EDITOR: Hallelujah! Our troops are coming home from Iraq — as pretty much was planned all along when we had the surge. What will happen to Iraq now? What will happen to Iraq now?
But I have never read or heard where the jobs will be for these returning vets. We already have a true jobless rate of close to 15 percent. Sure, some incentive was given or proposed for employers hiring vets, but that will take jobs from others. Veterans already have a high homeless rate. Will we have a lot more? What is going to happen to these brave soldiers who were willing to give their lives for us — and many did. Why isn't this being addressed?
After World War II, many hundreds of thousands came home at the same time. But they had the GI bill, so many veterans went on to college and worked part-time. There wasn't a high unemployment rate.
Housing starts escalated due to the GI Bill and married soldiers wanting to buy homes, and there were many jobs in construction-related fields. The economy was good due to the war and manufacturing of war equipment.
We have a far different situation now. Where will there be jobs for all of these thousands of returning vets?
TWILA LE PAGE
Cazadero
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