Happy New Year 2018 – Predictions From DisabledVeterans.org

43 Comments

1. Got to be freaking kidding me.

   “In fiscal 2016, the United States Postal Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs employed more than half of federal employees. USPS employed 32 percent of all disclosed federal employees, totaling 621,523 people on the payroll; and the VA employed the second-most employees with 372,614.”

   “https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/02/mapping-swamp-report-finds-30000-feds-earn-more-than-any-governor.html”

   Big money, nepotism, big powers. Absolute corruption.

2. Ben, you could be a small part of the problem why things aren’t going to change at the VA. Follow me on this because that opener just pissed off some of your readers. This story you wrote offers no hope for positive change at the VA.
   I agree the VA isn’t going to fix itself. The strong voices of veterans, united, shouting loudly is going to be needed to help fix the VA (in unity there is strength). Something i would like to see put together is a unified Veterans March on the Capitol and the White House. The message to our Senators, Congressmen and Trump: FIX THE VA!
   Big businesses could help sponsor this event. Watch the how fast the Veterans Service Organizations like the VVA, DAV, Purple Hearts and others jump on this band wagon.
   With your media connections Benjamin Krause you could be the one to get this ball rolling. I’m tasking you to get this started. If not you then who?
   You could help encourage veterans and veterans orgs to start letter writing campaigns to senators and congressmen (who are all culpable with regards to the problems at VA). Form letters work if they are submitted in high numbers. You could help jump start this as well. If not you then who?
   You could encourage veterans to use this strategy with regards to writing letters to local and regional VA Directors. These letter writing campaigns need to be organized. These letters need to be delivered in numbers much the same way as the letters to santa were delivered to the judge in “Miracle on 34th Street”. Emails don’t have the same effect.
   You could use your website to encourage Veterans and or veterans organizations to write CAREFULLY crafted letters to the editors of their local papers the problems at their local VA. If not you than who?
   And finally Ben, I just started following your website and your stories are great. I do have concerns about some of the comments left in the comment section of articles. Threats with guns and violence have been made. While some Vets use your comment section to vent, some of these remarks need to be filtered out. the veteran is not helping the cause by leaving these type of remarks. If taken seriously they could find themselves in legal trouble as well. Your the lawyer Ben, you know us veterans (especially me) are not our own best advocates in dealing with the VA. I don’t want to see this website shutdown because comments posted here actually did incite some vet with PTSD into action. Whats your obligation here Ben?

   Thanks in advance for helping veterans help themselves with “Redeeming The Promise Of A Square Deal”

   1. New to herding cats are we Mike?

      How much more load do you want to put on Ben when we don’t know want he may be dealing with behind the scenes in his life, then you seem to want him to do it all or more? We are all preaching to the choir while most others don’t give a rat’s butt about us or any real important issues of the day. So it all boils down to trying to retain some free speech and the free flow of information, to trying to gather small groups on local levels which all are failing and most difficult to do. Especially in Indiana and our lousy corrupted college towns full of those activisst and sorts who hate us.

      Everything you mentioned has been tried and failied on every level, by many, period I suggest you start reading more and what some of us are dealing with over trying to expose the vast amounts of corruption, writing to scum-sucking politicians, medical boards, the bottom feeders at the VA, their contractors, union staff, CBOCs, attorney generals, governors, media, the lot, only to be ignored, or pay the price of activist and political harassment and severe retribution from the forces and powers that be. WTF is there to have any real hope over?????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got to be trying to blow smoke.

      I have gone public (again) to try and show what happens to people in Indiana or my locale who dare question or buck any system or established corrupt system here. Have made more enemies than I can shake a stick at while I’ve had my medical files oepn to the locally corrupt and Democrat politicians and assorted activist. Threats and harassing phone calls are daily and some coming from local medical clinics and major hospitals and they are not being shy about it either, but sneaky enough. For some of us there is no such thing as privacy, security, to expect anything to be confidential or safe. Get my drift? And noone wants to get involved or do anything about any of it or claim there is no recourse to be had, or too expensive to handle in some court, and no help from the lefty filth like the ACLU either. What’s left? Nothing, Hope for what? Nothing.

      Three times I could have sold my property and moved on. Three times the city and corrupt prevented me from sales. Laughing.

      Had my property insurance cancelled for no good reason.

      My city street, road, is now an easement I have to take care of, the city laughs.

      I have to take my trash out a block down for pickup while the trash company and city laughs about it. Heard it all. Their drivers are too old, trucks too big, too small of a road, don’t have to pick trash up in front of some houses, etc. Blah blah.

