Veterans Affairs Has An $8 Million Sexual Harassment Problem
[Warning: Graphic language depicting allegations against VA supervisors.]
Lax sexual harassment policies and investigations have forced American taxpayers to fund millions in settlements to victims of Veterans Affairs supervisors perpetrating acts including masturbation, groping and sexual assault.
According to The Daily Dot, in 2014, a nurse working at a clinic operated by the Aurora VA Medical Center said she was confused and scared when her colleague walked up behind her and, without warning, stuck his hands down her pants.
The same man allegedly told another nurse that he wanted to have oral sex with her, with “[her] legs above his shoulders.”
Later that same day, he allegedly cornered the woman in a stairwell, pushed her against the wall, and tried to stick his tongue in her mouth.
At another VA in California, an employee said she was repeatedly harassed by her boss between 2010 and 2014. The harassment got so bad that at one point the supervisor pulled out his penis and started masturbating.
“It’s pretty much a boy’s club; it’s a guy’s club,” said a former VA employee, who asked not to be named. The employee said a military mindset bleeds into VA culture.
“There’s a bit of a code there—you don’t rat on the people you served with.”
Permissive VA Sexual Harassment Policy, Culture
“It’s a cultural thing,” said Patricia Bangert, an employment law attorney, about sexual harassment in the VA. “There’s no accountability or responsibility.”
Bangert is presently representing eight women in both Colorado and California against VA related to allegations of sexual harassment and assault. The lawsuits seek compensatory damages, restoration of leave or compensation for leave, and compensation for pain and suffering.
RELATED: Democrats Block Funding Veterans Affairs
Part of the problem lies with VA’s permissive attitude toward sexual harassment within its own VA handbook. Those who engage in sexual harassment will not necessarily face the kind of punishment they would in the private sector.
VA Handbook 5012/15 shows the maximum punishment for the third offense is removal, but the minimum is only a two-week suspension. The lack of serious penalty has left sexual harassers and their victims feeling that violations will only be brushed under the rug.
RELATED: VA Manager Promoted Despite Mismanagement Of $1.7 Billion Project
Sex Harassment Settlements
In an investigation, The Daily Dot uncovered over $8 million in payment since 1998 covering settlements with 263 individuals, more than half of which was paid out since 2012 signaling an uptick in accountability problems.
Settlement amounts for individual claims range from $40 to $200,000, with most somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000.
Of the total, over $4 million was paid out to victims in cases where sexual harassment was the only charge. At the time the Daily Dot’s request was filed, only one settlement had been paid in 2018, for a total of $147. However, a report later surfaced of a $161,150 settlement.
RELATED: VSOs Butt-hurt After Trump Does Not Consult Them
Post-2012 VA Settlements Involving Sexual Harassment
The following statistics were collated by The Daily Dot from data at the Department of Veterans Affairs:
- 2012 – $898,396
- 2013 – $1,161,809
- 2014 – $570,146
- 2015 – $913,350
- 2016 – $656,554
- 2017 – $462,000
- 2018 – $161,297
The settlement totals have significantly declined since 2017.
RELATED: New VA Electronic Health Records Project 6.4% Odds Of Success
Poor VA Training Likely A Culprit
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) admits “[m]uch of the training done over the last 30 years has not worked as a prevention tool – it’s been too focused on simply avoiding legal liability.”
Further, when policies are vague in their description of specific acts of sexual harassment, the instance of reporting is significantly lower.
For example, when a policy is vague as to what constitutes sexual harassment, one in four report harassment. When specific acts of harassment are mentioned, such as sexual coercion or sexist jokes, 60 percent of women report some form of sexual or gender harassment.
RELATED: VA Falsified Wait Times, Thousands Affected
Washington DC VA Medical Center Example
One recent example of ongoing problems VA faces protected victims of harassment involved allegations at the troubled DC location.
Antionette Gipson-Taylor reported that she was sexually harassed by a superior in 2016. After she reported the incident, her boss admitted only to touching her knee but he reportedly did much more.
