A Learning Disability

Part of the root cause of this problem has got to be the rising tuition costs. Much of the responsibility ought to reside with the universities and colleges that continue to charge these prices sending many graduates into debt. Then they spend years working at a job trying to pay that debt. If the education is as valuable as the price tag universities assign to it, maybe we wouldn't have so much of a problem. Here we're ridiculing the government for not keeping pace with the crazy pace of tuition. Schools ought to waive some of these costs for veterans, or maybe reconsider the real value in the education they're providing people; it shouldn't take more years to payoff student debt than it did to go to school.

Part of the root cause of this problem has got to be the rising tuition costs. Much of the responsibility ought to reside with the universities and colleges that continue to charge these prices sending many graduates into debt. Then they spend years working at a job trying to pay that debt. If the education is as valuable as the price tag universities assign to it, maybe we wouldn't have so much of a problem. Here we're ridiculing the government for not keeping pace with the crazy pace of tuition. Schools ought to waive some of these costs for veterans, or maybe reconsider the real value in the education they're providing people; it shouldn't take more years to payoff student debt than it did to go to school.

With the country spending so much money in Iraq the dollar is not worth what it was in the time after WWII and Korea. THe small amount given to Vietnam Vets was just enough to get them by. Now with the US spending more than they can afford in Iraq, leaves the veteran at the short end of the stick. When will the government adjust the amounts to give these young soliders so that they can have a future. Not everyone wants to be a solider all their life. Remember these universities would rather give a scholarship to bounce or throw a ball than they are to give a financial break to our young men and women who have served our country.

Your article is completely correct in everything except that President Jimmy Carter did not get his college education through the GI Bill. President Carter is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and did his graduate work as an active duty Naval officer. He was a cadet during WWII; graduating in 1946.

As an ex-military i sympathize with the problems that today's enlistee's face. However, please remember that unlike those who were forcibly removed from their homes into the military by the draft, you chose to enter the military. There are many benefits to being in the military as well as the deficits. For those unmarried, your pay is virtually untouched by the expenses that most americans have to cover. Put some of that money into an educational fund instead of a night out with the rest of the guys.

Sorry, I certainly appreciate your service, I realize my comments might have offended you. However, my point was that those who actually got fired at and went on combat patrols outside of the wire should receive precedence. Once these men and women have been taken care of, then you can go to college. And yes, I do currently serve in the military and yes I did serve in Baghdad.

As a current active duty member in the military, i think that those who have something negative to say about the "so-called veterans" should serve some time, whether it be over-seas or not- that way, they can understand the hardships ALL of the military personnel go through

THE GI BILL WAS A GREAT THING. I WAS UNDER THE OLD GI BILL AND RECEIVED A $600.00 A MONTH PAYMENT FOR HALF TIME. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON THIS BUT COULD PAY MY SCHOOL BILLS WITH IT.

THE PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLILTY???SOME STATES HAVE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR VETERANS, ONE INCLUDED FREE TUISION. (IT BEEN AWHILE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY STILL DO). THIS MAY BE THE WAY TO GO. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD GET STATES TO HELP WITH THE TUISON COST AT STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OR MAYBE KICK IN THE ROOM AND BOARD. THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THE FULL WEIGHT.

THE GI BILL WAS A GREAT THING. I WAS UNDER THE OLD GI BILL AND RECEIVED A $600.00 A MONTH PAYMENT FOR HALF TIME. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON THIS BUT COULD PAY MY SCHOOL BILLS WITH IT.

THE PROBLEM OF AFFORDABLILTY???SOME STATES HAVE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR VETERANS, ONE INCLUDED FREE TUISION. (IT BEEN AWHILE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY STILL DO). THIS MAY BE THE WAY TO GO. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD GET STATES TO HELP WITH THE TUISON COST AT STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OR MAYBE KICK IN THE ROOM AND BOARD. THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THE FULL WEIGHT.

i am a veteran of peace time 8years served we came in under a program called VEAP wasn,t worth the paper it was written on with the pay a soldier got. These soldiers put their lives on the line for our country and they should be rewarded justly for their future and the future of this country.

yeah our government has short change a many of our veterans the program iwas under in the military was call VEAP it sucked and i served eight years and got nothing for college these vets definitly deserve more and veap was not retroactive to the 1985 gi bill unbelieveable.

First, one correction. The GI Bill benefit was not $9900/year for four years. It was $9900, period. But it has increased every year. I noticed the Bush Administration is opposed to an increase, well duh. The Bush administration is and has been, elitist. Anything that is going to help the lower and middle class come up to their level, they will be opposed to. If it had been a proposal for corporate tax cuts, they would be all over it. I have used my GI Bill while still on Active duty and my spouse was able to use hers but it didn't come no where near paying for her BS degree. We still had over $10K in student loans, she used a Pell grant all four years and that was at a state college, (TSUD- Alabama) As a side note, I am a senior NCO, with 19 years in the Army.

When I came back from Vietnam, my GI Bill was $175/month, with a maximum benefit of 36 months ($6,300). And these volunteers are complaining about therir pay? I started at less than $100/mopnth as a draftee.

How can the worlds Judicial bodies sit back and see all the rules flouted by the hang picked kangroo court decisions of pakistan supreme court decisions in favor of Mr. Musharraf.These courts follow international jurisprudence .Decisions by these hand picked Judgtes become part of the Archives. Please someone ACT to stop this.

testing

The programs that put my father thru school ended very abuptly after Vietnam. I was only offered the Veteran's Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). And for that, the government contributed $2 for every $1 I put in the program, with a ceiling of $2100 for me. The Montgomery GI bill was a welcome improvement, but it's time is past. The WWII program needs to be approved and funded immediately, with a stipend of well over $50. You can retain troops past their initial enlistments by allowing no "use it or lose it" deadline. The program would be life long - with all incentives (Tuition Assistance, for example) remaining in place.

As for some of the comments about "this administration", let's remember that for 8 inglorious years, we had "that administration", and may end up having "that administration" again. "That administration" did exactly nothing on this issue (and it's been around a while). To have a bill that everyone loves stay in committee under "that Congress" and force feed it to the White House (and then override the veto) is just as negligent as some of the comments listed.

Lastly, having served for over 25 years, this country really needs mandatory conscription, not a draft. Every 18 year old needs to serve at least 4 years on active duty (or 6 years for Reserve service) and qualify for the new GI Bill program. There should be no exceptions or exemptions for this service - you can still serve in the Reserve components and go to college. The fact that the services are considering allowing felons with multiple convictions does a serious disservice to the United States.

Iraq / Afghanistan / etc have absolutely nothing to do with anything. Republicans, Democrats, and the rest need to stop fueling rhetoric down all of our throats and start doing what's right for the country. I'm no Democrat, but John Edwards hit the nail on the head when he said "We don't need to replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats".

Amen to that.

SSG L.