      Have paperwork inserted in town records that never existed before but have stamps and dates from the sixties on them. And much more.

      I have called out for emergency repairs from local plumbers to only sit and wait for hours or make other calls. Until one may show up. I call the others back and thanks for the no-show only to be hung up on by some female after grumbling about waking her up… at 10:00am and I should stop complaining about local politics and hating on females. WTF that was over I’ll never know but it’s my guess she is part of the Marx feminist man hating movement here that is out to take over from us evil male creatures. Had to deal with many of them too. In and out of the VA.

      Talk to another in-crowd plumber and had to meet in person, show no recorders present, to be told I have been black balled by his Masonry and other corrupt networks in town. Why? Cause I am not a solid Democrat, hate corruption, hate censoring, hate bullies, hate communist, and hate most things this community does to people.

      Dangerous to even attempt town meetings due to certain events and when the minutes of the meetings are shut off. And defineltly dont’ want to have anymore health emergencies here since attorneys, their families, or town cliques will block you physically from make a swift exist, while starring at your in your eyes… laughing. To doing the same or more threats in a parking lot. Or being followed by some commie activst or college kiddy wanting some perks, credits, quid pro quo from whomever.

      People that went to meetings with me to record or watch would sit on the other side of the room so they wouldn’t be seen to associate with the likes of me. (Could not discuss things in the parking lot with me but had to wait, drive around to make sure I wasn’t being followed or set up, then hit a out or the way joint for coffe to discuss things or go home and wait while they hid their vehicles down the road.) Not a commie, Democrat party, butt kisser that loves bullying and destroying those who don’t bow to them and their filth.

      Now tell me how free we are in these happy happy happy globalist left wing Obama/Hillary styled fascist, tyrannical, college towns in “Merika.”

      I’ve had to deal with corrupt, rogue, judges, cops. Can’t go uptown for anything cause I will leave empty handed including info on me or like property deeds being traced back, etc. Or told “I’ve had phone calls about you,” or the city councilmen told us you’d be coming by a few months ago. (?) Tons of shit to deal with.

      Mail box knocked down. Mail on the ground. Order not showing up. Contact the USPS to be told the stuff was scanned into the computer as delivered…”so you must have stolen your shipment.” How does that make any F-ing sense? Like the VA telling us to drive hundreds of miles after a auto collision and never to use civilan care or their emergency rooms again for any emergency. I guess that makes sense to some people too.

      I quit paying dues to local vet groups cause they are just as bad as the enemies we deal wtth and very open about any info they have on us to the corrupt hacks here. And no-one wants involved in our issues or rock the boat polticially or piss some union off here, or at the VA.

      Now try uniting those in your own lcoale and get back to us, okay? See how goes or how fast your representives or local yocals want to come play in your sandbox of protest, or for some decency or integrity, from those “oath takers.”

      I better stop cause I am ready to blow a gasket and doesn’t go well with eye sight loss.

      1. I’m sorry things have gone so badly for you T. Get well. mike

3. Happy New Year to Ben and all veterans commenting on this blog . . .

   I cannot disagree with any of your predictions vis-à-vis the VA for 2018. My opinion is that it will be far worse than either the Author, or any commenters have predicted thus far.

   It is PRECISELY due to the VA’s propensity for self-congratulatory lies to the American Public that despite “social media” chooses to remain asleep at the wheel, that I quite actively attempt to dissuade young people from joining the military if possible.

   The VA, contrary to their PR statements – – – is not a system at all – – – it is simply a dysfunctional clusterfuck of titanic proportion.

   The U.S. military has not been used for homeland defense since WWII. Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf wars – – – all began with a lie. You know: “Justice, Truth, and the American way.”

   Need the military for Homeland Defense on American soil? Make Congress bring back the draft with zero deferment for college, or social status. Everyone serves in some capacity. Transgender? Wheelchair bound? You can serve stateside doing admin work or some such in an office. Able-bodied young men and women will serve both stateside and overseas . . .

   Want a REAL VA System that will serve veterans, rather than the AFGE/SES Big Wigs whom it currently does? The following if implemented, would serve as a good beginning.

   1. Recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.

   2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.

   3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into military barracks style housing for homeless veterans.

   4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.

   5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.

   6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in one of the fifty states? You need to be LICENSED in the state you are going to practice in. Third-World, fake degreed physicians need not apply.

