Republicans vs Democrats – When It Comes To VA Scandals, Do You Think There Is More Than Enough Blame To Go Around?
During elections, it certainly seems like politicians across the aisle would like us to forget that when it comes to VA scandals, both Democrats and Republicans stand firm, together, equally holding the bag of blame like guilty children caught eating too many cookies.
Both parties are culpable in failing to address a historically criminal treatment of veterans and American taxpayer dollars. No other conclusion can be drawn after looking at the embarrassingly corrupt history of this potentially honorable agency – VA has so much potential to do good but too little integrity to meet the expectations of Americans and veterans alike.
With the election just around the corner, I wanted to highlight an article from CNN some months ago that did a fair job of highlighting the long, multi-party legacy of blame shifting and scandals.
This list dates back to when VA was formerly called the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. Should it surprise anyone that the agency still behaves like an insurance company?
Straight off the top, the wait list scandal with fraudulent record keeping and appointment times dates back to President Bill Clinton. From that time, I thought I’d write up a quick list going back to 1917. (To get the full list, check out the CNN article, The VA’s troubled history.)
2000 – VA human experimentation program got some heat from GAO.
1993 – VA cried a bit over “this judicial review thing” that created a backlog from VA appeals related to wrongly denied claims.
1986 – 93 physicians were found to have sanctions against their medical licenses.
1982 – VA director Robert Nimmo, man who referred to Agent Orange side effects as little more than “teenage acne” forced to resign for misuse of government funds.
1976 – Shortcomings in patient care and health care wait times at source of GAO scrutiny over VA problems.
1955 – Widespread wasteful spending and poor care a common problem within VA.
1947 – Wasteful spending a massive problem in VA.
1932 – WWI veterans march on DC due to benefits failures within VA.
1930 – Veterans Administration replaces Veterans Bureau to provide veterans’ care.
1921 – Congress establishes Veterans Bureau to consolidate programs mostly administered by Bureau of War Risk Insurance. The agency immediately falls into problems with corruption and fraud.
1917 – Bureau of War Risk Insurance assumes roll of administering majority of veterans benefits programs.
Ben meet TMOT. TMOT meet Ben. Both of you seem to have a lot in common.
https://youtu.be/lFaZCMzQCC8
When veterans with PTSD are all able to use private health care on the VA’s dime, then America will see these same veterans stop killing themselves due to poor mental health treatment at VA clinics.
Speaking of which…
https://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2014/10/28/vet-turned-away-from-va-hospital-for-ptsd-treatment-during-mental-health-awareness-week/
I bet the obama administration is making room at the VA for thousands of infected ebola patients from Africa. It is plausible that many more vets will soon be losing more med appointments cos VA docs will be treating these ebola foreigners. If you want to keep your VA doctor, you can! says the Great-Liar-In-Chief! NOT!!!https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/28/state-department-plans-to-bring-foreign-ebola-pati/
Vets are stuck in a Devil’s Triangle formed by Capitol Hill, K Street and 810 Vermont Ave.
I AGREE, RON, money HAS CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE A FORGOTTEN ASSET. MONEY HAS CHANGED OUR “HONORABLE/DISTINGUISHED” GENTLEMEN INTO PETTY FELONS/CON ARTISTS.
WHY ELSE WOULD A MAN SPEND X MILLIONS TO GET A JOB
THAT PAYS X THOUSANDS ? CHEW ON THAT, AMERICA.
WOW, Someone Actually Goes There, Sacrifice By Those, Poser Patriots, Served, no more ‘free wars’ nor the long term results from!!!!
Goes where the great majorities fear to tread, an elected official calling on those served to actually ‘Sacrifice’ for the few that serve them! Not a word as to same from the, Poser Patriot, masses served and their hired representatives, especially the war hawks and the chickenhawks, while them flags wave and they call for more after creating the long extensions of blowback from the previous failed policies!!
Australian Government: * * Mathias Cormann ‘not ruling out’ raising taxes to pay for Iraq mission * *
Meanwhile Americans served have yet to pay for OEF, missions and those sent to accomplish abandoned with flag waving cheers quickly after 9/11, nor OIF which greatly increased the spread and growth of the blowback and brought about this ISIL, as well, DeJa-Vu all over again, as the long term results of, their Responsibility the VA!!
Deficits, huge left from bushco and republican controlled congresses interest being paid on, not just the tax cuts, huge for the wealthy, with two more long wars of choice but the rest of the rubber stamping and sweetheart deals with corps, oh ya and the almost total collapse of the economy then total obstruction since by republicans, mean continued borrowing, with interest, the cost of any of the government budgets, Especially the VA budget grossly under funded by conservative obstruction especially as to our wars which cause extremely costly problems that compound and are blamed on the VA personal and not those served and their representatives, , and that’s especially true this past decade plus!!
Facts: Matthew Hoh {former Marine and foreign service officer in Afghanistan}: “We spend a trillion dollars a year on national security in this country.”
“And when you add up to the Department of Defense, Department of State, CIA, Veterans Affairs, interest on debt, the number that strikes me the most about how much we’re committed financially to these wars and to our current policies is we have spent $250 billion already just on interest payments on the debt we’ve incurred for the Iraq and Afghan wars.” 26 September 2014
Bob Herbert ‘Losing Our Way’ : “And then the staggering costs of these wars, which are borne by the taxpayers. I mean, one of the things that was insane was that, as we’re at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration cut taxes. This has never been done in American history. The idea of cutting taxes while you’re going to war is just crazy. I mean, it’s madness.” Bill ‘Moyers and Company’: ‘Restoring an America That Has Lost its Way’ 10 Oct. 2014
USN All Shore ’67-’71 GMG3 Vietnam In Country ’70-’71 – Independent**
Out of a possible +10, I give BOTH major political parties a MINUS SEVEN. We have reached a point where there are NO honest persons in our government, and I blame it all on the corrupting influence of unlimited corporate money.
What I think is this : lies,lies And more lies I trust no- one
I am glad I enlisted in the war for Veterans.