Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Veterans related links 082918



The Shadow Rulers of the VA: How Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter and two other Mar-a-Lago cronies are secretly shaping the Trump administration’s veterans policies.

New VA secretary promises veterans better customer service and more medical options

Burn Pit Testimonies #fightfortheforgotten

Veterans hope burn pit bill will provide VA health care, disability benefits

Burn pits

Here We Go – Congress Demands Investigation Into Marvel Comics CEO Leadership Of VA

Hot Off The Press! VA Keeping Blood Bank Too Warm Since 2004

The limits of free speech for white supremacists marching at Unite the Right 2, explained
The First Amendment doesn’t protect targeted racial slurs that could spark violence.

Remembering Adrian Cronauer, The DJ Who Inspired 'Good Morning Vietnam'

Adrian Cronauer, inspiration for Robin Williams' Good Morning, Vietnam' character, dies

Getting Fired? VA Secretary Wilkie Demotes O’Rourke, Revokes Years Of Agency Delegations Impacting Terminations

PA CARES TASKFORCE

Public Comment Period for OMHSAS-Proposed Changes to Intensive Behavioral Health Services Regulations

Not Another VA Hotline: Trump Campaign Promise To Help Vets Derailed

The Trump Administration Is Launching Stealth Attacks on Veterans

 “We Don’t Have Those On The Reservation”: VA Racism Threatens Veteran’s Life

Blue Water Veterans Stalled? VA Vehemently Opposes New Legislation

Legion Splits With VFW Over GI Bill Cuts, Transfer Rules Will Tighten

"Agent Orange" Original Song

“Crickets” From The VA: New Hampshire Home Healthcare Folds Citing Lack Of Payment

Wish I Was In Dixie… Hooray? Mississippi Outpatient Clinics Deficient “Environments Of Care”

President Trump Delivers Remarks and Participates in a Signing Ceremony for H.R. 5515

Forever GI Bill - Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act

VFW Action Corps Weekly August 17, 2018

Training The Best Service Officers To Be Even Better: VFW celebrating a centennial of service to America’s disabled veterans

VA updates the disability rating schedule related to skin conditions

New Army credentialing assistance program to be tested this fall

Air Force combat controller to receive Medal of Honor posthumously, service’s 1st since Vietnam

VFW National Home

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Arthur Glenn, 43, of Fort Wayne, Ind., whose remains were previously accounted for, will be buried Aug. 21 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. On Dec. 7, 1941, Glenn was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Glenn. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Marine Corps Pfc. Robert K. Holmes, 19, of Wichita, Kan., whose remains were previously accounted for, will be buried Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City. On Dec. 7, 1941, Holmes was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship sustained multiple torpedo hits and quickly capsized, resulting in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Holmes. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Army Air Forces Capt. George Van Vleet, Jr., 35, of Fresno, Calif., whose remains were previously accounted for, will be buried August 18 in his hometown. Van Vleet was a member of the 38th Bombardment Squadron, (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group, stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. On Jan. 21, 1944, the B-24J bomber aircraft he was aboard crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all six crewmembers, including Van Vleet. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Herman W. Mulligan, Jr., 21, of West Greenville, S.C., whose remains were previously accounted for, will be buried Aug. 21 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On May 30, 1945, Mulligan was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division, engaged in heavy fighting against Japanese forces on Hill 27. A large cache of ammunition exploded during the battle, wounding dozens and killing Mulligan. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Army Pfc. Joe S. Elmore, 20, of Seminary, Ky., whose remains were previously accounted for, will be buried Aug. 18 in Albany, Ky. Elmore was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. In late November 1950, his unit was assembled with South Korean soldiers in the 31st Regimental Combat Team on the east side of the Chosin River, North Korea, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces. Elmore was among more than 1,000 members of the RCT killed or captured in enemy territory and was declared missing on Dec. 2, 1950. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Navy Aviation Chief Ordnanceman Otis E. Ingram was a turret gunner aboard a torpedo bomber from U.S. Navy Torpedo Squadron Fifty One (VT-51). On July 27, 1944, Ingram’s aircraft was the lead of four Avengers on a mission targeting the Japanese base at Malakal Harbor when it went missing. All three crewmembers, including Ingram were reported missing in action, and subsequently reported killed in action on Feb. 4, 1946. Interment services are pending.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Army Pfc. Leo J. Duquette was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces near Choch’iwon, South Korea. Duquette could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on July 11, 1950. Interment services are pending.  