   7. Any claim a veteran submits to the VBA that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran. If a VBA claim filed by a veteran is found to be a false one designed to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that a false claim was intentionally submitted.
   Due to the backlog of pending cases in the legal (not justice) system in place in America, the VA will pay the veteran their benefits while awaiting the outcome of the courts decision. If they overpay the veteran, they can recoup the over-payment on a monthly basis. The repayment will be a structured plan to include the veterans consideration as to their individual financial status.

   8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA.

   9. No AFGE, nor any other Labor Union business will be allowed to take place in any Federal Workplace. Conducting Union Business during working hours will be STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Should any government employee be found violating this provision, it will result in IMMEDIATE LIFETIME DISMISSAL FROM ANY/ALL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT.

   10. Attorneys for appeal will be retained at the former employee’s PERSONAL expense. U. S. Taxpayer’s will not be subject to payment of legal bills for incompetent or dishonest personnel with regards to Governmental Employment.

   Given that the United States can decide to wrongly invade other nations around the globe, then implement that invasion within 120 days after deciding to go – – – I see no good reason why the above listed ten steps that will begin true reform of the VA should require more than 24 calendar months to accomplish.

   Of course, we do live in America – – – where appearance is lent much more creedence than performance . . .

   Such a shame.

   Disgruntled Veteran
   1973 – 1976 USMC
   1978 – 1993 USN
   Wounded Betrayed Warrior

4. Ben, I totally agree, nothing will be done. Instead the opposition forces are doubling down full circle and expanding their powers and agendas. Oh, and attack people like us, or me.

   I thought this was bull but must be some fact.
   “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B902auuXSQE”
   It’s the Mike Rivero/WRH program and first time I heard on any news that I am hearing of locally.The talk about SEIU, a major VA used union, starts at around 1:20. The training of their members, the illegals, affirmative action types, etc., to infiltrate the voting process. Like it isn’t already corrupt as hell. Big street news that is here, like the lies of immigration being down but another lie as they flood in here with the immigrants/illegals, and EB-5 visa holders flooding in while media is silent. Faux news too.

   To get their worker type quotas they are taking in these people to train in the healthcare fields or desk techs. Some locally can’t pass an IQ test of fifty. Who don’t give a damn about us, refuse to speak plain English, care to listen, and care less about integrity, our best interests, decency, or efficiency.

   Some old guard socialist union supporters are leaving office, others moving into position like a Mark Byrd, brother of the infamous lefty ball player Larry the Bird. Promising to crush people like me and to strengthen our state’s unions powers, to promote censoring, to make our area look full of integrity and good. Supposed to be up and running but is not… TerreHaute dot com. From the lefty’s and tyrants forming the “Terre Haute Initiative.” To promote the facade, play public relations, and form more enemies for veterans and others to deal with who dare speak any negatives going on locally or the state level. Including bad reports about unions, the VA, local clinics, or the many activist that run things here. They are demanding all negativity or opposition to be silenced and completely stopped.

   Change? I see no real change from Trump, more of the same, more globalism, no stopping of PC-ness or phony hate speech stuff like Europe and Canadians deal with that would silence us all severely and with prison time. If the anti-Americans, SEIU, Soros, Niki Haley, the U.N., Hollywood, sports idiots, et al, get their way. Like being targeted, severely censored, banned, threatened, not being able to play in township business, or going to meetings isn’t enough.

   So we might as well strap in and wait for the games to come from the AFL-CIO, Trumka, Trump and his nepotism, Shulky the shaky, and the rest of the rag-tag teams of VA care and the medical fields, to name just a few.

   My 2018 crystal ball…. sees us all behind the …. eight ball… hmmm….zero representation, more media lies, overwhelming enemies…. much suffering, being ignored….more loss of freedoms…..gulp…..with targets on our backs. Oh joy! What fun this all is. Not really.

5. I say they will finlly acknowledge that TCE and PCE contamintion was a wide spread Military problem, this will be part of the “Storm”. Finally America’s Chernobyl will start to be corrected. Biggest American scandel and cover up ever, with more than 32 million people that was affected by the contamination, Going past Vietnam veterans to 2000. Getting them to compensate for destroying all these lives will be the hard part, but to much evidence for them to deny anymore.

6. More predictions?

   – Shulkin and his crew (SES, Directors, Managers/Supervisors) get bonuses and more trips to Disneyworld on a taxpayer’s dime.

   – President Trump sends out a Tweet every now and then about how in such a short time he’s made historical changes in the VA and everyone jumps up and applauds.

   – OIG and VA Accountability office continue to make no findings against Shulkin and his crew.

