In looking at my profile and then my previous post, I'm going to amend the politicized comment a bit.  As I said, the Occupy Wall Street movement is probably the most important political movement in the 21st century.  But how different is it from the Vietnam Veterans of America movement?  Not very in several aspects.  A lot of what motivated Vietnam vets to get involved with Bobby Mueller's organization had to do with jobs, income inequality and virtually no political voice in Washington.  At the time, the VFW and American Legion guys seemed to see VN vets as some sort of  second class bunch not fighting a war, but rather a "police action."  This despite night after night of gruesome battle footage on all three major networks.

So, how bad was unemployment?  Really bad.  I can't remember actual statistics anymore, but VN vet unemployment was probably double that of non vets or vets who no longer claimed to be vets.  But that's only part of it.  African American unemployment was staggering.  Something like 20%.  And Peurto Rican vets?  Almost double that of what were known then as Blacks (I note that the spell checker does not recognize "Peurto Rico.")

How 'bout education?  Well, by then the congress had pretty well stripped the GI Bill educational component.  Whereas a WWII vet could get tuition and books (not to exceed 500 dollars per year) and a monthly stipend, a Vietnam vet got a monthly allowance based on whether s/he was full time or part time.  In either case the monthly amount for the Vietnam era was absurd.  Nobody would have been able to go to school, raise a family and buy books/supplies on the pittance referred to.  Most vets were obliged to hold down a job while attending university or some other form of higher education and/or to borrow the money through student loans.

These factors and one other issue concerning veterans who were unable to appeal denials of compensation benefits except through the same VA boards that had denied them in the first place, motivated me to get involved.  But my horizon then was narrow and only involved the rights of Vietnam veterans.

So, now I'm re-engaged but at a much more intense level supporting the issues raised by Occupy Wall Street and other 99% movements.