Aa
VA
Guess Obama is too busy raising $ for the DNC.
http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/378322/obama-2007-time-end-deplorable-conditions-some-va-hospitals-jim-geraghty
Then-Senator Barack Obama, November 12, 2007: “After seven years of an Administration that has stretched our military to the breaking point, ignored deplorable conditions at some VA hospitals, and neglected the planning and preparation necessary to care for our returning heroes, America’s veterans deserve a President who will fight for them not just when it’s easy or convenient, but every hour of every day for the next four years.”
By 2012, Obama continued to compare the performance of the VA during his administration favorably to his predecessor, declaring, “For the first time ever, we’ve made military families and veterans a top priority not just at DOD, not just at the VA, but across the government.”
Now we know the report of at least 40 U.S. veterans dying waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system is only the tip of the iceberg.
Today:
When Shinseki took office, he vowed that every disability claim would be processed within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy. But the backlogs only got worse.
It took about four months for VA to process a claim for disability compensation claim when Shinseki was sworn in. By 2012, the average wait time was about nine months.
In February 2013, the Examiner published a five-part series, “Making America’s Heroes Wait,” showing more than 1.1 million veterans with disability claims and appeals were trapped in bureaucratic limbo at VA.
About 70 percent of the 900,000 claims for initial benefits were considered backlogged, meaning they were older than 125 days.
The Examiner series also showed how agency statistics were manipulated to hide mistakes that doomed veterans into appeals that could drag on for years.
There were some early signs then that VA’s failures in delivering medical care were having deadly consequences.
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was reported in Pittsburgh in November 2012. Subsequent investigations by the inspector general and area media eventually linked a half-dozen patient deaths from the disease to faulty maintenance and poor management.
Reports of other deaths followed.
Four patients under VA’s care in Atlanta died of a drug overdose or suicides.
In Columbia, S.C., at least six patient deaths from colorectal cancers were linked to delays in receiving colonoscopies at veterans’ medical facilities.
VA eventually acknowledged that delays in providing care was linked to the deaths of 23 patients who died of gastrointestinal cancers at veterans’ health facilities. Deaths from other conditions were not disclosed.
http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/378322/obama-2007-time-end-deplorable-conditions-some-va-hospitals-jim-geraghty
Then-Senator Barack Obama, November 12, 2007: “After seven years of an Administration that has stretched our military to the breaking point, ignored deplorable conditions at some VA hospitals, and neglected the planning and preparation necessary to care for our returning heroes, America’s veterans deserve a President who will fight for them not just when it’s easy or convenient, but every hour of every day for the next four years.”
By 2012, Obama continued to compare the performance of the VA during his administration favorably to his predecessor, declaring, “For the first time ever, we’ve made military families and veterans a top priority not just at DOD, not just at the VA, but across the government.”
Now we know the report of at least 40 U.S. veterans dying waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system is only the tip of the iceberg.
Today:
When Shinseki took office, he vowed that every disability claim would be processed within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy. But the backlogs only got worse.
It took about four months for VA to process a claim for disability compensation claim when Shinseki was sworn in. By 2012, the average wait time was about nine months.
In February 2013, the Examiner published a five-part series, “Making America’s Heroes Wait,” showing more than 1.1 million veterans with disability claims and appeals were trapped in bureaucratic limbo at VA.
About 70 percent of the 900,000 claims for initial benefits were considered backlogged, meaning they were older than 125 days.
The Examiner series also showed how agency statistics were manipulated to hide mistakes that doomed veterans into appeals that could drag on for years.
There were some early signs then that VA’s failures in delivering medical care were having deadly consequences.
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was reported in Pittsburgh in November 2012. Subsequent investigations by the inspector general and area media eventually linked a half-dozen patient deaths from the disease to faulty maintenance and poor management.
Reports of other deaths followed.
Four patients under VA’s care in Atlanta died of a drug overdose or suicides.
In Columbia, S.C., at least six patient deaths from colorectal cancers were linked to delays in receiving colonoscopies at veterans’ medical facilities.
VA eventually acknowledged that delays in providing care was linked to the deaths of 23 patients who died of gastrointestinal cancers at veterans’ health facilities. Deaths from other conditions were not disclosed.
Coming in late on this...
So, B.O. isn't the one that created the mess, so shouldn't be held accountable for it, is what I'm hearing (in a nutshell from what I'm reading above).