RELATED: VA Demotes Combat Veteran For ‘Dance Monkey Dance’ Comment
“We were in a meeting and he was standing up and I told him, ‘Come on, you can sit down’ because he was standing up and he placed his hand on my thigh and when I asked him, I said, ‘Can you move your hand off my thigh?’ I said, ‘What are you doing? Why did you do that?’ He said, ‘Why not?’ So we left the meeting (and) I filed a complaint,” Gipson-Taylor detailed.
A VA investigation ultimately concluded her allegations were unsubstantiated despite her boss admitting to inappropriately touching her knee and three other employees complaining about the boss making lewd comments.
“I was unable to let it go. I was hurt, I was upset and I just could not continue on,” Gipson-Taylor said. “It’s very hurtful, it’s painful to see that they’re treating employees this way especially with my father being a veteran.”
After she made the allegations, Gipson-Taylor was later reassigned and then demoted.
Fox News 5 questioned the agency about her demotion, and shortly after the press got involved, VA announced it was re-opening the investigation.
“We take these allegations seriously and once learning of them we initiated an immediate investigation,” Department of Veteran Affairs Press Secretary Curt Cashour said in a written statement. “While this investigation continues, the two employees are no longer working in the same area and the employee under investigation has been directed to have no interaction with the other employee.”
VA admitted Gipson-Taylor’s case was not handled appropriately. The agency also admitted it had concerns about their initial fact-finding.
Gives a whole new twist to the term Veterans’ affairs’
Well, we do have the Pussy Grabber in Charge isn’t it open season? Since people didn’t give a fk about this Porn Star in Charge why would a Predator Care????
Mark they haven’t locked your child pimping ass back up yet?
Well we certainly know that the next to go at the VA is Thomas G. Bowman. The current Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Oh, and When Bowman goes there will not be any whining and sour grapes. His departure will more likely be surrounded by the facts on the warrants he is arrested under. That is the only reason he has remained so silent at this time.
He knows about the investigations and what is heading his way. To be totally honest I am shocked that he hasn’t run for the exit offering his resignation.
Bowman’s connections to some of the, so called, Non-profits set up by former VA employees that have been skimming tens of millions of dollars off the VA IT budget are undeniable. The same so-called non-profits that have been steering the VA’s IT budget from one bogus IT contract to another. All from outside the VA. All claiming to be modernizing the VA IT systems. All while steering high dollar contracts to the companies they worked for outside the VA. Which in turn donated heavily to members of Congress.
I haven’t finished by review of all of the corruption but so the people who need to be afraid are afraid let me just mention several names of non-profits involved. Truly hope Edward Francis Meagher sees this. The Billions he has made off of these schemes.
The Aleethia Foundation, Service Members Support Foundation, …
____________
On a side note!
Remember Ms. Victoria Gosling a Military Director at Sage who gave Shulkin and his wifey the tickets to Wimbledon tickets. Guess who else is connected to Sage, non-other than Edward Francis Meagher. What a coincidence?
Oh, did I forget to mention Edward Francis Meagher connection to Cerner?
Yeah, I gotta disagree. Sexual harassment at the VA is not a military mindset. I don’t recall ever being trained in the military such that I thought it was appropriate to stick my hands down the pants of a female coworker. In fact, sexual harassment training in the military said the opposite, which tells me the BS excuse about poor training is the problem.
Training is not the problem. Thug culture is the problem.
No accountability or responsibility? Gee. Exactly what veterans see at the VA, without any sexual harassment.
I wonder if their payouts are easier or harder than for a vet suffering malpractice. It may be similar since they admit the training was on how to avoid liability.
An uptick in accountability? No. I think its more that people are more willing to push for a correction rather than letting it be swept under the rug, and the thugs may be finding they are going to be held accountable.
The training I had 30 years ago made clear it was wrong. The same training any other military member would have gotten. To blame it on a military mindset is bullshit, and ignores the real problem of unaccountable, thug culture at the VA. Whether its sexual harassment or screwing a veteran doesn’t matter. Both are results of that culture.
Well said, 91. !00% True.
