Jeffrey David Cox Union President

Union President ‘Spin’ On Broken VA System

Jeffrey David Cox Union President

Yesterday, one union president decided to try his hand at “spin” claiming current reports of a broken VA are based “political hot air” and “minor” imperfections.

David Cox Sr., national president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) wrote a spin piece for The Hill that is little more than hot air itself.

The hit piece made hay with old time, pro-VA rhetoric, that most Americans have heard before. Hopefully, anyone reading this will realize it is nothing but spin from a highly paid public relations firm on K Street.

UNION PRESIDENT THREATENS CABINET OFFICIAL

You may recall that Cox is the same guy who threatened to “whoop” VA Secretary Robert McDonald’s “ass” if the Secretary did not get on board with AFGE’s desires and whims. His position certainly reflects that of a bully.

RELATED: AFGE Union President To ‘Whoop’ VA Secretary’s ‘Ass’

Given what I know about the Federal government, I found it surprising that Cox’s threat of physical violence against a Cabinet member would go without arrest. What would happen if any average veteran made the same threat?

One AFGE insider said Cox is delusional and that his newest spin in the op-ed shows AFGE, as an organization, is “out of their minds!”

Cox’s use of bully pulpit has numerous Senators running scared. He threatened revolt if the present Senate accountability bill contained teeth, so a bipartisan panel of Senators swiftly removed said teeth. Yet, those same spineless Senators still claim the bill would hold bad VA employees accountable.

RELATED: AFGE Union Prez Beats Back Senate Firing Bill

Of course, the language of the bill suggests the only employees who will now be accountable if AFGE gets its way will be SES employees who are not members of AFGE.

AFGE PRESIDENT VA NOT BROKEN

In his op-ed titled, “No, the VA is not broken”, Cox waxed poetic about how veterans love VA and how those Americans crying foul are merely doing so for political gain.

This claim is an immediate red flag for me.

It was the same false assertion mimicked by Hillary Clinton to Rachel Maddow last October. Clinton claimed the negative reports were from political hacks who were taking swipes at an otherwise solid health care system.

Maybe Hillary is also out of her mind? Maybe the K Street public relations firm that wrote this piece of filth is the same who wrote Cox’s op-ed?

RELATED: Clinton Denies Problems At VA, Says Vets Love VA

Back to the point, in The Hill op-ed, Cox made the usual assertions that, in reality, highlight that VA is using the “too big to fail” rhetorical angle rather than truth.

VA IS HUGE, TOO BIG TO FAIL

Like most aspersions of this ilk, throwing mud at whistleblowers and lawmakers alike, they focus on how huge VA is:

“The VA is the largest integrated health care system in the country, offering services to veterans unmatched in the private sector. It is a network of 160+ medical centers and 1,000+ affiliated health care sites across the country that serve 5.8 million veterans each year at 707,000 inpatient and 92 million outpatient appointments.”

Cox then shifts gears telling America that VA has hired its way out of the wait list scandal. In case you have been sleeping for the past two years, that is the scandal where schedulers were encouraged to fraudulently manipulate wait times for sick veterans, some of which died.

VA FIXED WAIT LIST PROBLEM

Cox said that since 2014 VA hired 14,000 more health care workers. On its face, this number is useless because it does not tell us whether the hiring pace was higher than normal or if it was merely replacing employees who left the VA system. He further claims fixes to the scheduling system that now resulted in “timely appointments.”

That is right, folks, Cox claims the wait list has essentially gone away.

But how does that reconcile with recent reports (2 days ago) from liberal PBS showing the wait list has actually gotten worse? Is PBS merely spouting political hot air of the political right as the AFGE president claims? I doubt it.

RELATED: PBS – Despite $10B ‘Fix’, Veterans Are Waiting Even Longer

VETERANS AS LAB RATS, TEST DUMMIES

Cox’s distorted argument then focuses on all the training and inventions that come out of VA health care. Cox says VA is “vital” for “residency training”, “inventions”, and “seamless access to quality care” through use of the electronic health record system.

While VA may be vital for such training, why is that the case? Are people not equally as sick in non-VA facilities? Or, is it because working at VA as a federal employee buffers those same employees from individual liability if a veteran is harmed?

As for the claim about seamless care, I personally would never call my VA health care “seamless” after moving from Oregon to Minnesota, but maybe my problems were an anomaly?

As for inventions, this is where the inventor (VA employee) makes millions on the backs of research on veterans, we only need to take a short look into the recent past. In light of the Hepatitis C cure rationing, I fail to see how this argument supports the call for growing VA health care while denying choice.

There, one VA employee invented the cure while working at VA full time, made $400 million, all the while veterans with Hepatitis C were not receiving the cure because it is too expensive. Each pill as part of that 12-week regimen costs $1,000.

RELATED: VA Doctor Invented Hep C Cure, Sold It For $400 Million Profit

How many veterans do you think were killed or injured while that VA employee conducted experiments at VA facilities in Georgia? It is worth an inquiry.

Cox also says the VA’s use of the “innovative patient team approach” is saving lives and helping create “custom-tailored treatment plans.”

As a medical malpractice attorney, I have seen a few of these treatment plans and certainly cannot conclude they were “custom-tailored” to meet the needs of my dead or near dead clients.

Personally, as a VA health care user, I cannot say anything done by any team I have seen was “innovative”. Instead, my experience led me to conclude that VA uses many centers of excellence for research and if you do not fit the data point for said research, you get bumped out of the treatment program.

Instead, my own experience has seen a more “Lord of the Flies” approach where the nurses run the show; the staff doctors are replaced by residents, and veterans’ choices related to their own health care are ignored.

If you demand to see a staff doctor and happen to raise your voice after being told ‘no’ time and again, you get stuck in front of a disruptive behavior committee.

RELATED: Going Hostile – VHA, Disruptive Behavior Committees And You

I do not recall ever having a problem selecting my staff doctor at a civilian health care facility. Do you?

SURVEYS, THOSE DAMNED SURVEYS

As Cox rounds third base in his diatribe, he highlights numerous surveys that conveniently show “two-thirds majority of veterans oppose privatizing the VA” and that “80 percent say they do not want it replaced with a voucher system.”

Where are these veterans who were surveyed? Who did they survey? Are they surveying all veterans or only a selected part? Are they surveying the same VSO’s who support VA and have a convenient vested interest in seeing VA propped up at all costs?

DISSENT AGAINST VA IS ‘HOT AIR’

Last, Cox hits a foul ball disparaging whisteblowers and those brave enough to highlight serious problems that still exist within the agency:

“We all know that no human endeavor is perfect, and the VA is no exception. But no amount of rhetoric can change the fact that the VA offers the best health care available for our veterans. It is the only system equipped to offer them the type of treatment and healing they have earned through their sacrifice. If we continue to ignore the facts and let the fleeting headlines and political hot air drive the conversation, we could see the VA stripped for parts and auctioned off to the lowest bidder. We cannot let that happen. We must not break our promise to our nation’s veterans.”

Apparently Cox still believes VA provides the “best health care available.” Of course, any organization would have to try really hard to not be the best when they are the only player in any system. VA still retains its monopoly on VA health care and AFGE wants it to stay that way.

He also goes on to reference whistleblower and OIG headlines as “fleeting headlines” but given the rapid pace with which these came out, one could not call those same headlines “fleeting.” The Phoenix VA wait list sham happened. Veterans died due to the fraud.

MY TAKE ON CHOICE

But in a bigger picture, why is it that in this day and age of consumer choice, veterans are still not afforded that same liberty? Should it be a constitutional right for veterans to get health care wherever they choose? What are AFGE and VA and VSOs afraid of if most veterans truly want VA care, anyway?

Or, are the only veterans who get choice the same ones who want to choose VA? IE no choice?

It stands to reason that if AFGE’s surveys are correct, no one within those organizations have anything to fear. Instead, these Chicken Little rants by the bully pulpit union head are little more than political hot air themselves targeting the interests of veterans.

