March 9, 2007

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

Given the recent Washington Post articles on problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and injured ABC newsman’s Bob Woodruff’s book and TV interviews regarding the treatment of veterans, do you think the U.S. government is doing enough for wounded Iraq war veterans?
(Asked at Albertsons, Tully Road and Capitol Expressway)

“No, I don’t. When we complain that we shouldn’t be in the war, they [the government] say we aren’t patriotic. When these people come back from the war maimed and mutilated and sometimes sick in their minds, the government doesn’t take good care of them - that’s really unpatriotic. If we send them, we should take good care of them when they get back.”

Deborah McGhee, 56
Evergreen
Retired


“I only see what is on the news, and that does not seem very good. Something needs to be done or it needs to be run better.”

Toni Smith, 40
Evergreen
Medical assistant


“I definitely believe there is always room for improvement. With everything these people are doing for our country they deserve more. They are sacrificing their lives and their health for our country.”

Stacy Gutierrez, 34
Evergreen
Preschool teacher


“No, they are not. I saw an article where there were mice and mildew in the hospital. If they are risking their lives for our country, we should give them the best care possible."

Mariam Richmond, 25
Hayward
Tech support


“No, they aren’t. These people are sacrificing their lives, their health and their time. We need to give them everything we can to make sure they become whole again. Our government is too much into the fighting and not enough into the healing.”

Lucianne Strayer, 35
Evergreen
Homemaker


“No, I don’t think they are taking care of our wounded soldiers. I think it’s worse than what is happening at Walter Reed, I think there’s a lot more than that.”

Lilliana Lutz
Evergreen
Legal assistant