What about doctors groping patients? I was sick and went to the VA urgent care clinic in New Orleans. The doctor did a breast exam on me, I was there for something that has nothing to do with that. I thought it was strange, it did not feel right. It was only him and I in the room. After I felt so ashamed and like a total idiot so I didn’t tell anyone for about 2 years. I finally brought it up to other doctors at the VA, and was told “maybe he was just doing his job”, and “ it’s been so long, why does it matter now”. It felt like I was being assaulted over again. Now I just live with it. I know it was unacceptable and I wish I would have said something sooner, but wasn’t able to because of that shame. I filed a claim through the VA and was denied.
Rebecca,
You are not alone!
“Ex-VA worker who sexually abused veterans the subject of around 100 lawsuits, lawyer says
By Amy Renee Leiker
The Wichita Eagle
March 18, 2018
“It’s been five months since Mark E. Wisner learned he’ll spend more than 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting veterans during medical exams. And while the criminal case is over, civil actions filed against the former physician’s assistant and the U.S. government continue to pile up.
On March 12, Kansas City attorneys Dan Curry and Sarah Brown filed three more lawsuits on behalf of Wisner’s former patients, who say they were fondled and excessively questioned about their sex lives while under his care at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth. Some of the veterans who sought treatment had been injured in combat.
Curry said he expects to file a few more lawsuits in the near future – bringing the total number to around 100. Some seek $2 million or more in damages.
Attorneys for the government have said they can’t comment on pending litigation. They’ve asked for several of the cases to be dismissed but have been ruled against. In court filings, they deny most of the allegations.”
Full Article At: “https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article204873219.html”
The GOP and Koch Brothers want to put us all at the mercy of insurance companies. The Dems will leave it as it is for the union votes. Few, besides Sanders, are suggesting the VA gets transitioned into Medicare, stripping out VBA to remain at a much smaller VA. Those 350,000 skilled health care employees shouldn’t find it very hard to get employment in the private sector, given all the boomers. How long many of those 350,000 healthcare and administration employees will keep their new private sector jobs will depend on their performance. The lunch munchers will get swept away to abuse seniors in nursing homes, so .. shit, we’re probably run into them anyway….. Damn. Nevermind.
How you know Senator Bernie Sanders Windguy do you lived in Vermont and the Koch Brothers owned Concerned Veteran for America
Seymore,
Can you make any sense out of this? It was dated a few weeks ago!
From:
“Heirship Trust”
Titled:
“UPSA: Public Order #444 – Disbanding the SES!”
From the article: “This is a Public Service Announcement and Public Order.”
It’s 2:41 minutes long.
The message is linked to a number of other posting which can be found at: “https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=USPA%3A+Public+Order” . While the messages seem to be statements of an imagined sovereign Government that has taken over the U.S.. A number of the post bear remarkable sims to some of Q Anon’s post.
Also, title searches lead to dressed up full page error pages that list messages in an encrypted format that would require an encryption key to interpret. Total decoy sites, not organized in the manor you would expect from Q.
Meanwhile, back at the whineyard, Shulkin is still on news media playing sour grapes in ass minor:
“[Former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said Monday that White House chief of staff John Kelly called to give him a heads up that he’d be fired via a tweet from President Donald Trump.
“General Kelly gave me a heads up that the President would most likely be tweeting out a message in the very near future, and I appreciated having that heads-up from General Kelly,” Shulkin told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day,” describing the events of last Wednesday afternoon.
“So the tweet fired you?” Camerota asked.
“Yes,” Shulkin responded….]”
“https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/shulkin-says-he-was-fired-via-trump-tweet/ar-AAvnekv?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=AARDHP”
Dr. Shulkin: No matter the semantics, YOU’RE FIRED…bye, bye! **flush**
Shulkin certainly was out there selling his sorry grapes story all over the air this last weekend. With some pretty amazing claims. After the way he handled the the media just before the report on his Euro Vacation with the wifey. He came out with his sour grapes just before the VAOIG report hit.
It is very clear that he is expecting some real bad news very quickly.
______________
On another note Namnibor, I have to ask did they stop sex ed in schools. Seems some snowflakes are having difficulties slipping the banana into the wrapper for safe sex.
“The ‘condom snorting challenge’ is every parent’s worst nightmare”
USA Today NetworkMary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network Published 7:38 a.m. ET April 2, 2018
“https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/04/02/condom-snorting-challenge-every-parents-worst-nightmare/477431002/”
A pit of serpents.
