Paul Myers

[Steve Gleason - "Live Impossible" @SteveGleason]

Participant #1 right here. We’re going to figure out why athletes, veterans, and first responders get ALS at much higher rates, because we believe the answers could be in our own biology. Remote participation also removes barriers so we can move faster toward answers for all. #AwesomeAintEasy

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@JimSichko It’s how I begin every day.

[VFW - Washington Office @VFW_OfficeDC]

And now a word from VFW's National Legislative Director Pat Murray -

Normally, Thanksgiving is synonymous with food, family, friends, and giving thanks. For @TheEconomist, Thanksgiving apparently means taking a turkey-sized dump on disabled veterans. The other day I had the unfortunate opportunity to read an unattributed article on The Economist titled, “American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits” and it left me with a lot of thoughts. (You can read it for yourself here: https://t.co/E2hfOpyRjn, just be ready to sign up for a subscription.)

The piece on The Economist has no author and reads like it was poorly run through ChatGPT. And the title of the piece is insultingly stupid. The definition of absurd is "wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate." I’d challenge the anonymous cowards at The Economist to illuminate us on which parts of veterans’ healthcare and benefits are inappropriate, illogical, or wildly unreasonable?

I am a disabled veteran. I had my right leg blown to pieces on September 4, 2006, in Fallujah, Iraq. Since that time, I have had to walk with an above the knee prosthetic and I have not had an easy day physically for as long as I can remember. Hey, The Economist, which portion of my healthcare or benefits are wildly unreasonable?

Service to our country can be an incredibly uplifting and positive experience for many who wore the uniform, but that service can also involve hazards. Some disabled veterans struggle physically or mentally with the effects of their service. Bullet wounds, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Post Traumatic Stress, and other effects of a service can sometimes cause chronic issues for veterans, and providing care and benefits for those issues is certainly not inappropriate or illogical.

While the AI assisted “journalists” at The Economist boldly chose not to put their name on this piece, they did attribute a quote to another non-expert in veteran benefits, Mark Duggan from Stanford University. Mark foolishly stated about VA Disability and Compensation, “Once you qualify you have an incentive not to get better.” An incentive not to get better?!?!? Hey Mark, any clue how I can get my right leg back? I’d gladly give back the money I’ve received so I can get up out of bed without the assistance of a wheelchair or a prosthetic.

The meandering poorly structured article in The Economist highlighted a lot of increased numbers and statistics, many of these figures quoted began back in 2001. It highlighted the increased number of veterans with high disability ratings beginning to increase in 2001. However, nowhere in the article does it state what else began back in 2001. These dopes conveniently left out the Global War on Terror that began in 2001 lasted for TWENTY YEARS! A full 20 years of the same all-volunteer force serving over and over, and over again in the same toxic hellholes fighting the same brutal terrorists. Gee, I wonder why today’s veterans are presenting with more chronic ailments than generations that came before us.

Ivy League elitists like Mark Duggan and the pretentious wankers at the Economist clearly didn’t bother to do much research on veteran disability or bother to speak to one of the millions of disabled veterans like me. We would have told these arrogant snobs that certain injuries and illnesses are with us for life, and no disability rating is worth the difficulties that come with some of the aftereffects of service.

The real cherry on top of this turd sundae was the lazy suggestion (possibly lifted from the fools at the @washingtonpost Editorial Board) that VA should means test veterans before receiving benefits. As in, if you make enough money after service, you won’t be taken care of for the costs of war. If The Economist had bothered to attribute a name to this drivel, I would ask that idiot, “how would you means test my inability to teach my son to ride a bike?” It’s a pretty routine joy that most parents get the privilege of taking part in. However, my prosthetic leg doesn’t really function in a way that allows normal bike riding. So that is a simple joy I won’t get. How exactly do buffoons like Mark Duggan and the dollar store journalists at The Economist suggest factoring in that loss?

The last paragraph of this loosely compiled puddle of garbage juice included the statement, “Reducing payments to former soldiers will never be popular, but it would be wise. America’s veteran obsession has gone too far.” -- TOO FAR?!?!? Holy hell, this sounds like it was written by a jealous also-ran who every veteran has probably met. The guy or girl who “totally would’ve joined…but I didn’t because I would’ve told-off a Drill Instructor if they got in my face”. Losers...

In the future, if any major publication wants to embarrass themselves by anonymously taking shots at disabled veterans, I’d like to offer my services. I can start by helping you research this subject to learn about the actual effects of service-connected injuries and illness. I can also connect you with other disabled veterans so you can hear first-hand accounts of some of the difficulties veterans face. I could even help google image search pictures of actual veterans, instead of the stock photo of firefighters The Economist used at the top of its trash piece on veterans. Then finally, if you are still intent on disparaging disabled veterans, I can assist you in removing your head from your ass…free of charge.

Patrick Murray

VFW Legislative Director
USMC 2003-2007

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@JasonIsbell @PearlJam Same!

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@DaleJr @nwspeedway Thanks @DaleJr

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@NBCOlympics @MJGold @LylesNoah @MJGold - True ambassador! Awesome human! Thanks for all of your inspiration.

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@JimSichko Please take a lesson from an instructor! It will save you from lots of pain and frustration.

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@hulu_support Still no NBC via fire stick, Hulu app on smart TV, Hulu app on my PC, or via web browser on my PC after selecting Hulu as my TV provider. RovyGem F at Cx support was very pleasant.

[Veterans Park Elem. @vpepatriot]

Honoring veterans today. Thank you for your service! #WatchUsShine #VeteransDay2021

[CSPAN @cspan]

Sen. John McCain on Sen. @BarackObama at 2008 Al Smith Dinner: "Political opponents can have a little trouble seeing the best in each other. But I have had a few glimpses of this man at his best. And I admire his great skill, energy, and determination."

[Ed Werder @WerderEdNFL]

Let’s all be this guy.

[LEX News @LEX18News]

The U.S. Postal Service, which will play a huge roll in this election, strongly recommends that voters request their mail-in ballots at the earliest point allowable, but no later than 15 days prior to Election Day, which is on Nov. 3. https://t.co/ioGKLHew0J

[Governor Andy Beshear @GovAndyBeshear]

.@KySecofState and I have worked together to create a bipartisan plan for Kentuckians to safely make their voice heard in the general election. Register to vote at https://t.co/AZn6fg9naA, & visit https://t.co/yG5MkE4YVA to request your ballot if you have concerns about #COVID19.

[Ruben Gallego @RubenGallego]

It is not a day to be happy. It is a day to remember those who have sacrificed for this country.

[Drew Franklin @DrewFranklinKSR]

Shout out Virginia the sign language interpreter and now the Kentucky colonel

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

@LynnBowden_1 - Really appreciate the fact that after all that hard work you put in today you still took the time to visit with the fans of #bbn, for a really loooong time. My kid was really thankful too.

[Paul Myers @Sixrdr]

#WeAreUK

[Marine Corps Marathon @Marine_Marathon]

Run with Purpose.

[Marine Corps Marathon @Marine_Marathon]

Must Do. Can do. Will do.