The timing of this op-ed seems conveniently pointed at both the Senate and at Trump’s recent position on VA health care. Trump believes that veterans should be allowed to use their VA ID card to get health care wherever they choose. Personally, I am not a Trump supporter. But one thing he has said that makes sense is for veterans to have a choice when seeking health care.

Why not allow us to use our VA ID cards like Medicare cards to get health care wherever we choose?

And if AFGE is not spinning us a line of BS, and if 80 percent of veterans oppose health care choice for veterans, AFGE and VA and VSOs will have nothing to worry about.

Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/280085-no-the-va-is-not-broken

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114 Comments

  1. “AFGE Leads All American Unions in Criminal Misconduct by its Officials Since 2014 ”

    Some of the Involved AFGE Officials:

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    On March 31, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend, Curtis Bullick, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3254 (located in Bunker Hill, Ind.), pled guilty to a one-count information for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The sentencing is scheduled for July 7, 2015. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

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    On March 5, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Timothy Sanchez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 906 (located in Topeka, Kans.), was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution of $50,156. On September 12, 2014, Sanchez pled guilty to one count of Interstate Transportation of Money Obtained by Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2314. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

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    On February 27, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, Stephanie Hicks, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2207 (located in Birmingham, Ala.), was indicted on eight counts of bank fraud for embezzling approximately $132,000, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1344; eight counts of forged securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 513(a); and three counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1028(a)(1). The indictment follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville District Office and Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General.

    _____________________

    On February 2, 2015, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Shiryll Durham, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1687 (located in Mountain Home, Tenn.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in the amount of $2,651, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. The sentencing is scheduled for May 18, 2015. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta-Nashville Office.

    _____________________

    On December 10, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Paul Florez, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3922 (located in El Paso, Tex.), was charged in a one-count indictment for taking away with the intent to steal property of another within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661, in the amount of $59,709. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

    _____________________

    On November 5, 2014, in the Adams County Wisconsin District Court, Christopher Zawikowski, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3495 (located in Grand Marsh, Wis.), pled no contest to one count of theft in a business setting of less than $2,500, in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b), and was then sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,400. The plea and sentencing follow an investigation by OLMS Detroit-Milwaukee District Office.

    ______________________

    On October 14, 2014, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Aide Spade, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 709 (located in Littleton, Colo.), pled guilty to one count of making and using a false document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(3). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

    ______________________

    On September 19, 2014, in the County Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska, Mark Whetstone, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3928 (located in Lincoln, Neb.), was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay $4,811 in restitution, a $59 fine, and $630 in fees. On May 13, 2014, Whetstone pled no contest and was found guilty of one count of theft by deception, in violation of Nebraska Revised Statute 28-512. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver-St. Louis District Office.

    ______________________

    On July 18, 2014, in the State of Washington, County of Clark, William Hainsey, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 249 (located in Vancouver, Wash.), pled guilty to a single count of theft in the first degree, in violation of RCW 9A.56.030. He was then sentenced to nine months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $45,574 and a $500 fine. The guilty plea and sentencing follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco-Seattle District Office.

    _______________________

    On June 5, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Mary Craigen, former Secretary Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement, two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution of $8,975. On November 20, 2012, Craigen pled guilty to count one of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

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    On May 23, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James E. Charleston, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), was sentenced to one year and one day of imprisonment followed by 18 months of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $102,784. On January 28, 2014, Charleston pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

    ________________________

    On March 25, 2014, in the State of New Jersey, County of Burlington, Michelle Garber, former office employee of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1778 (located in Wrightstown, N.J.), was indicted before the Grand Jury and charged with one count of Theft by Deception (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-4; one count of Misapplication of Entrusted Property (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:21-15; and Elements of Computer Theft (3rd degree), in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-25c in an amount in excess of $500 but less than $75,000. The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

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    On March 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Janet Posey, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $250 fine. On October 22, 2013, Posey pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662. Posey previously made full restitution of $3,026. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

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    On March 6, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Linda Bland, former Vice President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2384 (located in Clarksburg, W.Va.), was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $947 in restitution and a $250 fine. On October 22, 2013, Bland pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with receiving and concealing less than $1,000 in money and funds feloniously taken, stolen, and embezzled, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 662. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia-Pittsburgh District Office.

    _________________________

    On January 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Shelly Roanhorse, former Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3601 (located in Claremore, Okla.), was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,565 in restitution. On October 21, 2013, Roanhorse pled guilty to a one count indictment charging her with making false statements, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas-New Orleans District Office.

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    On January 28, 2014, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, James E. Charleston, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2107 (located in North Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341. A superseding indictment filed on August 15, 2013 charged Charleston with four counts of mail fraud and one count of theft on government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 661. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

    __________________________

    See more at:

    “https://www.fedsmith.com/2015/06/04/afge-leads-all-american-unions-in-criminal-misconduct-by-its-officials-since-2014/”

      1. Hey 91Veteran,

        That Comment “You really have to watch your wallet at those Union Meetings.” wasn’t ment for you. I looked at how it came out and just want you to know it was meant for the membership of the union.

        When you have a union fighting to maintain the corruption at the VA you know that all of it’s leaders are just as corrupt as those at the VA if not more corrupted. They don’t actually defend the Rank and File there that are paying the dues.

        The only people at the VA the union is fighting for are the ones on top. That is why there is so much need for whistle blower protection at the VA. The Union leadership is not doing their Job instead they are fighting change to protect their piggy banks.

      2. I know what you meant SK and agree with you. Funny thing is that several of those you listed were local union presidents, which means they had been around awhile. I’m sure the AFGE doesn’t elect local union chapter presidents from members who just finished their probationary year.

        Question is, how much theiving or other criminal acts did they do before getting elected as the head local thug.

      3. Most of them didn’t get hit with the full number of charges against them and the investigations were very limited.

        It seems that a lack of ethics and morals is a requirement for their positions.

        As you point out they have to have been thugs for years before getting elected.

        To rise to the top like David Cox Sr you really have to had been cream of the crop of corruption. He certainly is fighting against Veterans to line his own pocket.

  2. “VA Hospital Union Official Arrested for Stealing from Union”

    “Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested the former president of the federal employees union at Birmingham’s Veterans Affairs Hospital on charges she embezzled more than $132,000 from the local chapter.”

    “https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/va-hospital-union-official-arrested-stealing-union”

    _________________________________________________

    “Former VA Union President Arrested for Alleged Embezzlement”

    “A federal grand jury in February indicted Stephanie Hicks, 43, on bank fraud, forgery and aggravated identity theft charges, for a total of 19 counts. Hicks, who served as AFGE Local 2207 president from 2007 to 2013, used her position to embezzle money from the union’s bank accounts for her personal benefit, according to the indictment. The local chapter collects dues biweekly from more than 440 members; while Hicks was president, the union had two bank accounts.”

    “Hicks allegedly wrote checks to herself for nonexistent travel, forged the names of other Local 2207 officers and members on checks, and made improper debit card purchases and cash withdrawals. She did not keep records of the transactions or seek approval for the expenses. Hicks was arrested last week and faces a maximum of more than 40 years in prison as well as fines if she’s found guilty of the charges.

    “https://www.govexec.com/management/2015/03/former-va-union-president-arrested-alleged-embezzlement/107739/”

    1. Gee, and I thought the union was as clean and pure as the wind driven snow and management was the only problem.

      What is disgusting is the embezzelers will get much longer prison sentences for stealing from union thugs than they would for killing or stealing from veterans.

      Do anything to veterans up to and including killing them and the union yawns. Steal from their rice bowl and expect to get hammered.

