LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor:
(I sent this email to Congress this morning).
Our disabled veterans are grossly undercompensated. The consequences for all of us could be dire.
In 2022 a totally disabled veteran with no dependents is compensated at the ridiculous rate of $39,984.72 dollars annually. The National Average Wage Index (NAWI) for 2020 was $55,628.60 dollars per annum and the median income for 2020 was $67,521.00. The per capita GDP in 2020 was $63,416.00 dollars, among the highest in the world.
They have been asking various Administrations and Congresses for fair compensation since the end of WWI in November 1918. That was 103 years ago. Huh?!
In my opinion the basic reason for their gross under compensation situation is because they are only compensated for projected loss of wages due to their disabilities. They are not compensated for their low quality of life. ‘Quality of Life’ Compensation has been routine now in the U.S. Courts in awarding personal injury compensation to injured parties and has been for decades… but not for disabled veterans! I ask Congress to pass legislation this year to compensate them fairly, especially the totally and permanently disabled among them who should be compensated at least at the level of the NAWI. This is now a grave national security problem.
Once there is full realization among our youth that should they receive serious disabilities in the armed forces that they will live a lifetime in near poverty then at that point the armed forces will collapse. Be warned.
Jerome Ripling
Pine Bluff, AR
To the Editor:
Last week another school shooting took place, in a small town in Texas. Most anywhere the size of the town is where the terrorism, in our public schools take place. We had one here in Arkansas back in 1998 at Jonesboro. The police at Uvalde should have gone in there and rescued the children. Parents were pushed back and tazzed them. Children trapped inside were on the telephone pleading to be rescued. Some police officers shouldn’t be on the force. I would have gone in with a bullet prove vest, helmet and goggles and rescued the children and taken that shooter down. We pay the salary for our police officers to protect us. Now is the time for healing for Uvalde. It won’t bring the children and the two teachers back. Those assault military rifles should not be sold to the general public. I am strongly in favor of gun control. I hate guns, I don’t want them and I am glad my Mother sold my dad’s hunting rifles after he passed away. We were in need of money at the time. Lord put your loving arms around the people of Uvalde, Texas.
Donald Putman
El Dorado