THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511210006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
I am outraged. I cannot believe that when the government shuts down, veterans-benefit checks are not mailed out but that welfare checks continue to be mailed.
Veterans benefits are not handouts; welfare benefits are. The benefits for our veterans were earned through sacrifice. Welfare benefits were not earned through the sacrifice of anything except the time it took to fill out the forms.
There is something seriously wrong with our country when we place welfare above the men and women who gave their lives and freedom so that there could be welfare.
Welfare should be completely abolished before we even dream of touching veterans benefits.
C. RYAN MARTIN
Norfolk, Nov. 13, 1995
When my government decided to shut down, the first to be furloughed should have been the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Right now they seem pretty nonessential.
CLINTON BUTLER
Portsmouth, Nov. 14, 1995 by CNB