Pa-Ding…..perfection.
I’m livid reading this article but not surprised. I was falsely accused of harassing some jerk. I believed the VA pushed him to do it in promising him a promotion and he also wanted to cover up his attempt to cheat with me from his “bro” and gf.
Oh yeah, mind you, the fabricated allegations of harassment against me were made when I filed a complaint of whistleblower retaliation coupled with some guy following me around the building and keep on trying to take my pic and get my tel – despite me telling him that “no” on multiple occasions.
So, wonderful. The VA fired me over false allegations – yet all the guy who was harassing me had to say was “‘no, I’m not attracted to her’ as enough to end their alleged “fact finding” – while in their “fact finding” against me my name was dragged through the mud. Even “if” I get my job back, my reputation is ruined
So, the VA’s sexual harassment policy is to protect the perps and destroy anyone who stands up against it.
I am still fighting this both through the federal and civil courts, but they lie so much and are disgusting. But I’ll be damned that they are going to take away my reputation, career, and ability to put food ob my table – based on lies to make get all my accusers promotions and money .
If the facts of the case bear out your position then stick to your guns. All their lies will do is dig their hole deeper in front of the judge and make any penalties more likely to be awarded in your favor.
I posted a song by Mr Johnny Cash on the article yesterday. Here’s a link.
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc”
Good song. Take heart. Hold the line.
Thanks so much 🙂
Another Cash favorite of mine is ‘I Won’t Back Down’ “https://youtu.be/N8i5NLyXZdc”
It’s hard sometimes cuz those slimeballs will lie through their teeth for what pennies the VA will throw to them – on top of the simple sadistic pleasure they take with fing with people. It’s a culture of thugs that if you don’t become one of them, they’ll push you out ASAP…which makes it easy for them to f-us over in processing our benefits cuz they don’t give a f about about anyone but their payoffs.
Mine would have to be that trusty, “Ring of Fire”, (it burns, burns, burns…).
Living with chronic G.I. issues from other medical issues gives that song an entirely new sting and singe.
With the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s website show that there are currently 172 reports that currently remain open and that only 41 of them have been open for more than a year. I am totally looking forward to the barrage of up coming reports showing some of the malfeasances committed at the VA under Shulkin’s watch.
As Shulkin has hit the highly paid news interview circuit this weekend with claims of VA privatization and negative statements about the Trump administration. It is clear the man was certainly in the wrong job and should have never been appointed to the position.
Given Shulkin’s hiring of three high dollar Criminal Defense attorneys who specialize in public corruption defenses just prior to VAOIG report being released about his funding his European Vacation with taxpayer’s dollars. While he still had a 10-day trip to the Vatican planned, also on taxpayer’s dollars, for the 17th of this month.
Clearly with his lawyers pimping his ass to every news organization out there. They are currently trying to build a defense that will claim any future criminal prosecution attempts against Shulkin are the result of the administration being upset by his statements and stance against VA privatization. Also, it is a great way for the attorneys to collect up front from Shulkin as they pimp his ass out there.
Of course, all the news agencies that are hiring Shulkin are the never Trumpers with their own political agendas aimed against the Trump administration. That is why they never ask the real questions about Shulkin’s past leadership. Like asking why Veterans homelessness was climbing under his administration of the VA? Or, why more Veterans are committing suicide at VA facilities since he took over? Another great question they could ask is why did VA health care get even more deadly under his administration?
Of course, those same news agencies could just spend 10 minutes time on the web to answer those questions. Given it is well known and published that Shulkin was planning to cut $460 million essentially ending a special $460 million program that has dramatically reduced homelessness among chronically sick and vulnerable veterans. Right at a time when he and Debbie Wasserman Shultz’s were trying to re-appropriate money from the VA’s Congressionally approved budget to fund the hair brained scheme to sign the deal with Cerner.
While everyone is sitting back and popping corn. The drama in the VA Reality Show segments on the Shulkin’s plundering series for this year is about to take another sharp turn. With those 172 VAOIG Reports starting to get published. Hell I am all for the VA giving Shulkin a big retirement package one that will last him the remainder of his life and administered by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Hell might as well include a separate package for his wife under the same terms at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Hey with any luck Shulkin might even end up with Comey, McCabe or even good old William Jefferson C. as Cellmates.
