Elections: Forget The D and R, Remember The V

Written by Michael Dakduk,

Many of you are seeing the media airwaves saturated by political ads and the latest polls as we head to the ballot box. A great deal of focus is on the battle for the House and the Senate. Will the democrats maintain control of Congress or will the republicans regain one, or both chambers? I implore you, regardless of whether you identify with the Democratic Party (D) or the Republican Party (R), to remember the letter that matters most: V for veterans.

It matters not whether you wear a shirt with a donkey or elephant on it. I am not concerned with the letter on your voter registration card. What matters is that you never forget the struggles faced by those who identify with the letter V.

While support for veterans on the political level is widely considered bipartisan and stronger now compared to the past, veterans have historically struggled in the realm of politics and policy. In a time where we celebrate the implementation of a New GI Bill, never forget that the original GI Bill passed through Congress by a narrow margin; it passed by only one vote! No need to remind you of the broken policies and lack of support for our Vietnam veterans when they returned home.

We live in moments, and Congress is always seeking to balance the budget. This long war will not last forever, and when the drawdown of our troops commence, the end of a moment will begin. Often times this results in cuts to veteran programs and services. Remember, the original GI Bill transformed the landscape of higher education after WWII, offering unprecedented access to college for millions of veterans. What is not mentioned enough is the demise of the original GI Gill in 1956. The benefit would not be revived for another 28 years, and its value was no where near the original GI Bill.

So as you consider casting your ballot, remember the V. You may be surprised to find that there are candidates, or incumbents, who have a record of not supporting veteran legislation.

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