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Army Pfc. Mathis O. Ball, Jr. was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. In July 1950, his unit was engaged in combat operations against North Korean forces near Choch’iwon, South Korea. Ball could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on July 12, 1950. Interment services are pending. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that returning home with full military honors is Army Pfc. George L. Spangenberg was a member of Company E, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On Nov. 2, 1950, Spangenberg was reported as missing in action following a battle in Unsan, North Korea. Interment services are pending. 

IG Rips Veterans Affairs Over Caregiver Program Mismanagement

Veterans exposed to battlefield burn pits press VA for care and compensation

Airman Killed During Vietnam War Accounted For (Kibbey, R.)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2018 —Air Force Col. Richard A Kibbey, killed in the Vietnam War, was accounted for on August 6.  On Feb. 6, 1967, Kibbey was a member of Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, when he, along with three other service members, were crew members of an HH-3E helicopter on a rescue and recovery mission over North Vietnam. After rescuing the pilot of a downed aircraft, Kibbey's helicopter was hit by enemy ground fire, resulting in an internal explosion and crash. Kibbey was subsequently reported missing in action. His status was later amended to deceased.  DPAA is grateful to the government of Vietnam for their partnership in this mission, as well as National Leagues of Families for their stalwart persistence in accounting for missing service personnel.  Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.  Kibbey's name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are missing from the Vietnam War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.  For more information about DPAA, visit www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, or call 703-699-1420/1169.  Kibbey's personnel profile can be viewed at

Desert Storm memorial to be built on National Mall near Vietnam Wall

VA may have fumbled over 1,000 sexual trauma claims, report says

AUGUST 2018 NEWSLETTER Vol 6, Issue 6

Winds Of Change? St. Cloud VA Prepares To Tear Down Its Wind Turbine

Trump touts VA overhaul, but affected workers say the result has not been good for veterans

Bad Moon Rising – Louisiana Navy Veteran Sues Regional VA Director

Senate confirms Robert Wilkie as next VA secretary, but with opposition

Tinnitus Anyone? 3M Covered Up Its Defective Military Earplugs Since 2000

Effective Date Fiasco – Intent To File Claims Rob $72 Million From Vets

Secretary Wilkie Statement on the Passing of Senator John McCain

Robert Wilkie confirmed as VA secretary. Here's his stance on privatizing veteran health care

Genesis of The American Legion

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

Mind, Body & Soul

‘Random Murder, Rape, and Pillage’: A US Soldier Describes 1968 in Vietnam.  Whatever you do, don’t eat the apricots out of a C-ration can.

Criminal Justice and Racism links 082918



Journey Through Slavery

Some of ex-Pennsylvania congressman's convictions tossed

Attorney general unveils new text alerts for scams

Greensburg Diocese to join five others in Pennsylvania in releasing names of clergy accused of sex abuse

Colin Kaepernick appears at Penn Law in huge potential development in collusion case: Free agent NFL QB is still at the center of the national anthem kneeling controversy

Fox News’ Laura Ingraham just aired her most overtly racist segment yet (WATCH)

D.L. Hughley shuts down CNN’s Chris Cuomo over Trump’s bigotry: ‘White men don’t decide what racism is’

I Have a Dream - Music Video

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: INMATES ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES WORKING ALONGSIDE FIREFIGHTERS FOR $2 A DAY

32 Forms of U.S. Institutional/Systemic Racism – Killing & Keeping Big Cities down.

Conservative Shocked to Discover Obama Doesn’t Hate White People

Dl Hughley Trump Attacks Don Lemon and Lebron James

What to (Realistically) Expect When You’re Expecting Nazis

Muhammad Ali Redefined Black Masculinity in America

Prof: GOP would dominate 'if the right-wing weren’t so racist’

WHAT TRUTH SOUNDS LIKE: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America

What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America

White nationalists dwarfed by crowds of counterprotesters in Washington

Joe Conason: The Racism Isn’t Surprising Anymore

Hank Aaron Says He’d Reject a White House Invite: One of the greatest to ever play the game said that he stands with the athletes who boycott White House photo ops.

John Oliver: 'This week America's dog-whistle racism became uncomfortably loud'.  On Last Week Tonight, Oliver discussed ‘Unite the Right 2’ and a controversial anti-immigration monologue by Laura Ingraham

301 ‘Predator Priests’ Named In Pa. Grand Jury Sex Abuse Report: ‘They Were Raping Little Boys & Girls’

BLACK COPS ARE JUST AS LIKELY AS WHITE COPS TO KILL BLACK SUSPECTS: New research suggests a culture of bias is a bigger problem than individual racist officers.

