving overseas on Remembrance Day, tensions remain high between Canada's veterans and the government.

Much of the frustration is over the New Veterans Charter, enacted in 2006, which critics say provides less support for those who have served in the military compared to previous generations.

"That needs to be rewritten completely because it does not look after our veterans, particularly over a long period of time," retired general Rick Hillier told CTV News on Monday.

I hope this gets the action it needs.

[Talby]

As far as I know the 'lump sum" annuity does not equal the routine "payments" over the same term. I thought it did, but a buddy who got f*cked by our friendly neighborhood defense department, and it's cousin VA, claims the two amounts are not equivalent. I believe that is one of the central issues in the class action lawsuit.

But let's assume that the anecdotal evidence is false. Consider this, a 20 something yr old, gets such a lump sum payment. I don't know what the average is but they start in the 10's of thousands, and are often in the hundreds depending on the injuries. Some of the injuries are physical, but most all come with psychological injuries, and some of them are purely psychological (PTSD). The first coping mechanism for many (if not all) is alcohol, it's part of the corporate culture and the medicine of choice. But it can often be, or lead to, drugs. I don't know how many this happens with, but it happens. I didn't include the shiny new car, and other misplaced 'needs' of a 20 something with a mad roll in his pocket, but that is also a factor, with or without the rounds of shooters.

Here's the point where I presume the more conservative types and liberals will butt heads-is it a case of "they make a choice" or do we make a "choice" for them. You see I think, even if the lump sum does equal the payments, that you leave the door open for creating a bigger problem in the long run that will cost society more. The same guy could end up collecting in cans, or worse dead. The flip side is that the ones who are responsible, and can manage the money will be mildly screwed, an acceptable amount of screwage-they still get paid.

[bleeding heart]

Here's the point where I presume the more conservative types and liberals will butt heads-is it a case of "they make a choice" or do we make a "choice" for them. You see I think, even if the lump sum does equal the payments, that you leave the door open for creating a bigger problem in the long run that will cost society more.

Yes....and while the "they make a choice" argument has real teeth, I will believe it only if these folks start demanding that welfare or Employment Insurance cheques might fall under a similar philosophy....but I imagine the response would be close to the opposite one.

[Argus]

Here's the point where I presume the more conservative types and liberals will butt heads-is it a case of "they make a choice" or do we make a "choice" for them. You see I think, even if the lump sum does equal the payments, that you leave the door open for creating a bigger problem in the long run that will cost society more. The same guy could end up collecting in cans, or worse dead. The flip side is that the ones who are responsible, and can manage the money will be mildly screwed, an acceptable amount of screwage-they still get paid.

I don't think I really understood the degree of ignorance of most people with regard to investments before I started investing heavily myself. Almost everyone I know is educaed and works in responsible jobs, mostly for the government, and none of them know much about how to manage investments. Hell, a lot of them barely manage their own household budgets. To expect some 20something ex infrantryman to manage the investment of a large lump sum payment is ridiculous. Sure, some of htem will be responsible, and find honest, capable investment advisors, but many of them will wind up buying a car, a big TV, computer, and other things. And yes, some of them will party, and yes, even those who invested it will get a very poor return, if any (most Canadians still use mutual funds, which are a huge ripoff) or put it into something speculative and not very diversified, and lose much of it. Hell, even experienced people can wind up losing half their capital in a crash like the one in `08. A continuing monthly pyament is by far the preferred payment method.

The Conservatives have done a lousy job for Veterans, and, for that matter, a lousy job of managing and funding the military.

[Army Guy]

Ottawa reminds nation that veterans are not mentioned in Support our Troops

"We support the troops, but I have no clue to where the idea of supporting veterans came from" said Julian Fantino the Minister of Veteran Affairs in a press conference yesterday at CFB Petawawa.

"Troops make better photo ops with their uniforms, guns and equipment. All veterans want to do is drone on about post-traumatic stress, housing, pensions and how they defeated Hitler. Boring."

"We gave them a pat on the back and we'll see them at Remembrance Day." Fantino added.