      1. VAI IS A FEDERAL RICO CRIME RACKET RUN BT @ FOR THE AFGE UNION CONTRACTS VETS YO ARE SO SCREWED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Former Federal Employee Labor Union President Indicted In White Plains Federal Court For Stealing Union Funds

    “Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (“VA OIG”), announced the indictment of WILLIAM DAVIS, a former president of the American Federation of Government Employees (“AFGE”) Local 1119 (the “Union”), for making at least $120,000 in unauthorized debit card charges and cash withdrawals from the Local’s bank account. The Indictment charges DAVIS with one count of wire fraud and two counts of false statements in forms submitted to the DOL-OLMS.”

    “DAVIS used the Union Debit Card at stores and online retailers including Apple, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Radio Shack, purchasing items for his personal benefit including electronics, music downloads, video games, cellphones, men’s clothing, gasoline, and cigarettes. DAVIS purchased money orders using the Union Debit Card which totaled at least $30,000 from the United States Post Office in Montrose, New York.”

    “On several occasions, DAVIS paid for rent for his residence using the money orders he purchased with the Union Debit Card. DAVIS also used the Union Debit Card to make over 900 cash withdrawals from ATM machines in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, in the process incurring thousands of dollars of ATM fees and fees for insufficient funds.”

    ““https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-federal-employee-labor-union-president-indicted-white-plains-federal-court”

    Copy of Indictment at: “https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-federal-employee-labor-union-president-indicted-white-plains-federal-court”

    ____________________________
    ____________________________

    New York AFGE President Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

    Published on “the National Legal and Policy Center” site

    By Carl Horowitz on Wed, 05/04/2016

    “A deceased fellow union member was William Davis’ ticket to the good life. It now might be his ticket to prison. On April 6, Davis, former president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1119, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to one count of wire fraud in connection with his theft of funds from the Montrose (Westchester County), N.Y. union. The local represents employees of the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System’s FDR Campus.”

    “He had been indicted last October for wire fraud and making false statements in union financial records following a joint investigation by the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Office of Inspector General.”

    “https://nlpc.org/stories/2016/05/04/new-york-afge-president-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud”

    1. Sorry Forgot to add the following part of the article.

      “William Davis, a resident of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., served as president of his union during roughly January 2008-October 2012. For most of that time, he used a union-issued debit card in the name of a deceased union member to make hundreds of unauthorized retail charges and cash withdrawals, and to purchase at least $30,000 worth of money orders from the local post office. Total theft came to more than $120,000.”

      ***************************************************************

      “The deceased individual won’t have to cover the losses, of course, but the union members that Davis once represented will.”

      ***************************************************************

  4. Krc,
    Wow you really need to get some therapy. You sit wherever proclaiming how much you have done for veterans…probably ones that work at the VA along side you… They don’t count! Neither does your proclamation about how many you have helped (What an Ego!).
    Remember that you either do or you don’t! In your case it’s did or didn’t. Why don’t (or can’t) put your money where your mouth is? That is probably just another name for the ass you talk out of.
    The Veterans that go to the VA hospital have to trust they are not being lied to, but if we are to believe you, none of what gets reported is true…LMAORF

    1. Wow! Dude! You have NO idea. I have a combat medal and I battle the VA to this day. In the middle of requesting 3 FOIA requests to keep the criminals in their toes. So, FU. 🙂

      1. Krc,
        Wow, could you get anymore childish? Big deal, one combat medal…(gotta be army) don’t spew your BS after just being in a combat zone! Whew hew! He has a medal. Wow. Go back to sucking hind tit and quit whining if you don’t have a suggestive solution to to your whine you dumb asswhipe. You have a nice day.

    2. Hey Andrew,

      With that new tracking software the VA is using to spy on it’s employees and record their Social Media posts. You can understand why krc is filing FOIA requests.

      krc you really should let your doctor know that the Meds aren’t working. That might be what is causing that rancid urine smell. When your body can’t handle the Meds you just start sweating out that rancid urine smell and every thing you touch starts to smell.

      They must be some powerful Meds to make you think that it is alright to come and troll disabled Veterans.

      1. Seymour Butts,
        Obviously you know the answer to your own question so no need to waste time on another insider only question. No I do not know what the VA does or uses for any kind of software.
        As for krc’s Piss problem…if he is taking provigil(Especially if it is more than 200mg a day) it will make it stink to high heaven! I have had to deal with it.

        See how easy it is to actually contribute to a conversation!? Yes…No….?

        To all feel free to troll me I don’t have shit to hide.

      2. Didn’t Troll you Andrew and didn’t ask you any questions. Also the name is Seymore Klearly not Seymour Butts. Just made the following statement in response to krc’s about filing FOIA requests:

        “With that new tracking software the VA is using to spy on it’s employees and record their Social Media posts. You can understand why krc is filing FOIA requests.”

        Have a Good Day!

      3. Seymore Butts Klearly,
        If you want to be taken seriously…

        1.-Don’t put yourself in a position to be made fun of.
        2.-Find documented Proof.Use Blacks law, or Cornell law library-if you can’t cite case law you have nothing.
        3.- FOI Requests do nothing but waste time…without documented proof.
        4.-Nobody cares if you Bitch, if you don’t have to have an alternative solution… That is within reason.
        5.- Now for the hardest part… Find someone to listen who can assist you in a legal capacity who has no fear, or nothing to loose; now you have to convince that individual that your cause is worthy of going after big brother.
        6- now you have to have patience, and, lots of it, why? It could take years, and that is just for a small problem.

        There you have it in a nutshell.
        Do something serious with your lives… Quit being a target…Quit being a bunch of bitches.Get out of Moms basement, quit with the video games!

        Have a shitty day and, eat a dick!

      4. krc or Andrew ,

        Which ever name you prefer. They sure keep you busy over there don’t they.

        You know that rancid urine smell on everything around you. Have you tried a little daylight.

        I learned from a very wise frequent poster on here that Day Light is the best Disinfectant. You know about the VA is Lying Veterans are dying billboards. He was the person who started that.

        Have a Great Evening!

      5. Also krc / Andrew,

        I see if I can’t send a little Daylight Your way to help out with that rancid urine smell. The one that surrounds you and everything you touch.

        If you need, Just say something anything, I can certainly shine a lot more Daylight on your problem for you just say anything. There is plenty of Sunshine available for you problem.

        Hope it Helps

        Seymore

        ps. Thought you might enjoy this link: “https://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/ABUSE19-ARIN.html”

      6. Seymore Butts…lol,
        You really have a misguided delusional existence.
        When someone tries to give you information that is tried and true, just say thank you. The fact someone is willing to help educate you so you can win battles against the VA, and you act like some petulant child that ought to be bitch slapped by their mother, goes to show how little common sense you really have.
        I hope God has mercy on you and just lables you stupid instead of dumbass. Either way…your still screwed.
        I would feel sorry for you, but, society let you get this far…I have to wonder why you have so much info on how the VA works? The only answer would be is that you were a Fobbit that did a 4 and out and couldn’t find a job and took one at the VA…
        The Dr should have curb stomped you while you were still on the floor, that is, after dropping you! RFLMAO…

        Peace out Bitch!

      7. Andrew, Jeffery, David or kcr,

        Which ever name you choose to use today.

        All I can Say is och! You must have looked up in the comment section and got a good dose of Day Light. Sound like you got to much daylight and got a real good dose of sun burn.

        Maybe if you had listened to Namnibor and rub some lotion on your skin when he knew what was coming next. It would not have burned you so bad. Who knows it might have even helped out with the odor problem you are having. That really must be embarrassing for you.

        Although it certainly seems to be affecting your ability to control yourself in your writing. Which certainly is to put it nicely smelling pretty rancid.

        Any how, glad to hear you want some more Day Light and I will certainly be sending a lot more your way. But seriously out of concern for your well being. I just have to say you really need to contact your Doctor and let him know. That you are having problems with side effects from the Meds.