Trump has no black senior White House staff

ARETHA FRANKLIN QUEEN OF SOUL DEAD AT 76

How Prison Gerrymandering Strips Power from Communities of Color: Prisoners have become the latest tools in statewide redistricting strategies to empower rural, white districts.

Court Backs Navajo Candidate, Blasts Utah County

Women denied job for 'ghetto' names, company denies

The Social Shaming of Racists Is Working: Now, when white people assert private authority over public space, there’s a cost.

Lonesome for Our Home: Zora Neale Hurston’s long-lost oral history with one of the last survivors of the Atlantic slave trade.

Racist American pastor Jimmy Taylor arrested in Uganda

NFL Owners Blink, Suspend Their Anthem Policy

The Black Klu Klux Klansman (1966) - Full Movie

Legislative package would help incarcerated women, parents in Pa.

Separate is still unequal: How patterns of occupational segregation impact pay for black women

Why Manafort and Cohen Thought They’d Get Away With It: It shouldn’t take a special counsel to uncover white-collar crimes, but it does.

Beyond ‘BlacKkKlansman’: Colorado Springs and the Legacy of ‘The Hate State’. Spike Lee’s poignant movie made a statement about the world at large at the end, but the real-life plot continued in harrowing ways

Rappers, Slammers and Duffers

What LeBron James Understands About the Presidency and Trump Doesn't

I grew up in segregated South. For me, Supreme Court rulings are personal.

Infiltrate Hate: Spike Lee’s ‘BlacKkKlansman’.  The movie is Lee’s best, and most radical film in decades, and a lot of fun as well.

LeBron Shows Trump What Winning Really Looks Like

INSIDE THE WALLS | Prisoners Are Stores of Human Potential: Humanism may be the key to unlocking it

Gunman David Katz kills 2, takes own life at Florida video game tournament: Jacksonville police say 24-year-old shooter is among the three who died at the scene; Katz is reportedly a gamer who competed and lost

Ohio school asks kids to rank people based on race, sexual orientation, ability, faith

Prison Labor on the ‘Kill Line’: Prisoners are being used to staff dangerous poultry-factory work—and are being injured, or worse.

Why Kyrie Irving’s Connection to the Standing Rock Sioux Matters: The basketball star’s embrace of his heritage shines a light on more than his personal journey.

Up From Rawls: Charles Mills’s effort to save liberal political philosophy from itself.

Declaration of War: The violent rise of white supremacy after Vietnam

Economics and Corruption related links 082918



Medical marijuana initiative filed in Mississippi

Oklahoma medical cannabis law takes effect; revisions to problematic regs proposed

Maine Legislature overrides Gov. LePage on medical marijuana reform

N.J. hits pause on low-level marijuana prosecutions

New Jersey announces it’s doubling the number of medical marijuana businesses

Call your members of Congress about the STATES Act

Gaming group looks for another mini-casino space after South Middleton says no

COLUMN: PIAA solutions should ensure fairness for all

GAVIN ESLER: Why I’ve changed my mind on Brexit. Veteran BBC journalist GAVIN ESLER delivers an excoriating blast against broadcasters, Leavers and the lies that have left the country a more divided, poorer place.

When APS (Hughes syndrome) met the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)

Midterm Report Card On Trump Trade Deals

Opinion: Trump should thank his lucky stars that the Fed won’t listen to him.  Markets and pundits should ignore Trump’s opinion on monetary policy — the Fed certainly will

“Tariffs Are the Greatest,” Trump Tweets Rather Unconvincingly

Trump Wants to Blame the Fed, Not Control It: The independence of the U.S. Federal Reserve has always been exaggerated anyway.

‘You Came Here to Suffer’: The H-2A Farm Worker Program creates a pipeline of cheap, disposable labor.

So Long, Labor Rights: Under Trump, the National Labor Relations Board is facing an unprecedented attack.

The War on Drugs Is Working: The opioid phase of the war on drugs reveals its craven political aims.

House of Cards: Ben Carson builds on HUD's long-shaky foundation.

‘No Health Care for You!’  The Trump team wants to make it easier for health providers to refuse care because of their religious beliefs.

Winning Battles on Education: In Wisconsin, a movement pushes back against attacks on public schools.

