Government must do better to help veterans

Editor:

To my great shock and hurt as a taxpayer all of my working life, I thought since we called on our sons and daughters to go to combat and possibly lose their lives, arms and legs protecting our butts, and for the last 10 years protecting the Muslims and giving them not millions but billions of dollars of our tax payers' money, that our soldiers were better taken care of medically.

The Muslims are burning our flag out in front of everyone and no one is fussing or stopping them, killing our representatives and our Christians we sent there to do them good, not evil. They believe they are doing their god a favor.

Now here is the shocker and surprise. As far as I know, none of our wounded warriors receives free artificial limbs from our government. The funds to buy these wounded warriors artificial limbs comes only by our citizens raising funds in their particular communities for this cause.

Our government, Democrat and Republican, plus the commander in chief of our nation, have their priorities so screwed up! They should hang their heads in deep shame! This terrible situation must be corrected now!

Gene Ballard

Hurricane

I am proud to have no party affiliation

Editor:

How dare someone call me names because I choose to register "no party affiliation." I have convictions, philosophy, political acumen, opinions, knowledge and information. I would not be so arrogant to claim that I have wisdom. I can name the candidates and have read the platforms. I have watched speeches and debates and have read books.

I display yard signs and bumper stickers campaigning for candidates I believe in and contribute to candidates and write letters to the editor.

My mother taught me 65 years ago: You are judged by the company you keep. Most of the candidates of both major parties are weasels, weenies or weak sisters.

The person who called me names is the personification of one who is utterly intolerant of opposing opinions, the classic definition of bigot.

Proud to be not affiliated with any party.

Joe Neil

Charleston

Cutting budget hurts military, threatens us

Editor:

I am not a politician. I am a great-grandmother and your neighbor. I am a fellow American and a proud mother of a son serving in the Air Force; and I am proud of my grandson in the United States Army. Today I ask - no, I beg you to put politics aside and read on.

The military of any country is the first line of defense. Our United States military has consistently seen budget cuts these last four years, which could weaken and jeopardize America's strength and credibility before the watching world.

These budget cuts have led to work-force reduction in areas which are critical to our national security! As funding for our military is reduced, positions in the Air Force and our other military branches have led to a decline in manpower and morale. Couples with and without children are carrying a heavier burden on their shoulders, trying to maintain a healthy balance of priorities in their private lives while proudly serving in our military to protect you and me.

As positions are illogically, unsoundly and arbitrarily eliminated because of budget cuts, the workload falls on the few remaining: more work hours are required and there is less or no quality time spent at home with family. I am not referring to overseas deployments. I am trying to bring home awareness of a problematic situation here at home. These conditions are creating strained relationships, divorce, orphaned children, withdrawal, mental fatigue and probably have contributed to suicide in the U.S. military.

The United States of America currently has the lowest naval force in history! How can we deny our precious men and women serving our country the basic funding, manpower and tools they need to keep us safe? The answer is we cannot afford to reduce or eliminate our military!

A house divided cannot stand!

Please, let us stop the divisive bickering and return to a unified America. Let us return to build on the principles our nation was founded on; be willing to recognize and admit the precarious position our country currently is in with a weakened military; and please let us remember the bond we feel as Americans when tragedy strikes.

No longer are we primarily Democrat or Republican. We are human; we are family; we are American!

Carmen Victoria Elmendorf

Charleston