        Any-How have a Great Evening and a Great Day at Work tomorrow. You might want to try Namnibor’s recommendation and rub some lotion on the skin. It might help hide the odor and people won’t keep thinking you are hanging out in Men’s Rooms all Day.

        Seymore

        ps Here is another link I am sure you will enjoy: “https://www.arin.net/” You see that number at the top of the page when you get there you can click on it and find out all kinds of information it even lets to the report abuse page for you internet provider. We know who that is don’t we!

      8. Seymore: It’s too bad that all the time you spend writing these nonsensical posts wasn’t spent actually helping Veterans and contributing something positive?

      9. Butt kleaner…
        ??? WTF…provide at least one piece of information that is useful to those of us …yes that includes ME also…because you are absolutely boring us to tears with the waste that you are spewing.
        We all look at this site trying to get information to help ourselves and each other in our battles against the VA.
        Andrew is my real name unlike you…if that is your real name…(LMAO)!
        I am so glad to see your parents thought so little of you as to name you that.
        So truth be told I need to get back to helping Veterans, including me get truthful answers to the lie’s people like you tell.

        Have a nice life being miserable… I am enjoying mine.

      10. Calling yourself kcr today.

        Good less typing. Just a little busy today but will get back to you latter after you are done with work. I also don’t want to contribute to your wasting taxpayer money while you are trolling Disabled Veterans when you are suppose to be working.

        Oh and is the light of day helping with the odor or sunburn?

        Have a Nice Day!
        Seymore

    3. Andrew, Jeffery, David or kcr,

      Which ever name you choose to use.

      Sounds like the disinfecting action of showing the light of day on the problem is making your sunburn worse and clearly by the change in temperament that rancid urine smell you are putting out is getting worse again.

      Definitely need more Day Light it is the best disinfectant for your problem.

      Have a Great Afternoon!
      Seymore

      ps: More latter after your off the tax payers dime. Ok!

  5. Cox is a point person of World Order. The elite dictate orders to him and he ruffles things up on behalf of them. This fart is just a layer of WO. World Order global elites dictate what they desire down the WO latter that covers the globe. Cox fits in at the Union level for federal employees here in the U.S., so he is no where near the top of the heap.
    WO already has decided who the next president will be last year. All the news about the upcoming candidates are for show and distraction to us all (citizens). WO does this in every country in the world. They are the ones with gargantuan money – individuals or groups of individuals who run the financial and corporate and war machines to make them money and keep them in control.
    Cox is but a two-bit player somewhere in the ladder. He cares only about himself – like “Goldfinger”.

    1. Damn, Dude. PTSD’ed Out? Way, way, way out there. Reality, Dude. It ain’t that Bad.

      1. Compassionately said as a thorny cactus. 🙁 ***PTSD***is*nothing*to*remotely*joke*about* in a demeaning way, especially with Veterans. Show some empathy, man.

      2. Kinda like Trump mocking a handicapped reporter?

        FYI, I’ve a PTSD diagnosis after working at the VA and defending Veteran-employees with PTSD who had their diagnosis go to 100% because of working at the VA. It’s actually a big issue so don’t lecture me about compassion. I’ve seen it all and I’ve told and lectured PTSD patients to take their medicines so their reality is somewhat in place.

      3. You don’t have the first fucking clue what PTSD is like for veterans.
        PTSD from working at the VA? Yeah I can imagine the horror of finding the cafeteria is out of hot cocoa. The terror of missing a morning break. The heart stopping fear of not getting a parking spot near the door when you roll in at 7:55am.

        But hey, keep up that arrogant, childish attitude when telling or lecturing a veteran with PTSD from the battlefield. You might run into one who recognizes what you are and hands you your ass.

      4. I lost my job (and career) the first time because I was appalled that a fellow Veteran-employee with combat experience in Iraq was put on a “Performance Improvement Plan” (without cause) (and another tool management uses to target Veteran-employees) and passed the PIP and then they negated his production points at the end of his PIP thus failing him and then he was illegally fired. He’s today 100% service-connected because of what his employer (the VA) did to him. So don’t lecture me about compassion and defending my fellow Veterans and losing my career because I didn’t bend over Luke ALL the other Wimps around me.

        Congress wants to give more tools to management to target rank and file employees.

      5. That response right there is an example of the piss poor attitude far too many union VA hacks have towards veterans.
        He makes a comment and you want to jump on him suggesting he’s another stereotypical veteran who is crazy from PTSD.

        What’s next? Making fun of suicidal vets? Showing a vet hanging himself? Oh, I know! Make fun of the vet who set himself on fire! That should be worth a few laughs.

        Your comment is a goddamned disgrace, but typical from many in the VA.

      6. The solution, perhaps, is to do away with the VA…get rid of it. It can never really be fixed for countless reasons. Most of us on here would agree to that. Incidentally, I don’t feel j. bond is way, way, out there at all. Ike (President) warned about the military-industrial complex a long time ago in his last days in office. And, there are the very top of the “global elite” who do have big, big power on how things are run. You, mister, sound like an unaware, dated fart-bag. And what would an “Ivy-league” lawyer be doing working for the VA? You know – the VA who runs the VAhospital in Chicago (and other VA hospitals) that is so infested with cockroaches that they are in the food plates served to the patients (veterans) in the hospital. Maybe that is appetizing to you. Maybe you are a cockroach. That’s not “way out” for sure.

    2. Hey krc,

      Mr. Want-A-Be answer-man with no answers.

      J. Bond has provided his thoughts and you attack him. Take your troll shit down the road.

      You come to this site like you are the only one with correct answers and insult the intelligence of all of the Veterans on this site. Why don’t you go ahead and do what you claimed you were going to do repeatedly and just leave the site?

      Let me answer that one for you. The only reason you are here is to Troll disabled Veterans. You are one sick individual.

      One thing I do know for certain is that trolls like you can let this go and it will haunt you until you post some troll worthy response. Just know well writing your response that a few of us have already unzipped and hosed you for what you are. So enjoy the stench of being marked a troll you will carry it with you.

      1. FYI, I’ve helped hundreds of Veterans get their benefits, represented them in their VA EEO complaints and whistleblew about VA corruption and made the work lives of hundreds of VA Employees better. I didn’t sit around all day whining. I didn’t sit around and “troll.”

      2. You guys who make comments about how awful everything is and don’t raise a finger to positively influence and make the VA better should be ashamed.

        There are parts of the VA that have incredibly hostile work environments run by management bureaucrats who could care less about Veterans. You have NO idea.

        You can call people like me “trolls” etc. but that doesn’t change a hostile VA work environment for the thousands of Veterans working at the VA who will never become a manager or be able to go to work without bring targeted.

        Each little VA building is a fiefdom run by varying degrees of competence and incompetence and corruption. The political appointees in Washington have no idea about how to change this culture. They come and go but the bureaucrats stay. Sec. Shinseki thought he had a grip on what was going on but the bureaucrats he relied on were lying to him. I do think McDonald realizes tge problem but he doesn’t really know how to fix it.

      3. Stroking your Ego here is also considered “TROLLING” and somehow thinking the preponderance of corruption and lackadaisical medical care is NOT GS-13–or below makes you one sick delusional troll with a law degree.
        Good luck with that and why don’t YOU help rather than stroke that Ego here?

        **FLUSH**

      4. Hey Namnibor,

        You smell that awful stench, smells like rancid urine.

        krc go eat a urinal cake please. Your stench is so fricken bad and that bullshit is getting pretty deep. Go Troll somewhere else.

        Hey krc you do know that each time you post your ip address is recorded.

  6. The reality is that some of you appear not to truly understand the underlying problems with the VA except for offering platitudes and well-recited redundancies. Best of luck.

    1. Krc, if you are a whistle blower, then I misjudged your earlier comments that came off as defending the union.

      What I stand by is the union, to include far too many rank and file are just as thoroughly corrupt as the management you mention.

      Most often a veteran will never make it beyond some rank and file clerk when trying to get help.

