DURHAM, N.H.—Research from the University of New Hampshire reports that in 2024 there were 5.7 million more childless women of prime child-bearing age than expected given prior patterns—a significant jump from 2.1 million in 2016 and 4.7 million in 2022. This shift in fertility patterns has contributed to 11.8 million fewer births than expected in the past 17 years. “Childless rates increased the most among women under 30, where fertility rate declines were also greatest,” said Kenneth Johnson, professor of sociology and senior demographer at UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy.
This is the first I’m hearing of that. Though I admit I don’t use sm. I was given 100% for PTSD after going through an extremely stressful evaluation where the examiner deliberately triggered me several times. I say deliberate, but it was very subtle, if someone was faking it they wouldn’t have noticed or even reacted.
On the flip side, I have a friend who is missing 10% of his brain to an IED, can’t hear for shit, and can’t walk very far because the part of his brain that is missing controls autonomous breathing - he has to think about it or he doesn’t breathe. He was only given 30% and he honestly doesn’t have the resources or mental fortitude to keep trying to get the VA to take care of him.
It’s not a knock on everyone. It’s just what I’ve noticed in my life with the military, in civilian DoD and contracting, those I know working at the VA. The ones with serious medical issues are very noticeable but there’s a huge amount of people that did 4 years, saw no combat, not even seen the desert in Qatar or Bahrain, but got themselves to like 70-100% disability rating and will see major benefits for life. Various states give discounts on property taxes and whatever else they squeeze through throughout election seasons
It’s a very unpopular opinion of mine but I hold it. Military benefits are sacrosanct along with the defense budget so they can never be lowered unless the US accepts a role as a regional power rather than a global power and/or it’s GDP starts to flatline or declines adjusted for inflation making debt payments a larger percentage of GDP. Someone who’s most trialing duty station being Stuttgart can get 100% disability and it’s smart on them to do so but it’s definitely an anchor on the country’s ability to finance a potential war against Russia, China, or I’d say even Iran would be incredibly problematic.
US casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are not close to Korea or Vietnam but the financial cost is far greater. It is morally good to take care of veterans but it’s not something that will get major scrutiny because of political optics. Screw insurance companies but would private insurance companies determine disability ratings like the VA? Radar technician in Sacramento, air force tech in Colorado - you can get a high disability rating and go on to work full time without issue. It’s a lax system attractive for abuse. There’s probably an in between between the VA and private insurers that would be more sustainable and accurate. Maybe it should be a lot closer to SSDI
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/11/28/american-veterans-now-receive-absurdly-generous-benefits
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4304058-how-runaway-disability-compensation-is-straining-veterans-affairs/
I served during a war, but I’m not a combat veteran.
I think putting the focus on being a combat veteran to “earn” disability benefits is unfortunate, because there are things that can disable you even if you aren’t at war. I know a lot of people who have broken their backs during routine maintenance, some who lost hearing to insufficient hearing protection on a flight line, a few who lost limbs to snapping arresting wires, some who have had debilitating reproductive cancer at very young ages because of the chemicals we were exposed to.
But I know far more veterans who are like me and weren’t kept safe from their fellow soldiers/airmen/shipmates. I don’t know if it’s different now, but it was really common to just admin separate people who suffered what I did and not provide medical care. My command went so far as to tell me I was not a veteran and not to seek medical care or benefits when they gave me my discharge paperwork. They said that with straight faces, looking at me with my broken face and skull, bruised and sliced body, and barely able to stay awake because my brain was damaged.
Over 10% of female veterans have experienced what I did, 40% have experienced harassment, and about 5% of men also have the same kind of PTSD that comes from sexual trauma. Regardless of combat deployment status. That really points to an institutional problem with the military. So please, point at the commands when you want to take money away, instead of the people who are using the socialized Healthcare we signed contracts for in event of disability during service
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_War