Learning From the Life—and Death—of Susan DeMarco

The Coming Collapse of the American Economic System with Richard Wolff

The Future of Global Capitalism with David Harvey

Negotiating with Tariffists

Think Again.  A Point of View.  Michael Morpurgo argues it's time to think again over Brexit.  "It is surely time to accept that we have made a mistake", he writes, "that whichever way we voted, things are not turning out the way we expected". "Or are we too proud?" he asks.

SMR - EP23 - BEACH PARTY

TRUMP FREEZES OBAMACARE PAYMENTS, FURTHER UNDERMINING AFFORDABLE CARE

Trump administration wants welfare for coal and nuclear power

Obamacare Sabotage Is Working, Trump Administration Is Outraged To Learn: The Affordable Care Act has real problems, but Republicans don’t have the solutions.

Homeowner Seeks Court Action Against Fraudulent Foreclosures

Response to "Janus": Take Their Intellectual "Property"

Corporate Wage Theft is on the Rise

Republicans turn on Trump over trade war — but still won’t confront him: Orrin Hatch, Bob Corker and others are enraged by Donald Trump’s destructive trade war. Will they do anything?

Barreling Toward Dystopia

Labor Rules Allows Skimpy ‘Association Health Plans’

The Wages of Trump

Trump’s Tax Cut Snake Oil Should Be The Story Of The Midterms

Too Big to Fail to Catch the Irony

Brexit will ruin the lives of British citizens in Europe. We deserve a vote

CAPITALISM IS BEING REJECTED BY YOUNG AMERICANS IN HUGE NUMBERS FOLLOWING BERNIE SANDERS’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

NYU makes tuition free for all medical students

NYU Medical School Plans Free Tuition For Those Studying To Be Doctors

Inside Mexico’s Anti-Capitalist Marketplaces: How some Mexicans are using barter and alternative currencies to build an economy beyond profit.

As Lava Consumes Hawaii, Residents Are Responding with Disaster Communism: From geologists to acupuncturists, community members offer support to the displaced.

Meet the Militant Taxi Drivers Union That Just Defeated Uber and Lyft

There Is Power in a Union: A new study overturns economic orthodoxy and shows that unions reduce inequality.

The Deep, Uniquely American Roots of Our Affordable-Housing Crisis: Nearly half of all renters can’t afford rent, and over half a million Americans are homeless on any given night. How did we get here?

Meet the Rising New Housing Movement That Wants to Create Homes for All: From rent regulation to social housing, activists are pushing for serious solutions to the affordable-housing crisis.

Trump Will Send Oil and Gas Prices Soaring Even Higher

Cowboys For Liberty

Soon you can't use food stamps at farmers markets — but that's not half of it.  The diets of food stamp recipients lie at the intersection of two issues: our food system and economic inequality.

Give People Money

Our Missing $10 Trillion: Tax cuts from the Bush, Obama, and Trump years have left a massive gap in the public coffers. This hurts everyone.

The U.K. Created A Health Care System To End Class Privilege. America Must Do The Same.

Congress Too Weak to Stop Trade War

A Sweet New Century for America’s Most Privileged

Corporations and Mainstream Media Trumpet the “Horrors” of Higher Wages

How to Level the Playing Field for Workers, Even With Unions Hurting: A federal jobs and income guarantee could protect workers the way unions once did.

Billionaire Wolves in Workers’ Clothing

Dribbling Out Profits: Of Catsup and Eye Drops

Confront Digital Oligarchs and Defend Net Neutrality

Collusion: How Central Bankers Rigged the World

Prescription Thugs A Film By Chris Bell (Documentary)

Mitch McConnell Just Weakened Unions — And The Democratic Party: The watershed Supreme Court decision known as Janus would not have happened without the stonewalling of Merrick Garland.

Twenty-two states ask U.S. appeals court to reinstate 'net neutrality' rules

Pa. school funding lawsuit may now proceed to trial now that the court denies mootness claim

Dogs support people's vote, calling Brexit 'barking mad'

First Day Fairness: An agenda to build worker power and ensure job quality

CEO compensation surged in 2017

The importance of locking in full employment for the long haul

How do we know the tax cut isn’t working to boost wages? Investment, investment, investment

What to Watch on Jobs Day: Wringing out every last bit of slack in the labor market

The “wage puzzle” is real—but low inflation and low productivity are also puzzles that need to be solved

Last week’s GDP data shows there’s still no reason to think the TCJA’s corporate rate cuts are trickling down to workers

Nothing misleading about this: Typical workers’ pay and productivity have diverged

GOP senator admits Trump trade war ‘catastrophic’ for American farmers

The GOP’s New Pre-Existing Conditions Promise Is A Fraud: Senate Republicans claim their bill will protect people with pre-existing conditions. It won’t — unlike Obamacare, which does.