      I agree we should be fighting against corruption in the VA, but it should be against all corruption, not just that above a certain grade level.

    2. @krc
      As 91Veteran pointed out, many of us have ‘attempted’ to raise concerns with what you have called the “rank and file!”
      Yet, whenever our “concerns” are being “politely given”. Those same “rank and file” employees you defend – do nothing! It’s as though we are talking to an empty shell.
      Here’s another observation, these “(non)actions” by those “rank and file” employees are a “learned experience!” What I mean by that is simply, those employees are not following the laws set down by our Congress and signed into law by the POTUS!

      Question, Are those employees your defending being physically forced by some ‘demigod’ somewhere to NOT follow the laws?
      Are they being physically “hog-tied” into submission? Are they being physically threatened with a (literal) death sentence?
      I have personally witnessed VA employees LIE to veterans! I have also been lied to by the “lower rank and file” VA employees your so eager to defend! Many other’s on here have been lied to, and lied about, by those “lower rank and file” VA employees!
      And before you start defending them! Know you this, THEY KNEW THEY WERE LYING!

      And, lastly, you want us to defend those who are breaking the law? We’re not foolish enough to allow that to happen.
      Your defense for the indefensible is not what we want to hear!
      Give us your solution(s) to stop the murders of veterans!

      1. I believe many rank and file employees simply follow the lead of their management. The VA loves to brag about how 50% of VA Employees are Veterans. But, the reality is the percentage who aRe GS-13 and above is miniscule. Therein lies the problem.

      2. @krc
        You did not answer my questions! You ducked the statements I made.
        You are not being truthful.
        You want us to trust you, be honest with us. We will be honest with you!

      3. I don’t have to respond to your remarks. My experienced observations have been noted.

        You choose to place blame many good employees and I’ve tried to advise that it is a managemental problem. Your experiences have been with rank and file employees who simply follow the lead of their managers and mine have been with managenent corruption. It is easier to go after a much smaller percentage of managers than it is to go after tens of thousands rank and file employees.

      4. Again, your attacking me doesn’t profer answers. I have a law degree and I’m Ivy League educated and went to work at the VA with only the intent of helping my fellow Veterans. Within two years I was whistleblowing to the highest level of the VA and I was fired twice illegally and beat the VA twice. Trust me: it is a management accountability issue and not a rank and file problem.

      5. Ahhh…A LAWYER

        That explains a lot…I guess THIS wasn’t a personal attack…

        “Mr. Avant: There’s no doubt that you’re an uneducated, fat, spoiled Republican with no honest, acceptable ideas or solutions because you have no knowledge of the real issues. This involves people’s lives and all you do is complain. Best in living your miserable life…”

      6. Krc…no you don’t have to answer the question… but don’t act like a petulant child.
        Now that we have that off the table, why don’t the “good” VA employees (your words, not mine) step up and petition to have Cox removed from office, and to fix the problems that plague VA.
        Krc obviously you are an employee of said group in general, why don’t you start a petition of honest employees to remove the dishonest ones…huh?
        I did not hear what you said…give Elf the proof you so dearly covet.
        I sure in this case it is to painful, and miniscule for you to provide!

        Peace out Bitches!

      7. Ummm… because I was illegally fired twice after whistleblowing and won both times. “Peace out!”

      8. @krc…kroc
        The rank and file Nazi’s at the Nuremberg Trials all sung that song and dance as well called and I quote, “We were only following orders”!!!

        So goes your hierarchy of exceptions within the VA and VA Union.

        Need more Troll Spray and Troll Traps. Will get on that…

      9. @krc-
        So, you got yours, so act like a self-absorbed ass on a Disabled Veteran blog?
        Trolls usually have better manners when the moon is waxing.

  7. Hey Seymour Klearly

    I’ll go you one better on the (alleged mandatory expenditures): ie;
    The “Choice Program” users.
    I will bet the majority of users are veterans, which are employees of VA.
    Not us everyday “Grunts” who went to war. Only those who never left “CONUS”, had desk jobs, and are now VA employees!!!

    +On a side note; I have, after asking some of these alleged VA employees if they ever served, “…did you ever leave CONUS?”
    Most of them didn’t even know the “term”!!! Can y’all believe that? They also never heard the term(s) – “APO” or “FPO”! I’m actually wondering IF any of these pukes ever served a day in the military at all! Try it. Ask those so-called “VA veterans” IF they served. If they say yes, then ask IF they ever left “CONUS”, bet y’all get a ‘blank stare’!

    And like most on here will bet, “Ol Bagdad Bobby” (McDonald), “Gimpy Gibson, “Shitty Shulkin” or somebody will be “…holding veterans healthcare hostage…” to get at the monies AGAIN!

    I can see it happening before July or definitely before August! In reality, I believe it’s already started!
    Anyone wanna bet?

    1. Hey Elf,

      I am sure you are right about the VA employees and the fact the VA is getting ready for their need more money, or else, push before Congress.

      Also note how the DAV article you listed show how the poor overworked VSOs are pushing for the bigger budget next year for the VA. The article included the VFW with the DAV push. This while the American Legion is going into survival mode.

      With all the VSOs facing some of the same increased cost the VA is facing due to the added attention they are getting with the increased embezzlement, thefts, legal actions, bribes, cost of lobbying congress and the senate and the cost of cover-ups it is worth citing a few articles about those poor overworked VSOs.

      But since I am not able to write a few thousands pages I’ll just cite a few recent articles about some of the leaders of debatably the most corrupt and most elite VSO the American Legion.

      Since some of the poor overworked leadership has been caught embezzling tens of thousands dollars, others hundreds of thousands, still others more than a half million, another a million plus, also hiring underage girls to have sex with animals, having a shootout with State Troopers and of course the overall leadership throwing out a survey showing the American Legion membership overwhelmingly support expanding the veterans Choice program to Veteran so they could instead support Robbie McDonald by lobbying for no expansion to include all Veterans.

      Tens of thousands

      “Woman accused of embezzling more than $30,000 from Claremore American Legion post”
      “https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crimewatch/woman-accused-of-embezzling-more-than-from-claremore-american-legion/article_ba0748a1-06a9-5a35-a124-ad0f884838be.html”

      Hundreds of Thousands

      “Bloomington Woman to be Sentenced for Richfield American Legion Theft”

      “https://kstp.com/article/stories/s3835412.shtml”

      “Bloomington woman sentenced for embezzling nearly $200,000”

      “https://www.hennepinattorney.org/news/news/2015/June/delong-embezzlement-sentencing”

      “The post was also unable to contribute to programs for veterans in need, including blood and brain research and post-traumatic stress disorders. In the past, the post had donated gambling profits to the Richfield Police, Veteran’s Memorial Park, the Boy Scouts, baseball teams and many other organizations.”

      *** Notice how in the past they never used the money to help Veterans! ***

      Half a Million Plus

      “5 Charged With Embezzling More Than $641K From Millsboro American Legion”
      “https://www.wboc.com/story/31676600/millsboro-american-legion-post-officers-charged-with-embezzling-more-than-641k”

      One Million Plus and underage girls have sex with animals

      “Embezzled American Legion funds may have gone for drugs, records show”

      “https://newsok.com/embezzled-american-legion-funds-may-have-gone-for-drugs-records-show/article/4913487”

      “Kellerman was observed “on several occasions” driving to a hotel in Yukon and visiting with a woman who has a long history of drug possession and manufacturing, an Oklahoma Veteran Affairs Department special agent, Steven Pancoast, wrote in a search warrant affidavit.”

      “The woman — identified as Tamara Brown — was later questioned about those visits. Brown, 50, spent time in prison and is now on probation until 2023 for a methamphetamine manufacturing conviction, prison records show.”

      “During the interview, Tammy admitted that she would supply Kellerman with a couple of grams of meth a day,” Pancoast wrote. “Tammy stated that Kellerman would even purchase meth twice a day from her. Tammy also stated that Kellerman showed her pictures that he had on his phone of underage Mexican girls having sex with animals.”

