Letters 1/25/07

Jan. 24, 2007

War in Iran? No thanks
With dispair I’m reading our newspapers.As if we don’t have enough challenges going, our leader is beginning to slip in hints about Iran as next on the dance card.
Have we devolved to being the world’s most powerful country, with a government of one?
Seems like a plea for impeachment is needed. How else to get the attention of this mule and his neocon buddies (who all just happened to miss out on their chance to serve in the military) as they treat our armed services and treasury as their personal fiefdom. Congress, assert yourself!

Tom Pixley • TC

Greed prescription
The “New Drug Lords” piece in the January 11 issue of the Express was excellent. Kudos for drawing attention to the selfish actions of the pharmaceutical companies. This industry is just one example where free-market economics simply doesn’t work. (That is, if your definition of success doesn’t involve the paychecks of corporate executives.) Let’s keep up the pressure on the federal government to do something about this by voting for candidates who promise universal healthcare and lowering the cost of pharmaceuticals. Let’s start demanding real cures rather than just masking symptoms. Let’s start to address the causes of the current mental health epidemic rather than simply prescribing more anti-depressants. This isn’t a partisan issue, but a matter of common sense.

Jason Glover • TC

Protect VA benefits
I would like to commend the staff at Northern Express for the article, “Local Court Will Decide,” 12/21. I was an active duty Navy recruiter for Traverse City in the late ‘90s and this law/practice was not part of the enlistment oath nor was it required to brief prospective enlistee’s of the potential loss of VA benefits should a divorce ensue.
This was not apparent until my spouse filed for divorce shortly after I retired with 20 years of honorable service with a service connected disability. By law, VA disability is a “sacred cow” and is exempt from any levy or seizure for any reason, even if the disability rating increases years later.
The judges are aware of this Federal statute but are ostensibly ignoring the law and circumventing disability compensation as alimony to a third party regardless of merit or circumstance, for those who never wore a uniform, never went into harm‘s way willing to give the ultimate sacrifice, or suffered any physical injuries.
With the recent increase of the number of troops being deployed to Iraq, how many more brave men and women in uniform will return home only to find themselves in front of a state divorce judge, stripped of their rightly earned and promised federal benefits?
Dealing with the VA bureaucracy to receive compensation takes time, sometimes years, only to have have it taken away. This is a national disgrace.
The public needs to be aware of this injustice and educate their elected officials to put an end to this ridiculous, draconian practice. Judges need to be held accountable for their actions.
Veterans deserve this much for answering our country’s call to arms. In closing, I would like to extend accolades to Joe Deater for his support, Calvin Murphy for his perseverance, and attorney Wendy Divozzo in the fight for veterans‘ rights and all veterans past and present. God speed. If anyone would like to comment/share stories with regard to this travesty of justice, I can be contacted at Frankevo99@aol.com

Frank Kurland
Midwest City Oklahoma