(Yes, The Beaverton is satire.)

This guy makes me want to puke, I'm not only ashamed that this guy is an elected offical, but he is in charge of the very people that have given so much to this nation. He needs to step down for a couple of reasons, 1. He represents Veteran affairs and all of their interests be it boring or not....To make these comments in front of troops most of which are vets themselfs....it was the Vets of Canada that made the ultimate sacrifice so he could sit his pompous ass down in his ministers chair...I wonder what exciting stories this guy has to pass on, and what he has contributed to this nation....other than to slag the very people that helped build this nation to what it is today....

To pass them off like they were a burden PISSES ME OFF...I think he needs to move his office to one of the many VETs wards set up across this country, and be forced to listen to every war story they have, listen to what they have given up for this country....To actually find out why we have such a debt to them....

2. There is no difference between our troops and vets, they were all once troops,all wore the same Canadian emblem on their shoulders.... they all had signed on to defend this nation, all agreeing on giving their lifes if nessicary...They do not deserve such a comment, let alone from an elected offical. I wonder if this guy said anything to them during Nov 11 rememberance day...

I'm surprised that none of the troops did not walk off that parade after those comments....Keeping in mind that is is our own comrads in arms that are effected by these remarks, men and women that we have chewed the same dirt with, have shed blood sweat and tears with...Disgusting...

[bleeding heart]

This guy makes me want to puke, I'm not only ashamed that this guy is an elected offical, but he is in charge of the very people that have given so much to this nation. He needs to step down for a couple of reasons, 1. He represents Veteran affairs and all of their interests be it boring or not....To make these comments in front of troops most of which are vets themselfs....it was the Vets of Canada that made the ultimate sacrifice so he could sit his pompous ass down in his ministers chair...I wonder what exciting stories this guy has to pass on, and what he has contributed to this nation....other than to slag the very people that helped build this nation to what it is today....

To pass them off like they were a burden PISSES ME OFF...I think he needs to move his office to one of the many VETs wards set up across this country, and be forced to listen to every war story they have, listen to what they have given up for this country....To actually find out why we have such a debt to them....

2. There is no difference between our troops and vets, they were all once troops,all wore the same Canadian emblem on their shoulders.... they all had signed on to defend this nation, all agreeing on giving their lifes if nessicary...They do not deserve such a comment, let alone from an elected offical. I wonder if this guy said anything to them during Nov 11 rememberance day...

I'm surprised that none of the troops did not walk off that parade after those comments....Keeping in mind that is is our own comrads in arms that are effected by these remarks, men and women that we have chewed the same dirt with, have shed blood sweat and tears with...Disgusting...

It didn't actually happen. It's a satiric news article.

[Army Guy]

It didn't actually happen. It's a satiric news article.

Was not aware of that thanks for the update.

[jacee]

It didn't actually happen. It's a satiric news article.

Was not aware of that thanks for the update.

I think the point of the Beaverton's satire was that whether they're saying it or not, that is the attitude of the government toward compensation for injured vets.

[bleeding heart]

I think the point of the Beaverton's satire was that whether they're saying it or not, that is the attitude of the government toward compensation for injured vets.

Yes, I took it that way, too.

[Wayne McQ.]

Not in this lifetime, as all countries look after their veterans, as they unlike people like yourself were willing to put their lives on the line for this country, while obviously you are a coward. As the NDP has stated, "If the Conservatives are unwilling to look after injured military veterans, then stop producing them, and don't send any into harm's way. " I was always of the belief that before politicians should be permitted to order soldiers into battle, they should first have been required to serve in active infantry battalions, so they know what they are asking of these soldiers.

[jacee]

Not in this lifetime, as all countries look after their veterans, as they unlike people like yourself were willing to put their lives on the line for this country, while obviously you are a coward.

Who?

As the NDP has stated, "If the Conservatives are unwilling to look after injured military veterans, then stop producing them, and don't send any into harm's way. " I was always of the belief that before politicians should be permitted to order soldiers into battle, they should first have been required to serve in active infantry battalions, so they know what they are asking of these soldiers.

And why.