This country saddens me, I had two different vets ask me for food money today

I live, work and study around UCSD, which has a VA hospital right nearby. There's always downtrodden vets on the buses going to the VA to get healthcare, but the alarming thing is there seems to be more vets that get care at the VA who are now homeless and are on waiting lists for subsidized housing.

This area of San Diego has lots of affluent people who live in La Jolla, college students in the apartments near campus, and middle/upper-middle class people that live in University City (an area with tons of for sale signs in the neighborhood).

So today I left work and went to Rubio's across the street. On the way I saw a middle aged man with a sign saying he was hungry and I told him to come with me to Rubio's and I'd get him some food. I never give money to the homeless but I always always offer food or clothes. Inside I told him he could get anything he wanted and he modestly ordered a bean and cheese burrito with no drink. He was nice and thanked me and left right after his order was ready.

When I got my order I sat down to eat and another gentleman was asking around for money. I was suspicious (I've had several encounters with people asking for money for food but when one offers them actual food or a trip to a fast food joint, they refuse). I offered him food, but I asked him to wait like 5 minutes. He said sure, but he went to go around looking for money. He said he got a dollar for someone and went ahead and bought himself a taco and graciously denied my offer of help to him.

These two men were veterans. Both similar ages. Both were likely Vietnam vets, but I did not actually ask them if they were or not.

Why the fuck are people who offered their life for this country panning neighborhoods so they can put food in their stomachs.

It's a national disgrace. It should be treason.

I'm also saddened that that first guy I got food for was probably out there for a couple of hours without getting anything. People have no charity in their heart.

and beyond that we should help other around the world. If the wealthy were taxed fairly we'd have plenty of funds to do so.

yet all we hear are excuses and promises to do better next time.

How can we expect candidates who haven't had the courage to help these people in the past to suddenly grow some courage and help them if elected to the WH? They can't and they won't. All we'll hear for the next 4 years are more excuses, more whining.

Clinton and Obama are part of the status quo that harms these veterans. I don't believe in "born-again" candidates who will suddenly see the light and change their ways.

We all have to work for change, for hope, blah, blah, blah. Our soldiers are being killed on the battlefield and in 25 years they'll be broke.

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." -- Henry Kissinger

“Blind obedience to authority is the enemy of the truth.” -- Albert Einstein

My co-worker's husband was given an honorable discharge subsequent to him having a back injury which had lingering complications. This person has no education and had no ambitions of anything other than serving his country. Now he has a shitty retail job and wondering what the hell is going to happen in his future.