Taking our debt seriously
Published 2:57 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011
Besides income, another population divide in our country fits the widely cited 1 percent vs. 99 percent scenario.
And that would be: One percent of our population serves in the military; 99 percent does not. Actually, to be more precise, the 2.4 million people serving in the armed forces today represent less than 1 percent of the country’s total population.
It makes perfect sense that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars feel kinship with the Wall Street Occupiers — statistically, their unemployment rate outstrips the national average and is expected to worsen, according to news reports.
On Thursday, just in time to make Veterans Day headlines, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to help unemployed veterans and companies doing business with the government. It’s welcome, if belated, help.
White House figures show that about 240,000, or 12 percent, of veterans who have served since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are unemployed, AP reported. A total of about 1 million veterans are out of work, according to Sen. Patty Murray, chief author of the veteran portions of the bill. Approximately 160,000 active duty service members and 110,000 National Guardsmen and reservists transition to civilian life each year.
The legislation:
•Increases the tax credit for hiring disabled veterans to $9,600.
•Creates new tax credits of up to $5,600 for employers hiring veterans who have been job hunting at least half a year and $2,400 for those out of work for four weeks or more.
•Expands education and job training benefits for veterans, improves employment counseling they receive while still in the military and provides an extra year of job services for disabled veterans.
For example, one aspect upgrades the Transition Assistance Program to ensure the program is tailored for the 21st Century job market and will be mandatory for most service members moving into civilian life.
Another practical step would allow service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to create a seamless transition from the military to jobs at VA, Homeland Security or other federal agencies in need of our veterans, according to Murray’s office.
In his last year or so as secretary of defense, Robert Gates did his very best to act as the nation’s conscience and remind us, not gently, that as a country, we tend to pay lip service to our military service members and veterans, but don’t follow through very well with tangible proof of that gratitude.
These days, more than ever, our veterans deserve helpful action during and after their service, in addition to our heartfelt thanks. Every day should be Veterans Day.
