James T. Bennett is professor of economics at George Mason University and a prolific author. In addition to numerous articles in academic journals, he has authored many books, eleven of which have been published by Transaction, including Subsidizing Culture, Mandate Madness, and Corporate Welfare.

"In Paid Patriotism, George Mason University economics professor James Bennett takes a long, highly critical look at the history of verterans' benefits...It's an overwhelmingly sordid tale, but one that the author tells with enthusiasm." — George Leef, Regulation“Few would argue against the fairness of providing post-service benefits to military veterans in the form of pensions, health care, and education funding, especially for veterans who were injured in battle, or conscripted into the military. In Paid Patriotism? James Bennett shows that these programs, initiated to support those who sacrificed for their country, become transformed by politics into raids on the Treasury. Bennett provides a readable and compelling story, supported by lots of facts, to demonstrate the pernicious effects politics has had on veterans programs.” —Randall G. Holcombe, DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics, Florida State University “James Bennett’s cogently written and insightful Paid Patriotism? illustrates the perversity of political incentives: benefits awarded to deserving veterans are invariably subjected to relentless political pressure to reduce reasonable distinctions between the deserving and the less deserving and to increase the number and generosity of these programs. This book’s comprehensive assessment of veterans’ programs will make a major contribution to the coming debate about what the nation owes its veterans.” —Dwight R. Lee, Senior Fellow, William J. O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom, Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Decrepit Old Men Asking Only for Their Due: The Origins of the Veterans Lobby2 Shark-Infested Waters: The Scramble for Pensions after the Civil War3 The War to End All Wars Does Not End All Wars but Does Give Birth to the Boners and Revives the Veterans of Foreign Wars4 The 1944 GI Bill: Hype Exemplified5 An Endless Parade of GI Bills? Korea, Vietnam, and Post-9/116 The Best Medicine? The Growth of the Veterans Medical Complex and a Culture of EntitlementIndex

James T. Bennett is professor of economics at George Mason University and a prolific author. In addition to numerous articles in academic journals, he has authored many books, eleven of which have been published by Transaction, including Subsidizing Culture, Mandate Madness, and Corporate Welfare.

"In Paid Patriotism, George Mason University economics professor James Bennett takes a long, highly critical look at the history of verterans' benefits...It's an overwhelmingly sordid tale, but one that the author tells with enthusiasm." — George Leef, Regulation“Few would argue against the fairness of providing post-service benefits to military veterans in the form of pensions, health care, and education funding, especially for veterans who were injured in battle, or conscripted into the military. In Paid Patriotism? James Bennett shows that these programs, initiated to support those who sacrificed for their country, become transformed by politics into raids on the Treasury. Bennett provides a readable and compelling story, supported by lots of facts, to demonstrate the pernicious effects politics has had on veterans programs.” —Randall G. Holcombe, DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics, Florida State University “James Bennett’s cogently written and insightful Paid Patriotism? illustrates the perversity of political incentives: benefits awarded to deserving veterans are invariably subjected to relentless political pressure to reduce reasonable distinctions between the deserving and the less deserving and to increase the number and generosity of these programs. This book’s comprehensive assessment of veterans’ programs will make a major contribution to the coming debate about what the nation owes its veterans.” —Dwight R. Lee, Senior Fellow, William J. O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom, Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Decrepit Old Men Asking Only for Their Due: The Origins of the Veterans Lobby2 Shark-Infested Waters: The Scramble for Pensions after the Civil War3 The War to End All Wars Does Not End All Wars but Does Give Birth to the Boners and Revives the Veterans of Foreign Wars4 The 1944 GI Bill: Hype Exemplified5 An Endless Parade of GI Bills? Korea, Vietnam, and Post-9/116 The Best Medicine? The Growth of the Veterans Medical Complex and a Culture of EntitlementIndex

James T. Bennett is professor of economics at George Mason University and a prolific author. In addition to numerous articles in academic journals, he has authored many books, eleven of which have been published by Transaction, including Subsidizing Culture, Mandate Madness, and Corporate Welfare.

"In Paid Patriotism, George Mason University economics professor James Bennett takes a long, highly critical look at the history of verterans' benefits...It's an overwhelmingly sordid tale, but one that the author tells with enthusiasm." — George Leef, Regulation“Few would argue against the fairness of providing post-service benefits to military veterans in the form of pensions, health care, and education funding, especially for veterans who were injured in battle, or conscripted into the military. In Paid Patriotism? James Bennett shows that these programs, initiated to support those who sacrificed for their country, become transformed by politics into raids on the Treasury. Bennett provides a readable and compelling story, supported by lots of facts, to demonstrate the pernicious effects politics has had on veterans programs.” —Randall G. Holcombe, DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics, Florida State University “James Bennett’s cogently written and insightful Paid Patriotism? illustrates the perversity of political incentives: benefits awarded to deserving veterans are invariably subjected to relentless political pressure to reduce reasonable distinctions between the deserving and the less deserving and to increase the number and generosity of these programs. This book’s comprehensive assessment of veterans’ programs will make a major contribution to the coming debate about what the nation owes its veterans.” —Dwight R. Lee, Senior Fellow, William J. O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom, Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Decrepit Old Men Asking Only for Their Due: The Origins of the Veterans Lobby2 Shark-Infested Waters: The Scramble for Pensions after the Civil War3 The War to End All Wars Does Not End All Wars but Does Give Birth to the Boners and Revives the Veterans of Foreign Wars4 The 1944 GI Bill: Hype Exemplified5 An Endless Parade of GI Bills? Korea, Vietnam, and Post-9/116 The Best Medicine? The Growth of the Veterans Medical Complex and a Culture of EntitlementIndex