      American Legion shootout with State Troopers

      “District attorney, state police shut down American Legion in Dunbar Township”

      “https://www.wtae.com/news/district-attorney-state-police-shut-down-american-legion-in-dunbar-township/39473038”

      “There have been several instances of harassment, disorderly conduct, fights involving weapons…shots being fired, sexual activity in the parking lot and shootings involving injury and homicide,” Bower said. “Moreover, neighbors of the American Legion have indicated that they have found guns in their yards, viewed drug deals occurring in the parking lot.”

      “In March, state police responded to the legion for a report of a fight. When troopers arrived, they said people in the crowd started shooting at them, so they fired back.”

      American Legion leaders Go Against the memberships wishes and lobbies against expanding Veterans Choice to All Veterans.

      “American Legion Defies Members, Discards Its Own Survey Showing Vets Want Private Care”

      “https://dailycaller.com/2016/05/11/american-legion-defies-members-discards-its-own-survey-showing-vets-want-private-care/”

      “The Legion’s top brass told The Daily Caller News Foundation that it threw out the survey results because surveys aren’t comprehensive and veterans weren’t savvy enough to know that private-sector doctors don’t always provide perfect care either.”

      “The Legion and six other similar Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) wrote to a government commission April 29, saying their national executive boards did not favor expanding the Choice Card program to all veterans.”

      What a truly Corrupt organization the American Legion is!!!

  8. This thing is getting better all the time and not in a good way. I’m typing this one handed because my left arm just hangs off of me like a dead cat! Here are some of my personal observations.
    1. THE VA WILL MEDICATE RATHER THAN TREAT! If you are sitting at home slobbering down the front of yourself, stoned on Morphine, you’re not at the VA jumping up and down trying to get REAL medical care. I was on VA Morphine for over a decade.
    2. THE VA IS MEDICAL CARE BY THE LOWEST BIDDER! Try getting some of the new blood sugar meds that you see on TV. Ain’t going to happen baby! Hearing aids 1950s tech. Insulin 1960s. It goes on and on.
    3. THE VA WILL PUT A BAND AID ON A BROKEN LEG! Don’t treat anything now, let that Vet wait for months and months and maybe he’ll get better all by himself or better yet, he might blow his brains out in the family living room.
    4. GO AHEAD, COMPLAIN. I DARE YOU! The Va has a very effective way of dealing with you DANGEROUS people. If you don’t like it, lump it.
    5. THREATS FROM THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE TASKED TO GIVE YOU COMPASSIONATE CARE! I have made it clear to VA officials that the next VA SLUG that does so will find the consequences HEAVY!
    And then you have Killery Hitler and this asshole Cox stating that there’s nothing wrong with the ALMIGHTY VA? They are definitley getting better drugs than I ever got! I’m Voting for Trump! Getting rid of the ENTIRE VA is the only option folks.

  9. Hey Elf,

    Your post yesterday on the recommended VA Budget for 2017 published in the DAV Magazine is pretty enlightening. Notice how the they recommend $84.4 Billion in discretionary budget authority instead of Mandatory spending.

    After all, with the embezzlement, thefts, legal actions, bribes, cost of lobbying congress
    and the senate and the cost of cover-ups now going up at the VA. They really need that discretionary budget increase. Surely they cannot be expected to list those cost increases in a mandatory budget.

    I guess they want to make sure Robbie McDonald can still go off and play Pocket Pool by himself in some out of over-sight spot like Hawaii to cover all of those cost. He has had so
    many publicized wet dreams on getting his hands on the Veterans Choice Program bucks, which has the mandatory spending required. Since the Veterans Choice Program, which was a mandatory budget item, required it being spent on providing health care to Veterans through the Veterans Choice program.

    Remember Robbie McDonalds public wet dreams like sinking it into the sink hole in Aurora, or using it to cover other discretionary funded items, like actually providing health care for Veterans, when the VA used those discretionary bucks somewhere else.

    Robbie was always using those nightmare scenarios to try and force his wet dreams to life. Nightmares like the contractors in Aroura are going to shut down then it will take millions more to restart Construction the VA needs the Veterans Choice bucks for the Hospital. Another one of the nightmare scenarios was we are out of discretionary funds for health care and will have to start closing VAMCs if we you don’t let me have those Mandatory Budgeted “Veterans Choice Bucks”.

    Oh and speaking about corruption and discretionary funding, has anyone else caught on to the fact that the only Veterans who were put on wait lists were Veterans without insurance and didn’t qualify for ongoing research at the facility they applied at?

    The reason Veterans with insurance or were research subjects didn’t go on to the wait list is because the VA facility then collects from the third party insurer or research organization for the cost of the Veterans care. The money collected then is placed in a discretionary fund account controlled by that VA Facility. That discretionary fund has no oversight from the VA or Congress on how it is spent.

    With these ever increasing discretionary budgets at the VA and Obama care it certainly seems that the VA Facilities could use at least a little of the money collected into their personal discretionary funds to help provide health care for Veterans.

    +

  10. I did leave the VA for private healthcare. I had a total knee replacement and it went very well. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 for the second time and had surgery. It was the finest care you could ask for. I will say that my first cancer diagnosis was at the VA in 1989. They did a great job as well. A doctor from Dana Farber was on the medical team at the hospital.These were emergencies so there was no wait time. I believe things have gotten much more adversarial over the years. I started as an in-patient at the VA in 1969 after a military vehicle accident stateside and received serious back injuries. The moment i first inquired about my records when i got home was when i first realized there was a problem with the system at the VA. For twenty-five years there was no sign of my records. The DAV couldn’t help, the VA counselors nor my hometown VSO’s could help find any records pertaining to the accident. In the early 1990’s i was told that i should contact my Congressman, it would be my last chance. I was always told by the DAV,VA and VSO’s that this would only prolong the process and would not help my case. It turned out to be, thanks to the Congressman, the only process that worked. I had one final shot before the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington and i took it. My records appeared soon after. My wife and i won the appeal. I am still angry about the fact that they only went back twelve months after twenty five years of stonewalling. With what the VA has done to me in last five years and counting, it would seem that nothing is beneath them in dismissing the needs of veterans.Be it benefits or treatment. It also makes me feel as if for many with the same experiences as i, that the fix was in all along. I have since been treated in the eye clinic, which is great and the emergency room at the VA with good results. The trust factor however no longer exists.

    1. I forgot to add the final insult to the result of my appeal to the BVA which i won in 1994. From the time of my SC accident in 1969 to the time i received any compensation for the SC was a total of 28 years.1997. Progress is slow at the VA when a veteran is right.

  11. So the source of the information is from the well known and respected J.D. Powers and Associates who, back in 2013 got a contract to survey veterans about their satisfaction with the VA and its services. Here is more information:

    https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/docs/voice_of_the_veteran.pdf

    PARTICIPATION IS VOLUNTARY
    While VBA encourages Veterans and beneficiaries to participate in the VOV Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Study, participation is completely voluntary. Regardless of participation in the survey, eligibility for benefits (both current and future) will not be affected. Participants will be randomly selected and asked to provide their input via a mail or online survey.
    The expected time commitment for completing the survey is approximately 12-15 minutes. All information obtained from the survey instruments will be kept strictly confidential. For questions regarding the survey instrument, please call the toll free number 1-877- 774-JDPA (5372) or email JDPA at [email protected]. You may also contact VA for more information regarding the ongoing VOV Continuous Measurement Satisfaction Research Study (toll-free) at 1-800-827-1000.

    1. 2013. A lot can happen in 3 years. 40 dead vets in Phoenix. Dead vets at Tomah. Vets getting medication cut off.

      All under the watch of AFGE.