And yet he took full credit, and was given accolades for taking down OBL (everyone remember the "Rambo style" SEAL-Team 6 Obama action-figure?).
You can't take credit for all the good stuff that happens, and point the finger for all the bad stuff that happens.
Or can you, when all you have to do is pull the race-card when someone calls you out on it?
So, B.O. isn't the one that created the mess, so shouldn't be held accountable for it, is what I'm hearing (in a nutshell from what I'm reading above).
And yet he took full credit, and was given accolades for taking down OBL (everyone remember the "Rambo style" SEAL-Team 6 Obama action-figure?).
You can't take credit for all the good stuff that happens, and point the finger for all the bad stuff that happens.
Or can you, when all you have to do is pull the race-card when someone calls you out on it?
Again we agree completely.
No veteran should ever have to even partially rely on family to get by financially. Never.... And to watch some of these millionaires in the senate/congress watch their large nest eggs even become larger and to receive those cushy benefits? Infuriating to say the least.
VA Cuts D-Day Veteran's Benefits To $6 A Month
By Jared Keever, Mon, May 26, 2014
An 89-year-old veteran who survived the D-Day invasion is accusing officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs of cutting his monthly veterans benefits from $300 down to $6 a month.
Joseph Teson, of Watervliet, N.Y., said the VA cut his benefits to recover over $3,000 in overpayments sent to him by the department. He said he never noticed the overpayment.
"I don't know how they did it, but they did it," Teson told local station WNYT. "I didn't say nothing. I just let it go. Everybody else complained but me."
He received a letter in 2013 notifying him that his "entitlement to compensation and pension benefits had changed.” That change resulted in the overpayment.
"Since you are currently receiving VA benefits, we plan to withhold those benefits until the amount you were overpaid is recouped," the letter dated, June 9, 2013, added.
"They're taking money from my father, and he deserves (the money)," said Teson’s son, Michael. "He fought in the war for it. They're giving him $6 per month. He can't live on that.”
Teson and his wife are still getting by on pension and social security benefits and a little help from their children.
Megan Lutz, a spokeswoman for the VA, said the department wants to be sure that Teson and other veterans get the benefits to which they are legally entitled.
"We are presently looking into the specifics of Mr. Teson’s case and will be reaching out to him to clarify the details of his changes in benefits," Lutz said.
The VA has been the target of a growing list of criticisms lately. Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki testified before a Senate panel early this month amid accusations that at least 40 veterans in Phoenix died while waiting for appointments at the city’s VA health facilities. Those allegations have led to investigations being launched in six other states, according to CNN.
In February the Senate failed to pass a Department of Veterans Affairs Bill that would have expanded benefits for service members and repealed a military pension cut for future troops.
Critics said that such an expansion would only lead to increased wait times.
“I don’t know how anyone who voted ‘no’ today can look a veteran in the eye and justify that vote,” Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, told the Washington Post at the time. “Our veterans deserve more than what they got today.”
Teson might feel the same way but he said he is content to to ride out the temporary deductions.
"What can I do?" he said. "They’re bigger than me, so I’ve got to go along with them."
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/va-cuts-d-day-veterans-benefits-6-month
By Jared Keever, Mon, May 26, 2014
An 89-year-old veteran who survived the D-Day invasion is accusing officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs of cutting his monthly veterans benefits from $300 down to $6 a month.
Joseph Teson, of Watervliet, N.Y., said the VA cut his benefits to recover over $3,000 in overpayments sent to him by the department. He said he never noticed the overpayment.
"I don't know how they did it, but they did it," Teson told local station WNYT. "I didn't say nothing. I just let it go. Everybody else complained but me."
He received a letter in 2013 notifying him that his "entitlement to compensation and pension benefits had changed.” That change resulted in the overpayment.
"Since you are currently receiving VA benefits, we plan to withhold those benefits until the amount you were overpaid is recouped," the letter dated, June 9, 2013, added.
"They're taking money from my father, and he deserves (the money)," said Teson’s son, Michael. "He fought in the war for it. They're giving him $6 per month. He can't live on that.”
Teson and his wife are still getting by on pension and social security benefits and a little help from their children.
Megan Lutz, a spokeswoman for the VA, said the department wants to be sure that Teson and other veterans get the benefits to which they are legally entitled.
"We are presently looking into the specifics of Mr. Teson’s case and will be reaching out to him to clarify the details of his changes in benefits," Lutz said.
