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Clinton and Veterans

By VVAW

On the surface the Department of Veterans Affairs is doing well—$1.3 billion more representing a 3.6% increase.

More that 10 million veterans are in their seventies, yet only 5 new nursing homes will open.

Persian Gulf Syndrome is already claiming more than 10,000 victims. Agent Orange has not gone away and atomic vets are only now getting their due. Yet, only 27,000 more veterans will be able to be treated in the hospital system. Only one new hospital and one outpatient clinic are to open. To conserve funds Vietnam Vets are being places in civilian convalescent homes to die.

Forty percent of the homeless are Vietnam Veterans. We came from the low classes and oppressed minorities, were hired later than our peers and fired first.

123,000 Vietnam veterans have committed suicide since returning home-twice the number that died in combat in Vietnam. With the highest rate of suicide, alcohol addiction and divorce, expanded social programs geared to the particular problems of vets are essential.

Despite a nice speech about veterans, Clinton's policy is not much different from that of George Bush.