    2. Merri,

      Here is some information on a more trustworthy survey but to bad it ended up in the trash and not used. I guess you could call it self-defence by VSO. Attacking their own members and disregarding their true wishes to see every Veteran eligible for Veterans Choice.

      “American Legion Defies Members, Discards Its Own Survey Showing Vets Want Private Care”

      “https://dailycaller.com/2016/05/11/american-legion-defies-members-discards-its-own-survey-showing-vets-want-private-care/”

      “The Legion’s top brass told The Daily Caller News Foundation that it threw out the survey results because surveys aren’t comprehensive and veterans weren’t savvy enough to know that private-sector doctors don’t always provide perfect care either.”

      “The Legion and six other similar Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) wrote to a government commission April 29, saying their national executive boards did not favor expanding the Choice Card program to all veterans.”

      What a truly Corrupt organization the American Legion is!!!

  12. We all now know how GUTLESS Congress, McDonald AND the rest of the pukes of VA are!
    I don’t know about the rest of y’all. But IF some little fat asswipe were to threaten me, he and I would be having a real good “Heart to Heart!” and as my daddy always said, “Son, there ain’t no such thing as a fair fight!”

    I have a feeling that he probably threatened our (‘pussy assed’) law makers as well.
    Because people like him, (fat ass little punk), make a living, and probably get a thrill, out of acting tough.

    I can’t begin to show how much CONTEMPT I have for that little asswipe! Or, the VA in general!

    Just like that little bitch queer that ran away from some CNN reporters the other day. Google this;

    “VA Lawyer Runs Worst Veterans Charity, Speeds Away in Rolls Royce”

    There’s a video of his ass running away.
    This asswipe was not only running a, “0 out of 4 stars” by “Charity Watch”, veterans organization. He was also the “Deputy director of the VAOGC, (VA Office of General Council)!
    Look for it in yesterday’s comments section. That’s how I found out.

    When I first read Ben’s blog today. I got so damn pissed, I had to wait to put something down here.
    At least NO DAMN TROLLS have come on at this time. That’s a good thing!

    1. I am thinking the Spring Rain must have washed the Troll Scent away for a little while as I am surprised as well…give it time though, as it seems some obvious or well-known VA Employee comes on here and defensively tries to state the ONLY problem with VA is the way upper GS-13-SEC employees, but NONE of the minions below in the VA Meat Grinder….r-r-r-r-right!! 🙂

      I saw that video as well crazyelf, of that VA Deputy/fraudster veteran fundraiser running away and driving away in that expensive ass car. Meanwhile, how many Veterans are sleeping on the streets, parks, woods, and alleys?
      Pisses me off as well~!

      1. 1. I believe Veteran health care should be shifted to the private sector bc of corruption and management ineptitude but it’s NOT likely to happen.

        2. The Union does NOT help whistleblowers since I am a whistleblower and tried to get Union protection for naught. I’ve also done much to change the VBA for the better at the cost of my career. AFGE is largely in bed with VA management.

        3. The way to make the VA better, as stated before, is not to attack the rank and file employees but to make management accountable. I had a great experience yesterday at an outpatient clinic by a rank and file employee – a nurse – and she was outstanding.

        4. Instead of attacking EVERYBODY, why not attack one big problem such as mismanagement and corruption as Mr. Krause does daily?

        God Bless our Veterans!!!

    2. @crazyelf- Actually, pretty sure I smell VA Troll now after more careful examination of the perimeter. 🙂 They cannot help themselves, protecting their meat grinder gravy train. 🙂

    3. You reminded me of another comment I had Elf.
      I really despise that fat bastard suggesting he speaks for me or any other veterans when he claims how many might like the VA.

      I doubt he has ever set foot in a VA and talked to a bet trying to get medical care.

      What other business or federal agency could have a 20% failure rate and consider that a success?
      You fail 20% of the time in getting Social Security checks sent, or fail to oversee 20% of doctors or fail 20% at running a museum and it may not be a huge deal. You fail 20% at needed medical care and you end up with dead vets.

  13. IF THE WAIT LIST IS GONE WHY DID I HAVE TO WAIT SINCE ABOUT THE FIRST OF LAST MONTH TILL THE THE 19TH OF THIS MONTH OF MAY TO BE SEEN OR EVEN TALK WITH A V.A. DOC OR A P.A.C TO CHECK THIS PAIN IN MY SHOULDER,S BACK AND ARM,S,,DON,T KNOW WHO I,LL BE TALKING TO WHEN I GO

  14. Where are these people getting their numbers?? Really?? 80% of vets are happy w/the VA clinics?? How come they never quote their sources when they spew out fictitious numbers?? And who in their right minds would believe anything coming out of Cox’s mouth. So very sad on so many levels.

    1. Somebody needs their ass “whooped”, and maybe Mr. Cox is one of them!
      I personally get decent care at the Dayton VA, but i’m sure that there is a boat load that don’t receive the same care at other VA clinics and Hospitals.
      Me thinks that when Congress is “hit up ” for money for veterans care, the AFGE walks away the happiest and Service Organization heads take what’s left for veteran purposes. This is just me talking. Maybe i’m eight or maybe i’m wrong? Somebody educate me ?

      1. @Donald York.
        After you’ve read many of the ‘blogs’ by Ben. Then check out —

        “”VAWatchdog.org””!!!
        Then check out —
        !!””DAVReform.org”””!!
        There’s plenty of veterans sites out there. You just gotta look for them.
        BTW, the Dayton Ohio VAMC was/has been mentioned plenty of times. In not a good way, I might add.
        Be thankful you’re getting good care there!

      2. Dayton VAMC–you must be one of the very lucky ones that either did not get any of the mass mailings from there in past years about Gastro Specialists performing Endo/Colonoscopies not properly sanitizing, in fact infecting MANY Vets with Hep B,C, HIV….or the Dayton VAMC Dental Oral Surgeon that was going from one Veteran’s open mouth to another for along TIME never using different instruments, let alone cleaned them with the same letters informing Vets to get tested for ALL Infectious Diseases? List goes on….no rainbows or pixy dust blowing out the VA’s Rear at Dayton.

        Sorry, but true.

  15. Shut down the hospital’s and clinics…sell off the land…give the veterans a bonus for putting up with the bullshit of the VA.

    Fire everyone at from the hospitals and clinics, and turn the rest of it over to Blue Cross Blue Shield to manage 182 Billion… 182 Billion. This is the amount that our country has put to the VA…182 Billion to steal from the Veterans!

    Do not forget it is named the Veterans Administration…think about those words and what they REALLY mean.

    Now we all have an option to think about!

    I’ll bet I could negotiate a much better plan without a union, union president (Fatass) or a “Secretary (Spinless Bitch)”

    Peace out Bitches!

    1. Would have to make sure Blue Cross/Blue Shield did not allow the Unionized Nurses to bring THAT infection into the VA. Absolutely NO union whatsoever to bleed us dry.

  16. Very good points in all Ben. I won’t repeat or add to them here since you certainly hit them well.
    One thing to point out in his listing of how big the VA is…not only is he pointing out that he thinks it’s too big to fail, but he’s pointing out to every member of Congress how big and powerful his union is, and how it reaches into every district in America. Mess with the AFGE and they will make a politicians life hard in their district. Its no wonder congress can drag their feet investigating dead vets, then react like their ass is on fire when AFGE whines about accountability.
    Which brings me to my second point.
    The AFGE and Cox also controls the TSA. The long lines over the past week suggest a worker slowdown since the problem seems to have fixed itself.
    Where the VA (and AFGE) blame veterans for VA problems, the TSA and AFGE blame travelers.

    1. @91Veteran
      We’re still hearing flack from traveler’s here at OIA, Orlando International Airport, over LONG ASS lines due to TSA not having enough “screeners”!
      I think the news stations said they, TSA, needed 6 or 7 THOUSAND more, so travelers wouldn’t have to be at the airport 3 HOURS BEFORE THEIR FLIGHT!
      Of course, even at that, people are still missing flights.