   – Congress continues to ask the VA for more answers, reports, and magic 8 ball predictions.

   – VSOs and AFGE will continue to get membership and money.

   – Percentage of VA whistleblowers will actually drop to 100% below zero.

   If I can think of more, I’ll be back….

7. Yep, nothing will get done because that would interfere with SOME ON TOP from getting many millions (billions) money from those denials. That’s been the goal all along, making money off of sick and injured vets and civilians. Over 4 and half Trillion in the insurance industry profiting alone.
   I predict, that withholding and or lack of necessary medical care will cause many VET’s deaths (suicide too) and the VA & DOD will rake in many more millions and on on those vets life insurance policies too. All adding a lot more millions to the VA & DOD’s bank accounts for 2018, just has been done to civilian workers.
   TRILLIONS!
   Happy New Year 2018.

8. DID YOU REALLY BELIVE IT WOULD BE FIXED DID YOU,,,I’m going back to Med a Care this month and pay out of my pocket once again,, the va is nothing but a front,,,,, scream shout complain,,, but it is nothing more then a death box,,, cheers

9. The VA will not change much as long as it’s run by government workers.

   1. Need to fire most of them, they need to modernize the system anyway, and many jobs not needed when we start to really organize claims process. Now it is just a mess, and has been for years.

10. Do any Veterans collecting 100 percent service connected knows a Veteran Benefits is not Cover by Veteran Affairs Admistation

11. something I just read “https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/us/at-veterans-hospital-in-oregon-a-push-for-better-ratings-puts-patients-at-risk-doctors-say.html” IS anyone surprised about this? Didn’t think so.

12. Happy New Year of Poo, Ben!

    The AFGE pests require eradication and extermination. All pests require correct poison or will only embolden themselves and become immune to future poisons. Since they are addicted to taxpayer $$$ by way of we Veterans, instead of actual poison, how about we just place huge kinks in the lines and starve these AFGE fat bastards and bitches out?

    Happy New Year of Poo!

13. Mr. Trump will attempt to end the in-employability program as he did last year. The VA remains a cash drain and the director of that agency is a fraud.

14. So, Two stories I came across that I don’t recall being posted.

    Bad paper soldiers take heart.

    “https://taskandpurpose.com/va-launches-site-for-discharge-upgrade/?bsft_eid=a609af70-d8e7-4500-9411-a0a1593cdba2&bsft_pid=6123ef3b-ba05-436f-905d-c4dd30d8985d&bsft_clkid=7d23ae23-7721-4d63-99c4-0837b3b26b5c&bsft_uid=1ef147f9-c0f4-444d-9edf-1779c8bab6fd&bsft_mid=e0b7808f-7d83-4315-acba-aa205343dea1&bsft_txnid=ed416045-5eec-4cd8-bab4-5267e95dfde3&bsft_pp=5”

    and

    “https://taskandpurpose.com/vets-bad-paper-discharges-get-good-news-new-dod-guidance/”

15. I had very high hopes that President Trump would drain the VA swamp liek he is doing to some of the other government organizations.

    I have always said, close down every VA hospital and let Veterans get medical care from private facilities. The cost of keeping these dinosaurs open would be almost enough to offset the cost of true Veterans choice!

16. Lyrics
    … Same as it ever was
    Same as it ever was
    Same as it ever was
    Same as it ever was…

    Artist: Talking Heads

    1. Letting the days go by…
       Letting the water hold me down…
       Letting the days go by…
       Water flowing underground…

       Not a bad analogy at all. I award you +1 internet Sir.

       1. Ok, so I had to. 😀 😀 😀

          You may find yourself in a VA waiting room…
          And you may find yourself laying on an operating table…
          And you may find yourself surrounded by 3rd rate surgeons…
          And you may ask yourself how did I get on this operating table?
          And you may ask yourself who are these unlicensed “medical professionals?”

          Watching the days go by…
          Watching the VA hold me down…
          Watching the days go by
          Denials mailed out all around….

       2. 😀 Awesome! 😀 Since we’re talking about the VA and ‘The Talking Heads’, we must also consider their early song called “Psycho Killer”

          “[“Psycho Killer”

          I can’t seem to face up to the facts
          I’m tense and nervous and I
          Can’t relax
          I can’t sleep ’cause my bed’s on fire
          Don’t touch me I’m a real live wire

          Psycho Killer
          Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
          fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
          Run run run run run run run away
          Psycho Killer
          Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
          fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
          Run run run run run run run away

          You start a conversation you can’t even finish it
          You’re talkin’ a lot, but you’re not sayin’ anything
          When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
          Say something once, why say it again?…]”

       3. Just say NO to anything you don’t know, especially in operating room!

17. Happy New Year Ben!

    I hope that you and your family had a nice Christmas, and I wish you and your family a Happy, Healthy & Safe 2018.

