Re: Politics - This was originally posted to point out someone looking for a handout they may legally, though not morally, deserve and getting taken across a cheese grater for it by someone who has more than a passing interest in the matter. If it's getting too far into politics, let's shut it down. It was never my intention.
Doc, I wholeheartedly agree the system enables this sort of thing. As for an agenda, Ms. Duckworth (aside from being a bilateral amputee) VA-related resume is: "Duckworth previously served as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs from April 24, 2009 to June 30, 2011, and as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs from November 21, 2006 to February 8, 2009." - taken from everyone's favorite scholarly research site, Wikipedia. She was a honcho at the VA and saw this quite a bit, I'm sure. One person can't change everything that's wrong. This is a good way to both call out a bottom feeder and bring light to the matter at the same time. OK, enough of that...
I also meant in no way to imply that one must be combat-related in order to be classified as service connected, nor did I intend to imply that there should be a different standard of care or benefits. I apologize if it came off that way. I am the LAST one who should or would be arguing on that case. I am rated at 80% by the VA. My career was cut short in 2008 (2006, actually) due to non-combat injuries. I have received many different benefits that I never even knew existed, but I've also declined to accept several others that I just don't feel right taking advantage of. That's just my moral stance on it, right or wrong. I don't know, I think there is a definite delineation line between combat and non-combat injuries as far as personal and professional recognition are concerned, though I think there is also a difference between a legitimate, life-changing non-combat injury and something that is extremely minor but used to play the system. As a disabled veteran (I prefer handicapped rather than disabled, actually), albeit non-combat, it really does bug me to see someone like this when I've been around so many others that truly "earned" the benefits they are entitled to. Ms. Duckworth lost both legs and regular use of her right arm when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq. I think her opinion has weight in the matter. Perhaps this was not the platform with which to do it, but if nothing else she certainly has a right to question Castillo's "sacrifices for his country".
Also, if you look further into this case, there very well may have been illegal goings-on by Mr. Castillo in this matter. Perhaps not illegal in his VA handling, but in other aspects of his company getting these contracts. OK, if this is getting too political, I apologize, and we'll be done here.
*EDIT* Removed external links that carried over from the copy-and-paste
*EDIT II* Why did this thing go all code on me when I saved the edit? Removed all the weird code. May have missed some. Sorry.