I see while writing the above the numbers have changed at the VAOIG’s Office we are now down to 170 reports that currently remain open and that only 40 of them have been open for more than a year.
Wonder if the two reports now missing from the VAOIG list are going to be released or if they have been referred to another agency for Prosecution?
One possibility on what happened to the two reports.
Recent press release from the VAOIG:
“Federal & State Law Enforcement Authorities Announce Formation of Special Unit to Fight Public Corruption”
“The VA OIG joins our federal and state law enforcement partners on a new unit to investigate corrupt public officials, the misuse of public funds, campaign and election law violations, and suspected criminal activity.”
The press release provides a link to the DOJ press release on the subject.
“Federal & State Law Enforcement Authorities Announce Formation of Special Unit to Fight Public Corruption”
Date March 20th, 2018
“CHARLESTON, W.Va. — United States Attorney Mike Stuart and representatives from federal and state law enforcement announced today the formation of a Public Integrity Special Investigations Unit to investigate corrupt public officials, the misuse of public funds, campaign and election law violations and suspected criminal activity.”
““The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG looks forward to joining with our federal and state law enforcement partners as part of the Public Integrity Special Investigations Unit,” said Kim Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Public officials who break the law or use their positions for personal gain undermine the work of government. The VA OIG is dedicated to investigating fraud, waste, and abuse, and we will contribute our expertise to this team to hold officials accountable for their actions.” ”
_______________
Special note that the lead attorney hired by Shulkin is Attorney Justin Shur. Justin Shur is a former Deputy Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division.
Justin, just be, pimping that ass, of Shulkin all over the media circuit. He must really be worried about Shulkin’s up coming charges.
In adding to the Shulkin “whine fest” complete with a “mini violin concherto”, may I present the following:
“https://www.va.gov/opa/bios/docs/shulkin.pdf”
“David J. Shulkin, M.D.Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable David J. Shulkin was nominated by President Trump to serve as the ninth Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 13, 2017.”
What do we all know as the very FIRST thing he accomplished while SecVA?
He secured international travel for his wife, a Pennsylvania dermatologist “https://www.merlebari.com/about-dr-bari.html”, to accompany him the exact next day on the oh so important to our veterans, Wimbleton excursion.
Why is there an ‘h’ in concerto? Grr!
The Spell Checker on this site does some strange things at times. I have posted items copy and pasted from word that get changed by the sites spell checker as after I hit post.
Disgusting, and underreported to say the least. I’d want a VA medical person to focus on me, and not to worry about someone cornering them for the purpose of ones sick pleasure.
Here’s two articles from: “military.com”
1.)
Titled: “White House Goes on Attack over Shulkin’s Claim He Was Fired!”
From: “The Associated Press”
2 Apr 2018
By: Hope Yen
_____________________
2.)
Titled:
“Op-Ed: Many Veterans Still Excluded from Critical VA Services!”
This is from a DAV member. It’s still relevant!
Per 2.) – I can verify that.
ANutterVet,
Just google the title. It’ll take you right to it.
I forgot to mention the author and who put it out! Sorry!
Seymore,
Yesterday morning, I’m not sure which Sunday talk show, Shulkin’s minions – except one pro-Trump person, were trying to defend his excellent work at VA.
Then the “Pro-Trump” spokesperson said something about the “Choice” veterans should be allowed to have. If the vet wants VHA, let him/her use it. If not, let him/her go outside! (Paraphrasing)
The person sitting directly to his left said: “Are you talking about Privatization?”
Evidently he wasn’t listening – or is completely brain DEAD!
I don’t know about y’all, only I want a “Choice”! And right now, I want to be seen by real doctors, not pretend doctors and nurses and other witches and wizards!
Elf, you notice how all the fake news organizations are promoting the false impression that Veterans having a choice in their own health care is bad thing. They always try to call it privatization and Koch brother agenda.
The total truth is that us Taxpayers are paying three to four times as much per Veteran to receive health care through the VA. Then it would cost to allow Veterans to choose an insurance company in their own state to provide health insurance and receive private care.