Administration and unions battle in court over executive orders

Unions seek end to Trump executive orders on federal employee work rules

Judge strikes down key parts of Trump’s orders easing the firing of federal workers

Judge strikes down sections of Trump exec orders for federal workers in victory for unions

Millennials are keeping unions alive: jobs are precarious, health-care costs are skyrocketing, and wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living

Rich teeth, poor teeth- addressing the clearest indicator of economic class in America

What a Trade War Costs the Farm: Those who stashed cash may ride it out, but younger farmers struggling

Family Farms Pushed to Get Big or Go Bust: A consolidated agricultural landscape has complicated the lives of some small- and mid-sized farmers.

GOP WANTS TO KILL SINGLE-PAYER BY SCARING SENIORS.

Our food system isn’t broken, but this farm bill is

Julio is Gone

The Organic Food Industry Thrives on Regulation: Without strict standards, the organic label would become worthless. So why is the White House rolling them back?

Trump’s Tariffs Are Screwing Farmers. Many Still Won’t Blame Him.  “We’re just hoping this doesn’t last a long time.”

A $12 Billion PR stunt

Hollowed-Out Communities and Dispossessed People Lifted Trump

Trump’s New Obamacare Sabotage Could Really Stick It To Consumers: State officials explain why new rules for “short term” insurance are so dangerous.

You’ve Heard of the Gender Pay Gap, But There’s More: It takes the typical black woman all the way till August to earn what a white male worker got paid last year.

Contrary to Trump's Claims, Last Quarter's GDP Growth Was Not "Amazing"

An Economy in the Fast Lane – With No Brakes: When the next recession hits, the working people of the United States will pay the steepest price

Republicans: Up is Down, Medicare is Safe

Want to Create Jobs? Reduce Fossil Fuel Use: Energy efficiency creates more jobs than fossil fuels — and at a faster rate and lower cost

Trump's Privatization Plan Would Destroy the Postal Service

Breasts: Allure and Utility

Getting Old and Going Under

Rethinking Hi-Tech

Yes, Democrats Need To Run Left — On Economics

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook— Serf Labor, Overpriced iPhones, and Wasted Burning Profits

I’m a Small Farmer from Iowa. Why Does Trump Want to Take My Health Care? Republicans want to bring back ‘pre-existing conditions’ as a reason to deny you care.

At What Point Do We Admit Brexit Was About Tax Evasion?

3 Blokes In The Pub... Talk About Those NO DEAL NOTICES (Ep 4)

Money: The Great Corrupter - David Harvey

The Trump administration is throwing $4.7 billion at US farmers to try and make up for the trade war pain

‘If We Don’t Understand Class Struggle, We Don’t Understand Anything’: Filmmaker Ken Loach on populism, the gig economy, and the importance of transnational solidarity in his movies and beyond.

Elizabeth Warren Has Bold Ideas About How to Drain the Swamp: Those who support progressive reform have the biggest stake in cleaning the stables, cracking down on the corruption, and making Washington accountable.

The Shareholder Revolution Devours Its Children: The economy has been rigged to channel wealth to a tiny elite.

What Money Can Buy: The promise of a universal basic income—and its limitations.

How Tipping Shortchanges Workers: In most US states, tipped employees are guaranteed only a small fraction of the federal minimum wage.

‘These Kids Are Watching Their Parents Die’: For children growing up in the shadow of the opioid crisis, public schools have become the safety net of last resort.

Will Red-State Protests Spark Electoral Change? After nearly a decade of Republican anti-tax “experiments,” voters appear fed up with being the guinea pigs.

Why Women Are Sharing Their Abortion Stories: Even though abortion is technically legal, it can still come with shame, stigma, and fear.

This Washington State Ballot Measure Fights for Both Jobs and Climate Justice: Initiative 1631 would put a carbon fee on big polluters, using the revenue to invest in clean energy and protections for workers in fossil-fuel industries.

Extreme Inequality Creates Global Disorder: And it’s a problem that can only have a political solution.

China’s Bigger Economic Threat: Would the US be better off helping stabilize the Chinese economy, rather than gearing up for a trade war?