    Some might consider your message to be pessimistic. On the contrary, you are simply being realistic. Your efforts, Chris Attig’s, and AMVETS in particular have been extraordinarily proactive on behalf of our veterans and disabled veterans in particular. There are to be sure many others our there that should also be applauded. I became a life member of AMVETS when they took the aggressive lead in challenging Shulkin’s May proposal to end TDIU– something that you were on the ball with too from the start.

    Volumes could be written expanding on the things that your message addresses. So it’s best that I end now. Except to thank you for your efforts, and to urge all of us to remain vigilant.

    Thank you.

18. HAPPY NEW YEAR, BEN!

    I agree 100%, sadly!

19. Benjamin,

    Yep, agree with you 100%. Same song just a different day for the VA.
    SAD. The State of Mississippi just approved the FIRST Medicaid Expansion for 10 years in which CMS does not have to approve the medical care. The medical care will be approved by the State of Mississippi. Though, Speaker Paul Ryan wants to privatize Medicare etc. and look at all government assistance to reform. Speaker Paul Ryan is speaking out both sides of his mouth. On one hand, they approve Medicaid eligibility to include more people; but, then, on the other hand they speak about privatization of government healthcare and reforming entitlements. They need to focus on continuing to reform the VA first before they go taking on many more reforms. Many times I do not think our Congress and Senate do not know what they are even doing.

    Happy New Year to all.

    Best,

    Angela

    1. it’s all congress, senate & previous presidents who created all of this, deliberate ineptness and lying and fooling the American people and our vets, trying to justify their jobs all the while taking money from corporations along with the the VA DOD & insurance industry that is the final word on what medical care VETS will receive, little to none, resulting in many more billions of profits just for this New Year!

20. It has also occured to me to wonder if perhaps Wikileaks has or can get file dumps on the VA. Should definitely make for a powerful search light when trying to locate swamp creatures. Maybe the FedGov could also look into ending the practice of allowing criminals to retire their way out of an investigation. Would help keep the swamp creature immobilized during the euthanasia process.

21. Happy New Year to all!! Keep up the good work Ben, and maybe one day we will take back the VA.
    f8f

22. Bad drs….bad policies….bad service…..NO ACCOUNTABILITY…!!!!etc…etc…etc….
    no change….
    Shut it down…vets get outside care…..taxpayers save 50% first year!!!

    1. While I certainly concur with your assessment of the VA and the solution to the problem. I’d like to you to verify your 50% savings/1 year numbers.

       1. Think about the cost of keeping these VA hospitals open. The electricity, water, sewage, and maintenance. Then throw in the cost of every doctor, nurse, medical assistant, and custodian across the country. I would guess the savings would be more than enough to meet the 50% figure.

       2. Close most of them down and go private

23. You know, it occurred to me. With the state of our technology and the instantaneous way that information flows worldwide. Is there not a way to compile a list of VA contractors and independently audit their numbers? Wouldn’t a small team of knowledgeable people make out like bandits under Qui-Tam suits?

    This is why I smoke cannabis. It helps me think of ways to fuck back. Happy, baked, New Year.

    1. The only way to solve this problem is for Veterans to sue the VA. If we filed enough law suits, it would force the government to treat us like illegal aliens. You know, benefits first before proof of citizenship.

       1. Yes, you must sue the Government.

24. I’m usually not too good at making predictions. However, I will say that veterans are going to have to continue taking little bitty bites out of the HUGE crap sandwich at the VA.

25. You are absolutely right and where do we insert the lever in the right place to push this boulder of smelly stuff over the cliff??

26. Happy New Year Ben!
    I agree strongly with you, nothing will be done, nothing will be fixed, things are only going to become worse than they are now. Veterans will continue to die waiting for care. It’s one huge “Useless” system, if you even want to call it that. The VA is a criminal syndicate!

    1. the dc hq is one big big federak rico crime racket the mafia is mickey mouse to va sewage rats from afge union contracts hell va budget is 186 billion $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ the va dc ha are dogs in heat for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ but vets eat crap @ die va dont give a rats ass about dead vets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

       1. amen bro if i dont say so myself

       2. would this be considered proof of talking to one’s self?

       3. I’m always beside myself.

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