30 Issues: Troops and Veterans

The Brian Lehrer Show | Sep 12, 2012

30 Issues in 30 Days is our election year series on the important issues facing the country this election year. Today: What's wrong — and right — with the current government treatment of active and returned military personnel. Visit the 30 Issue home page for all the conversations.

Open Prep: Questions, Articles, and Links to Get You Started

Key Questions

Is the all-volunteer military creating two Americas?
Is there an "economic draft" for those who could not pay for college without enlisting?
What can Washington do to address the high rate of homelessness among veterans?
What is the demographic breakdown of enlistees?

What are your key questions on this topic? Post them below and get the conversation going!

Guests:

Kristin Henderson, military spouse, journalist, communications director for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a nonprofit that helps injured service members and their families, and author of "While They're At War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront.", talks about the experience of military families and her reflections on the division between civilian and military life.
Richard H. Kohn, professor emeritus of History and Peace, War, and Defense at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, talks about the dynamics of a volunteer army and whether war is an unequal burden in the US.

Got a Follow Up?

Each Friday we'll be following up on one of that week's issues. Got a particular follow-up question from this conversation? Comment below or tweet us. Tweet to @brianlehrer

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