The Cost of Affluence

  The United States is in the position of imploding economically upon itself.

Ironically, it’s a situation that’s totally avoidable and one we should’ve seen

coming from studying our own history.

   The 1950’s were arguably the most prosperous time in American history.

That, despite thousands of soldiers returning home from World War Two.

An infusion onto the job market that should’ve devastated the economy.

   In 1944 President Roosevelt enacted Harry Colmery’s G.I. Bill. It enacted

low interest home loans with zero down payment. Complete education funding,

and  unemployment payments for a full year.

   Of the 13 million new homes built, 11 million were bought by veterans. By

1947 fifty percent of all tuition was paid for by vets. Prior to 1945 it was less

than 5%.

  It’s now known this education produced 500,000 teachers, 91,000 doctors,

67,000 doctors, 24 Pulitzer Prize winners, 14 Nobel Prize winners, and 3

Supreme Court Justices.

   This program was largely funded by the income produced by the veterans

themselves. Matter of fact; it cost 50 billion, and returned over 350 billion.

   People had homes so they had a reason to improve their neighborhoods. Men

with new professions  both earned, and spent more. Colleges flourished and

could invest more on a better education system overall. Both the jobs and

homes gave people a reason to stay in one place. This stability was a recipe for

civic pride and social improvement.

   Then, slowly and methodically, Government officials began to gut the bill.

After the Korean War, vets had unemployment benefits reduced to just 26

weeks.  In 1966 LBJ reduced tuition and unemployment.  In 2008 reservists

tuition was reduced to just $297. per month.  Today, reservists and National

Guardsmen are often excluded from the majority of veterans benefits. That

despite the fact that they’re carrying the heavy-load of combat duty. Even

worse, soldiers who do get benefits, are now forced to pay for them, and those

that are married with children don’t get anything extra. The maximum MGIB is

now reduced to just $1,034 per month. Only 34% of a four year college course

is paid for.

   We’ve turned our backs on our veterans. Our children and grandchildren will

pay the economic price for that crime.