Can We Support Veterans Without Taking Political Sides?
- Kirk Carlson
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Kirk Carlson | USMC Veteran | Founder, Covenant of Courage
In today’s polarized climate, it may feel like every issue has to fit neatly into one political box or another. But when it comes to caring for veterans—those who’ve risked their lives in service to our country—the conversation deserves to rise above party lines.
Veterans don’t serve as Republicans or Democrats. They serve as Americans. And yet, policies affecting veterans’ health care, housing, mental health, disability rights, and employment are often debated through partisan filters. It begs the question: Can we support veterans without taking political sides? The answer must be yes.
Why Supporting Veterans Should Transcend Politics
Veterans come from every demographic and every corner of the country. They don’t all vote the same, think the same, or experience service in the same way. But they share a common thread: a willingness to serve and sacrifice for a nation they believed in.
Supporting them—especially when they return home with visible or invisible wounds—isn’t a red or blue issue. It’s a matter of basic decency and national responsibility.
When we politicize veteran support, we risk dividing communities that should be united in gratitude and care. We alienate veterans who may feel pressured to align with a particular narrative just to have their needs acknowledged. And worst of all, we delay the very solutions that could save lives.
Real Needs, Not Rhetoric
The issues veterans face are urgent and tangible:
Rising rates of homelessness and housing insecurity
Gaps in access to timely VA healthcare
Challenges with disability compensation and discharge classifications
Underemployment and job training barriers
Mental health crises and suicide prevention
These aren’t theoretical policy debates. These are daily realities for real people—people who followed orders, honored their oath, and now need help navigating life after service.
Solving these problems doesn’t require ideological purity. It requires listening, compassion, and action.
Building Bridges Through Shared Values
Most Americans—regardless of political belief—support taking care of veterans. What’s often missing is the framework for collaboration that cuts through the noise.
That’s why campaigns like #ReasonableRanks are intentionally nonpartisan. The goal is not to win political points, but to reform discharge policy so injured service members aren’t pushed out without options. Whether you lean left, right, or center, the idea that someone who was injured during training deserves dignity and a career path should resonate.
It’s a model for how we can come together—by focusing on shared values:
Respect for service
Fairness in opportunity
Integrity in government systems
Accountability for those in power
What We Can Do
You don’t need to run for office or pledge allegiance to a political party to support veterans. Here’s what you can do instead:
Listen to their stories—without assumptions
Support nonpartisan organizations doing the work
Speak out when you see injustice—regardless of who’s in office
Vote with compassion—consider how policies will impact the most vulnerable
Volunteer or donate to efforts helping homeless vets, transitioning service members, or disabled veterans seeking benefits
Final Thoughts
Yes, we can—and must—support veterans without taking political sides. In fact, doing so may be one of the few ways we can begin to bridge deeper divides in this country.
Because when a service member raises their right hand, they don’t ask who you voted for. They just do the job. It’s time we return the favor—no strings attached.
📣 Join the conversation at www.ReasonableRanks.org
🖊️ Sign the petition to support injured service members: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR