Yet Paul Ryan and his cronies propose to cut their hard earned benefits as soon as they get home and get out. It seems it is only America's most liberal Senator Bernie Sanders that is today willing to put patriotism ahead of politics and demand those men and women be treated right when they come home. America has basically been at war since 1990. We now have a 50 plus year obligation to see those veterans get the treatment and benefits they deserve. Good on, Senator Sanders.....

http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140122/NEWS05/301220017/Senate-bill-would-restore-COLA-reduction-military-retirees

I'm not even talking about retirement benefits for military personnel.  I'm talking about funding (or LACK of sufficient funding) for quality medical and psychiatric treatment for returning vets.  I'm talking about adequate rehabilitation, and more. 

I put some of this blame on the all-volunteer military, though it is the most proficient and professional in our nation's history, by all accounts.  By not having a draft, or universal service requirements, the part of America which actually serves and the smaller percentage of these who go off to fight wars is a miniscule portion of our population.  There are sincere well-wishers in our country and many who support the troops.  Some simply pay lip service.  For most, though, it is out of sight, out of mind on a regular basis.

If this nation had a much larger connection on a personal level, if this nation had to make some real sacrifices (even if that meant doing or contributing something as a civilian towards a war effort), if a significant number of the politicians, bankers, business and education leaders had sons & daughters at risk, we would be a hell of a lot more cautious about entering war, waging it successfully and ending it, and about taking care of those who have selflessly served us all, sometimes with the ultimate sacrifice, and often with scars the rest of us will never see.