Rarely, is it a point of denying something to a person who truly earned it, it is rather a disgust at the behemoth system in which atrocities are not only a necessary evil, but rather a reoccurring norm.
Last week, an IRS contractor by the name Braulio Castillo was asked to testify to congress about the use of receiving preferential treatment to disabled veterans. Mr. Castillo is the President and CEO of Strong Castle Inc. A company who provides IT solutions to the IRS and well as other financial branches of the federal government. He's been so well renowned at his work that in 2012, under Braulio’s leadership, Strong Castle, Inc. (under former name Signet Computers, Inc.) received in the ballpark of $500 million in business contracts from the federal government and was named the IRS Office of IT and Treasury Departmental Offices (Main Treasury) Small Business of the Year, which in turn led to the nomination and subsequent award for overall Treasury Small Business of the Year. All while battling a foot injury that he received while serving his country almost 27 years ago. An injury that in the opinion of the VA, left him at 30% disability rating.
"Exactly!" You may say at this point. "These are the kind of heroes, and the kind of American dream stories that make all these programs worth it!"
I should probably take a moment to point out a little bit of information that I passed over, Mr. Castillo's injury that was suffered while actively serving was obtained by twisting his ankle at military prep school, over a decade before applying for Disabled status. He also went on to play college football as a quarterback. He never saw active combat. He also claimed his foot had been broken, but the Oversight Committee said x-rays taken at the time did not reflect a fracture. The VA did award him disability status and currently sends him a monthly check.
Where there any laws broken here? Probably not. He may truly be in pain in his ankle from time to time, I myself had a bought of tendinitis my ankle that was quite annoying, but as Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth pointed out during the hearing, the system is clogged up, we can not filter out the good, honest requests from people who may truly need a helping hand, from the opportunists who fit the letter of the law when it is passed. The best filter we currently have is the people themselves. We need them to be honest and forthright about the help that they need against the perks that they want.
It makes debating this issue so hard. If we clamp down on the requirements we risk leaving a true veteran out in the cold. If we add layers of scrutiny we prompt additional suffering and frustration to those who have already paid their dues, sometimes quite literally with a pound of flesh. I see the anger arise when you confront someone who has allowed their moral compass point them in the direction of easy money. In Mr. Castillo's case, he's also benefited from opening his business in Chinatown. A place designated by the government as a "Hubzone". Meaning that his geographical location also awarding him additional endorsements when bidding on government contracts for his tech company.
I could be all wrong about Mr. Castillo, but watch the video, see how he defends himself with doctors notes, and bumbles when asked about his football playing days. Then ask yourself if you are still believe that government aid programs are beyond reproach. I applaud Rep. Duckworth for calling a spade a spade, and challenge her and her colleagues to continue to root out people that exploit the letter of the law at the expense of making people like myself jaded at the system.
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