Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Next, we'll pass a law against soldiers getting wounded
Bush wants to eliminate the VA.
Words fail one.
The VA has many failings. Soldiers with PTSD being given a scrip for Prozac and sent back.The dreary existence of chronically hospitalized vets. The doctors who are in the military because that's the only place that will tolerate them.
It almost sounds as bad as many an HMO. In fact, in recent times, the VA has done better than other forms of health delivery.
But more important than the quality of care is its existence. A veteran may be homeless, but as long as there is a VA, he is not quite as desperate as the poorest of the poor.
The Senator's aide chuckled rather loudly and said, "What VA? By the time this administration is done there won't be a VA." Our conversation had begun with a discussion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) healthcare budget, and quickly came down to a single, simple point. VA is being dismantled.
Three reasons why the administration would want to dismantle VA immediately come to mind: .
1. Eliminate government-funded care
2. Privatization profits
3. Destroy a government program
And next, the GOP will pass a law against soldiers getting wounded.
The author is a former serviceman who has a site http://vawatchdog.org/
Thanks to Mark Miller for raising the standard.
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