5. I find it disgusting, devastating, and disheartening that both veterans and the service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country thought they were doing so to protect the Constitution of the United States and the ideals of freedom and democracy for which it stands.
🧵(11/13)

4(cont.). …and without that benefit I would never have had the opportunity to pursue a career in a field that I truly love.
🧵(10/13)

4. On a more personal note, the VA gives former service members opportunities to pursue careers that they would not otherwise have. The VA offered to pay for my masters degree which allowed me to get accepted into grad school (I was admittedly a super bad candidate for any grad programs), …
🧵(9/13)

3. The VA benefits that soldiers are recruited on are often a major reason individuals volunteer for service. So in this case not only is defunding the VA objectively cruel, it also threatens national security by disincentivizing people to join our all volunteer armed forces.
🧵(8/13)

2. A significant amount of VA Employees are themselves veterans and have chosen a post-military career that allows themselves to give back and help other veterans get on their feet after service. Aka they are genuinely good people, net-positive members of society.
🧵(7/13)

1(cont.). At a minimum, the government that put the physical and mental health of these soldiers in jeopardy for the protection of the rest of its citizens should front the cost for the treatment of these vets for life.
🧵(6/13)

1(cont.). This is apparent at any VA clinic or hospital where the somber mood felt in those waiting rooms echoes what was lost and sacrificed by each service member in there.
🧵(5/13)

1. Healthcare (the healthcare industry in the U.S. is an utter dumpster fire and that needs to be addressed also, but this rant is specifically focused on veteran care). Many veterans like myself have suffered numerous injuries causing varying degrees of permanent disability.
🧵(4/13)

Obviously I am biased, but for those who don’t know much about the VA here are some reasons why I think it is an essential part of government…..

🧵 (3/13)

Here’s the bottom line anyone who supports the down-sizing and defunding of the VA is sending a big fuck you to all the service men and women who have served this country and sworn an oath to protect the constitution and the values (or former values) that this country stands/stood for.

🧵 (2/13)