VA Loan Updates

Being somewhat long in tooth and short on memory, it is easy to forget that this society, which has given me so much, was not made by me or through my efforts. I am the recipient of so much that is the result of good fortune and favorable birthright. The freedom to become someone, that my station would not have allowed in almost any other time, is a testament to generations of wise and inspired thinkers whose dedication to the principle of equal opportunity and shared responsibility is the heart of any society that would call itself democratic. My father was an immigrant. He came here seeking a better life for himself and his unborn heirs. I believe he succeeded. Although he never went past fourth grade, I, with the assistance of the GI Bill, graduated from college. Thanks also to this same GI Bill I was able to buy a house rather than rent one, an event that, through the Depression years, was unthinkable for most working families. After working and paying into the Social Security System, I retired and am able to live the sort of life that the authors of that enlightened social contract had envisioned. I am appalled at the contrast between that provident and thoughtful veterans program and the miserly and poorly managed one that prevails today. Even the maimed and dysfunctional are made to wait in a system that is designed to give them as little as possible after interminable red tape and procedural delays After World War II, there were several million young men and women returning to civilian life, most enjoying the benefits offered by the GI Bill. It's true we waited in lines and had to put up with red-tape and the delays that are inherent in such massive operations, but were given what was promised, and in a timely fashion. At this moment in time, there are a few thousand returnees, and we can't seem to get it right. The system is overwhelmed and unresponsive to many. When I went to college on the GI Bill, tuition, books and lab fees were fully covered. In addition, we were given a living allowance that was sufficient to our food and housing needs. It was a free ride. We didn't ride in style, but our basic needs were addressed. Today, with college tuition far exceeding the reach of the average student, the returning veteran still must augment his income or go deeply into debt to acquire a degree. It is a nightmare in comparison with the treatment that I received, and one that should shame us all that we are allowing it to happen. These are our sons and daughters. This is the future. If you should ask me, "Is this a better world than the one I inherited from my father?" I'm afraid I could not answer in the affirmative. We have lost our way and quite possibly our will. My only hope is that the next few years will produce a leadership that acknowledges the worth of every person and recognize that his contribution, no matter how small, is valued and rewarded, and that the fundamental necessities of a dignified life are guaranteed. Until that time, we have little of which to be proud. Jack Guyot Astoria Found here. Sphere: Related Content