I know I should walk away sweetly on this subject but I just have to say something as far as being on "active duty"only. What about the person that lost their legs and was medically retired? What about the person that lost half their face due to a roadside bomb? What about the person that can't get out of bed in the mornings? Just a thought. These men and women are heoros and it is a small token of appreciation. Some heroes got the ultimate benefit and never have to pay a single tax again.
Nobody ever considers this group splott. Another point that people don't like to consider is that many veterans end up becoming homeless, you know that other group of needy losers people turn up their noses at?
I really can't believe the pissing & moaning over giving to disabled veterans. The numbers are astounding coming back from the Middle East of young men/women whose lives are changed forever because they volunteered to serve in a war that doesn't make much sense to most people.
I get that taxes are really high and no one wants to see their tax bill raised each year, but I also see plenty of nice homes and vehicles here in Fairfax. It's true that these homes cost less in other states, but as far as I'm concerned if folks are doing well enough to support that two story contemporary, drive a car less than 10 years old, send their kids to school in name brand clothes with cell phones, iPods, etc., pay for all the extracurricular fun to be had during the school year plus the family vacation AND also walk back to that big comfy couch in front of the HD TV by yourself after dinner, then what the &$%#@ are you complaining about a few bucks more on your taxes for?
I realize that putting out ones income for higher taxes to fund stuff that seems unnecessary, especially government programs to help those less"fortunate" is annoying to many people and I always ask myself why that is (aside from the obvious fraudulent cases that are often mentioned) By all outward appearances this community appears to be doing quite well as a suburb of Chittenden County.
A tour of the school parking lot gives a good indication that a majority of students are driving fairly well. It seems that the fabled "old beater" no longer exists or cars are just being made better or something. The teens I see driving have cars that are newer in appearance anyway. The cars parked at the businesses in town are mostly newer models. Everyone on this forum has a computer, a cell phone, a digital camera and I would guess other electronic must haves: dvd players, HDTV's, cable or a dish, the list goes on. I would bet everyone's kids is in possession of the same also. Add up the cost of these "necessities" and compare that to the added tax burden for the Veterans.
I think we're all very good with the talking points about sacrifice & love those weepy video montages on you-tube about what a soldier has to go through for your personal comfort, but I really don't think it ever quite clicks once the moment has passed and we're no longer verklempt. We're then moving on to what we (or our children) want next.
The point of this rant is: There are veterans whose lives have been forever altered in ways that ours have not, so think about whether or not an extra couple of hundred bucks on the tax bill is really going to bring the house down or just leave less money for Christmas? Will you not be to take a vacation or will you have to save longer to go where you really want to go? Will you have to eat rice and beans for a year instead of chicken or steak?
The question is what does it
really mean to you? Not just the thought of your taxes being higher to aid someone else, but does it affect you in a
real way?
This kind of complaining just look ridiculous in the big picture.