When you consider the cost of the education programs the VA is funding for employees, Residents, and foreign Doctors. The money lost through fraud and bogus upgrades the VA is paying taxpayers are paying for. The maintenance of the 6,000 buildings owned by the VA.
It is likely that the amount of taxpayers dollars used to provide health care per Veteran is between 5 to 7 times higher than it would be to allow the Veterans to choice a regular health care insurance carrier. Then of course if the few who like VA health care want to still use VA health care they could continue to do so with the private insurance paying their way at the VA. Although then the VA would be faced with having to only charge what the insurance companies are willing to pay and not the inflated rates they charge now.
Does this surprise me? Absolutely NOT!
When it’s, “sexual assault/harassment/rape, etc.”, reported ALL through many government agencies, including such places as: The Oval Office, Congress (both Houses), US Postal Service, etc., ect., etc.!
Why would anyone believe the VA is any different!
How many millions of taxpayers monies have been paid out to individuals claiming this despicable act? I doubt “We the People” will NEVER know the answer!
Really, VA?! Can’t keep your Despicable! Deplorable! Disposable! DICKS in your pants?!!!!! How about paying for the pain and suffering the USA promised to take care of when we gave our lives to that thing called democracy and freedom????
I’m thinking VA employees never have to go 14+ years for a wait till you die to say oopsy, goodbye settlement like most Veterans do, right?
Seems to me the AFGE Union has a culture of dickish behavior of all kinds and when mixed with the VA’s master masturbation plan for Vets & seems we are still all very much fucked until further notice.
(fuck you too, VA)
Amen !
My additional 2¢:
I had (and still have) a long-standing (14-year) unresolved problem with VA.
When Secretary Shulkin visited MAN VAMC in August last year, I held up a letter-size piece of paper that said, “Secretary Shulkin, SOS !”
When he spotted me, he chuckled, asked me my name, and if I wanted to give him something. I told him my name, and said, “Yes, Sir, and I’ve waited 14 years for this day.”
He directed on of his aides to take what I had (1- & 10-page summaries of my situation).
My instant take was that the Secretary was a man who cared. and there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Hell that he would brush me off.
Ye, no one ever got back to me to ask me to put some meat on my bare-bones summaries.
I suspect that in hub-bub of his visit (MAN VAMC was scandal-ridden, and he was there to put out the fire), he never saw my submittals again.
To DV’s thorough critique above, I only offer this thought, picked up when I taught in a government-to-government training program in Iran 38 years ago:
“It was said of the Shah of Iran’s father, ‘He was a man you dared not lie to.”
“The Shah, though, was a man you dared not tell the truth to !”
May our new VA Secretary also be someone no one will dare lie to.
This is absolutely disgusting and despicable! What depths of depravity will “those who care for them that have borne the battle” stoop to?
““We take these allegations seriously and once learning of them we initiated an immediate investigation,” Department of Veteran Affairs Press Secretary Curt Cashour said in a written statement.”
Sure you do. Just like EVERY OTHER SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL that pops up. They sweep it under the rug . . .
I sincerely feel bad that Antionette Gipson-Taylor had to endure that type of “professionalism” from a fellow worker. I do hope she receives some form of true justice . . .
One of my wife’s co-workers pulled that kind of stunt with her, I would seriously KILL the motherfucker. Quite literally.
It is way past time for some real leadership at the VA. Leadership that speaks truth publicly about how bad things have really gotten. Leadership that develops solutions to take better care of ALL our nations warriors.
Leadership that recognizes that when they are doing a good job – – – it will be veterans singing their praises, rather than the VA needing a PR Agency to put out “Fluff Pieces” to mislead America and her citizens about what a stellar job they are doing.
They are not. In fact, they are doing a very piss-poor job. The VA has a first-world budget which they use to provide veterans less than third-world medical care. And make huge payouts to victims to cover up scandal after scandal after scandal.
