Another Kick in the Groin

I almost dread retiring just because of my medical concerns I may have in the future.

 

I'm an employee at a VA hospital. I haven't heard that yet (it's probably still in the policy stage), but I will look into it.

Doesn't matter if a dem or rep is in office. The DVA has always been dumped on. The department was created out of politics, and it will languish in politics. It would be better if they removed us from cabinet level and placed us under the DoD.

 

Why should Bush care about veterans? Every one of them is a rebuke to his own lack of moral fiber.

 

Less bureaucracy for starters. Less chance of politics being played with the budget. The fact that the those who made them veterans would now also have the responsibility to care for them. A more streamlined process for getting medicines (and for getting newer and non-generic medicines) for the vets.

Vets cannot use DoD hospitals (unless they have retired from the service, or there is no VA hospital, and the DoD has a "sharing" agreement to see them)

One thing I like about the DoD hospitals, is that they're run by physicians and nurses. The VA hospitals are managed by political appointees, usually with degrees in public policy or public health. There is a lot of bloat at the top of the VA totem pole.

Also, where the DoD actually trains their own, most VA's are affiliated with a university system who rotates their students and residents through the VA. Very few actually stay once they graduate.

 

The Center Director and Associate Director are usually public policy people with little actual medical experience. The Chief of Staff, while theoretically holding the same level of authority as the Associate Director, is usually a weak position tied up with fighting for more staff and equipment in an already underfunded budget.

 

The Bush Culture and the big joke on how he got
elected.

"Compassionate Conservative"

What Galatian said is the naked truth...period.

I repeat if Bush does not seek help and advice from his father and catch or KILL bin laden he will be the worst President ever.

 

ASLAN,

While Bush and Congress haven't exactly been jumping through hoops to fund the DVA, it goes all the way back to Carter when he elevated the VA to Cabinet level. That event gave it more legitimacy, but it didn't solve any of the problems that were embedded in it.

Elijah,

I'm sorry to hear that. There are a lot of problems in the system, and yes, the wait to get an appointment is lengthy. Unfortunately, with all the service members who were involved in all the conflicts from Vietnam til now (Grenada, Panama, GWI, Somalia, Kosovo, GWII are just some) are coming out of the service and entering the VA system, it is being overwhelmed at it's current capabilities.

When I worked in outpatient, I used to always keep all of our senators and reps addresses and phone numbers handy and gave them out to anyone who had a complaint (about other than the service and help they received). I told them if they wanted the system to get better, get involved. I also told them that their recruiters didn't work for the VA, and whatever they promised, they didn't bother to check with the VA first.

 

5 years going on 6 for bush and he is not exactly
doing any problem solving if anything he is being
incompetent and incurious to the needs of veterans IMHO...the notion to blame others way..way..back seems disingenuous...where is the leadership NOW!

Again are we let bush and his entire life slip through unaccountable...he is used to it or perhaps he is counting on it..again and again and again.

Have we enabled a very bad leader to lead this country?..history will tell the story.

 

It is the bush culture and that is the reality
and is pertinent...if you like it fine or if you
want to cast blame on the past fine...it is what
it is.

Again read the post ..where is the leadership

NOW! without going way...way...back to find another excuse for bush and the bushbots.

 

Clinton didn't do enough for veterans. That's no excuse for Bush to treat them worse. Charging wounded soldiers for their meals in the hospital isn't new with Bush, but trying to take away their combat separation pay to finance his tax cuts was entirely Dubya.

So was ordering that the bodies of fallen American soldiers were to be sneaked back into the country so no one would see them.

So was ordering even deeper cuts in veteran's benefits.

Why shouldn't he? Every man who served honorably reminds him that he didn't.

 

Galatian:

Honorable discharge. Flew F-102 intercepts--a dangerous business period, with those old crates. Yesterday's fish; Rather is retired and disgraced; give it a rest.

First, the VA does not affect you, one way or the other. Retired lifers like you and I are under a different system, Tricare.

Make sure to retire to a low cost area (like Western Kentucky) where Tricare is routinely taken. In some high cost areas, Tricare is not univerally accepted. How long to retirement? You and I need to talk...

Charley

 

Elijah bush has had 5 years to fix it! why didn't
he ..he only exarcebated it and gets worse..again and again I say to you ....where is the leadership NOW!

bush got preferential treatment and everybody knows it ..he was telling the commanders how it was going to be because of who he was...he was a
dishonor in my book and the fix was in to paper coat it...so the deception and this poor performer could be enabled to wreck havoc in the future.imho

 

I for one would be interested in knowing what American Vets are priveledged with.

Aussie Vets are very priveledged against the Enzed, South African and British vet. I was surprised at this because our guys FOUGHT for our country, sweated and died in horrible conditions and those who returned were either maimed physically, mentally or spiritually.....i do not think we can do enough for them....

Incidentally having nursed them I find them 110% worthy of ongoing support.

aussie, aussie, aussie, oi,oi,oi