email header of Senator Tester’s “Veterans Newsletter”

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—it’s an honor to serve veterans in Montana and across the country every day as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Since taking the gavel last January, my top priority has been addressing toxic exposure in a comprehensive way. And in a way our veterans deserve.

Over the past few years we’ve made great strides in addressing military toxic exposures—from the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act to the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act, these historic laws continue to provide long-overdue benefits and care to tens of thousands of veterans suffering as a result of their exposure.

But, our work for the men and women who’ve sacrificed so much is far from over.

That why I’m proud to announce we’re moving the needle once again for toxic-exposed veterans with the introduction of my Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act—bipartisan legislation to offer Post-9/11 combat veterans, including those suffering from conditions caused by toxic exposures, access to VA health care.

Right now, nearly one-third of the 3.5 million Post-9/11 combat veterans exposed to toxic substances are not able to access VA care—and that’s a serious problem. Without action, more veterans will pay the ultimate price while waiting for the treatment they need. That’s why this bill is so critical.

The good news is, back in Washington we’re working hard to keep up our end of the bargain. Just last week, my Committee unanimously passed the bipartisan Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act.

This kind of swift, bipartisan action is a testament to what can be accomplished when results are prioritized over politics. And I’m proud the Committee is doing its part to connect a generation of burn pit veterans with the care they need—care they can’t wait for any longer.

While this a great start—it’s only our first step in our three-step approach to deliver for all generations of veterans suffering from the conditions related to toxic exposure. This bipartisan solution is consistent with my COST of War Act, and is a priority that can garner the support it needs from across the aisle to make it to the President’s desk.

I’m committed to seeing this process through, and will continue waging this effort until we deliver quality health care and benefits to the folks who’ve earned it.

We started this fight, and together we’re going to finish it.

Or so says the mail in my box from my (nominal) USA senator from Montana. I’ve kept up a legal residence address in Montana over these past going on 15 years exile, so I suppose I could have voted if I wished to, but I see no point because the USA is a corporate-captured oligarchy. No matter which way you vote, it is a self-deceit, it is the lobbyists’ money in DC buy the lot of politicians. Senator Tester’s lip-service opposing “Citizens United” granting corporations equal rights to citizens notwithstanding, it’s colossal corporate amounts of money own us. Especially the unaccountable ‘dark money’ invested in elections by practically anyone with wealth & power, notably corporate proxy billionaires that amount to American oligarchs; Soros, the Koch brothers, Gates & too many more to count, ad nausea.) [1]

My reply to Senator Tester:

Dear Senator Tester

It’s good someone is attempting [to] bring the level of care to the veterans’ community to point of what’s fair and right. Now, how about considering the cost of the toxic exposure at its root; maintaining empire? At this point in our American history, how can it not be clear our veterans have been cannon fodder for Dow-DuPont, Northrop-Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, General Dynamics, Chevron and too many more recipients of what amount to profiteering contracts; pushing armaments sales and/or geopolitical posturing/positioning at the price of not only the lives, blood and health of our soldiers but the colossal and horrific price we have put on humanity elsewhere while sacrificing immense good will towards ourselves to point of our being increasingly hated around the world as a matter of fact and expectation. As a USA veteran of our foreign wars, I want [to see] an ‘End the Toxic Exposure to American Corporate Profiteering Empire Act.’

Thank you and sincerely

Ron West
http://www.ronaldthomaswest.com

I waited all week for the reply I very much doubted would be forthcoming; from the man who swears by his loyalty to American veterans but lacks the insights and/or balls to take on the policies that basically serve as a wrecking-ball for the USA soldiers’ lives and health; in relation to the USA’s imperial behavior abroad causing immense damage to other nations peoples’ lives, health & livelihoods, and not least, the hit-job on international law that attends this USA policy of ‘exceptionalism’ that is the 21st Century’s heir to the policy of ‘Manifest Destiny.’ This policy had ruthlessly over-run North America’s indigenous nations by force of arms with attending and very much self-serving ‘color of law’ cancelling treaties as might be convenient at any given moment. There is nothing new in what we’re looking at today except for the scale & lethality have grown immensely. It’s a mentality, a mindset, a meme.

“As you sow, so shall you reap“

In today’s case of messing with Russia, these words could come true.

 

[1] https://www.propublica.org/article/super-pacs-propublicas-guide-to-the-new-world-of-campaign-finance

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