Current VA leadership has their Brain Housing Group the size of mice and their Heart no bigger. It is about FIFTEEN YEARS PAST TIME TO FIX THE DAMN BROKEN VA:
1. IMMEDIATELY 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 XX state? You need to be LICENSED in XX state.
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. Should a veteran file a false claim to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that the claim was falsely submitted. For filing a false claim, the veteran will be subject to ALL of the following:
(A). The claim shall be denied. If the veteran has received any form of benefits because of the false claim they will be required to fully repay the benefits at cost.
(B). The veteran will be banned from all VA facilities for the remainder of their life.
(C). The veteran will lose any benefits they originally have or had, and will not be allowed to file for further benefits.
8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA. This will help to protect the legal rights of veterans against corrupt and incompetent VA employees.
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.
You have my contact information Mr. President. Call me anytime. I have a lot of ideas to help this nation improve the services provided to my fellow veterans. The ones that were promised but have yet to be delivered upon. Veterans have been waiting for over fifty years for the fulfillment of those promises. I will not hesitate to speak up at all.
For my fellow veterans who have been ill-served by this DERAILED CLUSTERFUCK of a TRAIN WRECK CALLED THE VA over the years:
Our battles overseas were far less stressful than our war here at home. Never Cruel or Cowardly. Never Give Up. Never Give In. We are on the Righteous path.
POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. Time for POTUS Trump to break up the AFGE. The vast majority of our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS BASTARDS.
Give their replacement’s one term to take care of Veterans who put aside their own personal lives to answer this nation’s call when she needed them. Many of those Veterans suffer the remainder of their lives for doing what most of their countrymen had not the courage to do.
If they cannot MUSTER THE STONES to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well. Party should NOT MATTER. What SHOULD MATTER is their VOTING RECORDS ON VETERANS ISSUES.
Rhetoric is cheap. Congressional Voting Records speak louder than words.
NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh, Congressional Baseball Team, or Las Vegas Sniper Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .
We have now reached the next accelerative phase of our country falling apart. Country before Party. Principles before Personalities. Always.
Want to REALLY fix the VA? The next SecVA needs to be a former Enlisted Man brought in from the general veteran population with a few serious axes to grind against the VA and the AFGE, with zero previous governmental civilian service.
Apparently, Former Flag Officers and SES appointed Civilians can’t cut the mustard to this point in time.
Maybe a SINCERELY MOTIVATED Gunnery Sergeant or Chief Petty Officer CAN.
Disgruntled Veteran
1973 – 1976 USMC
1978 – 1993 USN
Wounded Warrior
Honolulu, Hawaii
How “disgruntled” can you be living in Hawaii???
If you’re living in paradise but heaven’s medical team is satan’s interns practicing on those that earned a place in paradise, is that paradise lost? I think so. Perspective is everything.
Getting great healthcare at a VA while living in New Jersey? Well, that’s paradise to that Veteran, right?
VA OIG Chief in Ben’s time-frame of article was allowed to retire with full benefits after repeated reports and investigations into his habitual masturbation positions IN AN ALL GLASS CONFERENCE ROOM…the VA has a huge dick problem that’s NOT gender-specific….esp. at the VA.
(gets hard to identify the sex of an engorged manatee AFGE employee once maximum saturated fat content occurs)
“Ranger11bv”
I lived in Hawaii for almost 10 years.
“IT AIN’T PARADISE!”
“Tripler Army Medical Center”, that huge pink building on top of a hill, was knick-Named – “CRIPLER!”
Does this answer your question!
@Ranger 11bv – I see your sarcasm, but your statement truly undermines and mocks a disabled Veteran. And, your statement contributes nothing, but to only stir the emotions and feelings of those that have been sexually abused. As a Ranger, that’s unsettling and insensitive to boot. I’d question your leadership on the field where quick decision making is necessary, and the order of the day as well. I’m not amazed anymore in what I read nowadays, even from the so-called best of what some may perceive as the best of what we’ve got available. And making others to question or to not trust the ones that we should be able to trust. REPENT, do a 180, do something.
@Ranger 11bv,
Your ignorance is astounding. There you sit with one of the greatest fact-finding tools ever devised in front of you – – – and you type a question, such as you asked me. The short answer is “Disgruntled enough that if I had my military retirement and benefits, I would have been off the rock in ‘94”.