  17. David Cox is an asswipe clown that needs a reality check that involves a cell with barred window and cell….Leavenworth Prison will work splendidly along with printed letters on jumpsuit that states, “VA employees ALWAYS come before Veterans”, and see how that works out for him. 🙂

  18. The current accountability Bill seeks to punish all levels of VA Employees when the reality is that GS-13 through SES (management) are the problem. Management will simply use any new “tool” to attack employees. It is time to hold corrupt managers accountable NOT rank and file employees.

      1. The union makes this nearly impossible…If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem…The union showed where it stands by gutting the recent bill…

    1. ALL parts of the VA Union are VILE and need the massive VA ENEMA. Get rid of the union entirely.
      Those VA employees GS-13-below are not “innocent bystanders”…just like the Nuremberg Trials, all those caught Nazi’s tried to claims, “We were only following orders”…still got the gallows.

      Troll in the air? Sniff..

  19. There is no / incompetsnt leadership. Employees act as the see their leaders do. Cancelled appointmrnts, clerks stating appointments were made but not made.

    People openly saying if you dont like it talk to my union rep….etc etc etc

    If 80% of us like to drive 180 miles to the clisedt va er so much and when we get there there is always a 4 hour wait why do yhey need a union at all?

    If looking for thst inion label, just visit any va facility. You dont need to see the label, you can smell it

  20. Get rid of the Union president Cox, God only knows how many lies he has told. For some reason he thinks” the tail wags the dog”.
    Secretary McDonald seems to be afraid of conflict, any normal person with even half a spine would have dealt with Cox and helped him in his pursuit of a new job, and had him shown to the door… That is after his legal misgivings are adjudicated.
    I just want to know why nobody takes action against these idiot’s? What is going to happen? Are you going to be forced to get your health care from the VA? …The VA, giving veterans a second chance to die for their country!

  21. The AFGE should realize failure to cooperate with getting rid of dead wood will result in the whole nest becoming rotten and disposed of.

  22. I also believe a veteran should have “Choice” even if they don’t live 40 miles from a VA Medical Facility.

    However, I prefer treatment at the VA Medical Facilities. Administrative staff is where most problems start and end.

    I like the idea of having the surgeon from the aligned Medical School doing my surgery and knowing I’m not getting an unnecessary surgery so that he can get the cash to pay his child’s school tuition because he will not get paid more for doing a surgery.

    And I have seen worse mistakes in the “private system” than I’ve ever seen in the VA. Mostly because of the fee based medical delivery. If the dr. doesn’t do something in fee based medicine he doesn’t get paid and often leaving a condition to cure itself is the best approach.

    That is not to say that I’m not filing a tort claim against the VA and the Navy. But the claim arises out of attempts to reduce compensation and VA administrative rules as opposed to a physician’s decision.

    1. Lem,
      Short for Lemming? Did you know you can control your own fate? Don’t run off the cliff just because the others do! Find the best doctors available and demand to see them…start at your PCM… Hint, hint…

      Good luck with your plan…
      Remember the 7P’s…
      Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance!

    2. Lem, I have heard the argument before about private care vs. VA care with the claim private doctors have to make a buck. I disagree in total with your supposition.

      Recently, I had an ultrasound done at the VA which showed I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) which was at 5 cm. When it reaches that size, it is in need of repair. The VA wanted to send me to another VAMC which could do the operation which is 90 miles from my home and across 2 states. I was told that I could have an appointment about 3 1/2 weeks out for a pre-surgery consultation. I told them no thanks, as I already had consulted with a private vascular surgeon for several years.

      I called my vascular guy and received an appointment the same week. He had his lab do another ultrasound. The doctor even came in the room and directed the technician to do several views and was viewing the monitor while the ultrasound took place. When it was over, he said, there is no way that is 5 cm, it is still the same size as it was last August @ 4.6 cm. I asked how this could be? He said, technicians who are improperly manipulating the equipment or if the equipment is not properly calibrated will cause larger readings than normal. He then said he would not operate until it got to the 5 cm size. So, he could have manipulated the results, had a nice big operation which I understand Medicare pays in the thousands for, but instead, told me the truth and backed it up with on the spot caring and professionalism.

      I have had other situations with operations, where I went through private care, and learned what the VA wanted to do was, according to one specialist, a throw back to the 50’s.

      My private doctor was also not sitting in front of a computer screen for 20 minutes typing in information. Instead he had a recorder with him which he started to dictate into as I was leaving the examination. The next day I received an email with the lab report and his notes. I also received a satisfaction survey two days later by email.

      Now, why can’t the VA do that? It is simple, they are inept, and negligent in the care they provide.

      I

  23. I have long believed the root of the VA’s problems is lazy, incompetent, dishonest workers and the VA’s Inability to get rid of them…and the reason for that is the union…

    1. Mr. Avant: There’s no doubt that you’re an uneducated, fat, spoiled Republican with no honest, acceptable ideas or solutions because you have no knowledge of the real issues. This involves people’s lives and all you do is complain. Best in living your miserable life…

      1. @krc
        He ain’t no Republican! I will guarantee you he’s a f~~king fatassed little Demokkkrat!
        Those are the only ones who act like punks!

      2. This is a waste. This a management issue and they need to be held accoubtable. The lab technician or the nurse or the cafeteria worker isn’t to blame for managenent ineptitude and corruption. If the Bill as written becomes law, management will use it to punish workers and protect themselves.

      3. Neither a Republican nor Democrat…In my opinion, all politicians are equally corrupt…I have a high school education from back when they actually taught you to think instead of just to memorize…and I have read extensively on many subjects all my life…I have EXTENSIVE knowledge of VA issues. I use the VA and have experienced the wide range of care that happens…from good (sometimes) to terrible.(often). and I have read everything I can find on these issues, good, bad and neutral…

        I’m wondering why the vehement response…and personal attack…from such an innocuous statement…

        Could it be that KRC is a union TROLL?

        Also surprised by Elf’s response…we often see eye to eye…

        A tip…personal attacks are much less impressive than a reasoned logical argument…

      4. @Don- Pretty sure crazyelf was responding to AFGE Union ‘Cox’ as being that description, not yourself. Not crazyelf’s style and these replies on blog can appear odd at times. Give elf benefit of doubt after reading context.

        I too, highly suspect ‘krc’ is a VA Union Troll, as a few others have popped-up this afternoon defending their veteran meat grinder, pointing fingers…not me, it’s management…well, then these same employees are culpable for not REPORTING fraud and corruption.
        Full Moon and VA Trolls=scary combo.
        Peace.

      5. Fat, uneducated Republican?
        Spoken like a true union tool who is too stupid and lazy to see what the union does to employees, but thinks they do so good at protecting your job, 15 minute breaks and other scraps thrown your way.
        Can you provide an example of where the union has protected a whistle blowing employee? It certainly is not a GS13 checking in veterans for appointments with an attitude.
        It certainly is not just GS13 employees who refuse to answer the phone, return a message or occupy their damn office with the door open to help veterans.
        If the union actually gave a damn about their employees being protected in doing their jobs, there would be no scandals in the VA because the union would insure their jobs got done.
        A job which is to provide medical care to veterans. A job the union could care less about, or they would not be fighting accountability, or lying about veterans liking the VA. All the union cares about is keeping those dues flowing in. All the union tools care about is that paycheck and bonus coming in.

    2. @Don Avant

      I was referring to “krc’s” ignorant statement about Republicans being the problem with VA employees.
      Those employees need to do one thing. That is, remember that they are on the front lines. They are the ones who deal with veterans/patients on a daily basis. IF they follow the rules then everyone wins. Trouble is they don’t.
      In my opinion, it’s because most feel they don’t have to BECAUSE OF A STRONG UNION TO BACK THEM. Get rid of that useless union, then they just might fall in place.

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