Obama's Jobs for Veterans is a Deceptive Maneuver

Pres. Obama is now talking about jobs for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Another political ploy to pull your heartstrings and reelect a "caring" President.

There are no jobs, or least very few, and he proposes to make some. A program which has failed time and again.

Let's take a look at recent history. At the end of World War II, millions of men were suddenly out of a job of fighting a war. They had the option of reenlisting in the military or returning to civilian life. A vast majority decided on civilian life.

The government was deeply in debt from fighting a world war over several years, but it and the people felt they had an obligation to the returning servicemen. There were essentially no jobs. Jobs had been held by women in production of wartime goods and services, and those operations were then being shut down. There was a gradual transition to a civilian economy, but that would take time and meanwhile women held the available jobs.

Government decided that for the interim period while the economy was re-structuring, the returning service men would be given an opportunity to pursue education. A GI Bill was offered. It included free tuition, fees, books and a small monthly stipend for living expense. Millions of veterans took advantage of the GI Bill. Colleges and universities quickly expanded to accommodate the increased enrollment, and the stage was set for higher level employment in the transitioned economy.

The GI Bill cost substantial money to a government already deeply in debt, but the increased debt was regarded as an obligation to the veterans and an investment in the economy. It paid off. By 1953 the unemployment rate was down to 2.5%.

Have we now less obligation to returning service men from Iraq and Afghanistan? No, and we have essentially handled it with the Post 9/11 GI bill. I have looked at the available benefits, including education, and they look good to me. Check them yourself at: http://www.oefoif.va.gov/WhatCanVADoForMe.asp

What is the bottom line? It seems to me we are already taking care of our veterans in a humanitarian and economically sound manner. We are not giving them jobs, but we are giving the opportunity for jobs. This is no different than the close of World War II. But there is one big difference. At the close of World War II, the government did not hamstring itself with excessive regulations on business and general civilian give-away programs with no responsibility on the part of the recipients.

I say again, Obama is "crying wolf" for veterans jobs, when he should be considering undoing the damage he and his cronies have already done to the present economy and its future.