Now, having said that – – – let me ask you some questions:
1. Did you know that Honolulu is currently ranked by Numbeo as the 20th most expensive city in the world? Average rental for a 1-bedroom apartment outside of the city center is $1487.50/monthly plus utilities. Range varies from $1200 to $1895. Basic utilities average $190.92 monthly. I snap photos of various prices around town, and contribute to updating that database on a monthly basis.
2. Did you know that out of 600 VA facilities nationwide, Honolulu is ranked 599 on that list? Spark Matsunaga Clinic is a one-star facility that is understaffed considering that approximately 9% of our populace are veterans. The director’s position has been open since February 12, 2016, when Wayne Pfeffer quit without notice. They allowed him to “retire” – – – but there was quite a bit of evidence that (investigated properly) could have led to criminal prosecution.
3. Did you know that Hawaii has the highest per capita population of homeless in the nation? More are joining their ranks every day. Lots of people over here work a full-time, and two part-time jobs – – – to just barely make ends meet. Much harder when you are a disabled veteran that receives zero support from your government at any level.
I could go on and on, but no sense whining. Life is what it is. I now have a roof over my head (as of last week) after my latest 6 months out on the street. More than that, I am reunited with my dogs that provide so much love and support. And I have a possible chance of getting out of here later this year. Fingers crossed. Hope I make it. My suicidal ideation makes it difficult at times – – – but I know I have a fighting chance – – – and that is ALL this old marine and sailor would ever ask for.
@Namnibor, @Crazy elf, @ANutterVet, @Rosie – – – Thank you for your support. You folks really are “the Best of the Best”.
James I am glad to hear things are looking up a bit for you over yonder. Huge moves at times just getting a roof and companion critters. I know.
Total Cluster F is correct. Today’s article just shows not much changes or is getting buried more and paid off. No shocker and no knee-jerk reactions here either. Many reports that screws actual incidents only hurt other people, women, male, don’t matter…. show up to be false, for money, or more of that scorned stuff, to screw other workers for position, or abuse of the systems in play. All part of the circus and not rare at all.
I wrote before about losing one of the best MDs I had at the VA, older female, just for wrapping her arm around me, helping me up outta the chair, a quick firm grab and shoulder hug kinda to steady me and ask if I was okay, needed a wheel chair and could make the drive home. Next visit she told me I’d be getting a new MD and someone seen what happened and charged her with “inappropriate conduct.” Then a young punk looking new long-coated clinic supervisor dude slowly walked by giving us the eye, then doing so in reverse. Nothing else about it could be discussed and told to just drop it. She did say he was the new boss from the local scum lefty university. She just said new boss. It pissed me off and I was going to file my own damn complaints over such innocent well meaning actions. And actions of caring that are hard to find now days among the freaks and all their rules or activism in health care or VA.
My main beef is if this was in the reverse or with dealing with female only staff or what I went through with the all female activist, phone callers, etc., nothing can be done or will be. (Yet) Cause of their gender to having power positions/town connections and no rules about being overly offended for them or to how they were hired, what special process. May not be expressing this correctly right now. It’s all all one big different cluster F from one VA to another and to one civy joint to the other…never ending. I can sit at home, across town, due to activism, politics, and have some female claim I have assaulted her/them or threatened in some manner and my ass will swiftly be arrested without question or pause, jailed, and go through the phony legal process until proven innocent.
Ranger11bv
You show your brain-washing and commercial watching. You fit the mold of how people are susceptible to only thinking, automatically, about good things about a place or town and never the negatives. You thought of blue water, beautiful skies, mountains, Hula Dancers, hard bodies, great sand, surfing, fun. Stay on the facade of the tourist trap, commercials, marketers, where we never see the realty. Just what many others want us to see, get sucked in to, and to buy their wares. Like Madi Gras or the VA or New York City or New Orleans, INDY, Chicago, LA. Oh fun fun fun, don’t wander off the beaten path. No crime here…, poverty, pick-pockets, high crime, dangers, HIV, murder capitals, dope, corruption, skid row, homeless, scammers, etc.
@Ranger11bv
Jim does not need me, or anyone else to take up for him regarding your immature statement. If you had paid any attention to Jim’s postings over the years, then you would understand why I state my point of view.
Any time Buddy!