I know that people "mean well" when they say, "thank you for your service..." but it just rubs me the wrong way. Of course, I'm polite. So, here's my "beef" with this: it's a lot like saying "all lives matter."

Want to thank the troops? Veterans? Don't try to defund or privatize the VA -- we are not your profit centers. Stop voting for people that send our troops to be cannon fodder for "shareholder value." Provide mental healthcare for the >17 veterans that commit suicide every day (this does not include active duty or Guardsmen).

I feel like "thank you for your service" just rings hollow. You say it so that you can feel good about yourself... and then not feel obliged to stop making cripples and/or filling body bags. You can absolve your guilt of voting for candidates that do whatever the defense contractors want. Etc.

I have no clue of how unpopular my opinion might be. I'm genuinely curious to hear if others feel this way. FWIW, I do my best to help the troops -- by choosing how to spend my money, responsibly.

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