The VA has been the target of a growing list of criticisms lately. Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki testified before a Senate panel early this month amid accusations that at least 40 veterans in Phoenix died while waiting for appointments at the city’s VA health facilities. Those allegations have led to investigations being launched in six other states, according to CNN.
In February the Senate failed to pass a Department of Veterans Affairs Bill that would have expanded benefits for service members and repealed a military pension cut for future troops.
Critics said that such an expansion would only lead to increased wait times.
“I don’t know how anyone who voted ‘no’ today can look a veteran in the eye and justify that vote,” Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of the American Legion, told the Washington Post at the time. “Our veterans deserve more than what they got today.”
Teson might feel the same way but he said he is content to to ride out the temporary deductions.
"What can I do?" he said. "They’re bigger than me, so I’ve got to go along with them."
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/va-cuts-d-day-veterans-benefits-6-month
"Fool me once....." Every single time I hear him stumble on that, I crack up. The one about the OB/GYN's "practicing their love on women" is another beaut.....
" how much of it is the person's own words? They pay big money to speech writers."
I don't think George spent much money on them. I used to love to watch Bush. That man cracked me up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBm5ZSWbD14
I don't think George spent much money on them. I used to love to watch Bush. That man cracked me up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBm5ZSWbD14
I listened to the speech the President gave at the Tomb of the Unknowns today. Its the first speech I've listened to since that last State of the Union address. Unfortunately, like the State of the Union address or any speech any politician gave in the last 20 years, I didn't come away with much.
I really do feel bad about it too. When these people start talking, its like listening to Charlie Brown's teacher.
I can't remember who I read the other day (it wasn't the President) that was talking about the VA situation, but even reading it sounded like Chuck's teacher. I just don't think I trust these people any more. I don't think they have everyone's best interest at heart. I think the monster is bigger than that now and I think it only works for the unfathomably wealthy. I think there are players on both sides of this equation, and a lot of them reside in our political system.
I really do feel bad about it too. When these people start talking, its like listening to Charlie Brown's teacher.
I can't remember who I read the other day (it wasn't the President) that was talking about the VA situation, but even reading it sounded like Chuck's teacher. I just don't think I trust these people any more. I don't think they have everyone's best interest at heart. I think the monster is bigger than that now and I think it only works for the unfathomably wealthy. I think there are players on both sides of this equation, and a lot of them reside in our political system.
I do a lot of eye rolling during political speeches. And the sad thing is . . . how much of it is the person's own words? They pay big money to speech writers.
I do remember that coming up in the campaigns. Maybe "making a stink" was too strong, because it came up, but it might not have been a real "issue", because nobody was saying that veterans actually died waiting for treatment. He did promise to "fix it" though.
I haven't watched very many Presidential speeches in the last few years, either, but this last one pre-empted the program we usually watch at that time of day.. lol It was all a bunch of BS and my husband and I just sort of rolled our eyes at each other and said "he's not going to anything; it's all lip service".
Fortunately, the "mad as he!!" speech didn't take up the whole program... lol
I haven't watched very many Presidential speeches in the last few years, either, but this last one pre-empted the program we usually watch at that time of day.. lol It was all a bunch of BS and my husband and I just sort of rolled our eyes at each other and said "he's not going to anything; it's all lip service".
Fortunately, the "mad as he!!" speech didn't take up the whole program... lol
I don't remember him addressing It, so was probably after 6 years. That's about how long it's been that a started changing the channel when he came on. Bush may of had a lot of B.S. with him but at least he was interesting. I've tried to make it through Obama's speeches but just can't stomach very much.
Of course, Obama didn't create the issue, but he was the one who made such a stink about getting it fixed 5 yrs ago, or was it 6? At any rate, now that there's yet another scandal surrounding the administration, he got "mad as he!!", made his "I'm going to fix this" speech and most likely, that will be the end of it.
With mid term elections coming up, though, there has to be some talking points on both sides and this could be one that the Republicans won't let die.
With mid term elections coming up, though, there has to be some talking points on both sides and this could be one that the Republicans won't let die.
About where to find people to run the VA? I don't think it would take too long to find administrators out there who are completely capable of running the VA. I think there are people out there who are compassionate enough to step up in nearly any of the vacant slots.
Blame? No way did Obama create this. I totally agree with that. He did say that fixing this was going to be a priority back in 07.... The President is just like anyone else that has filled those shoes. Go ahead and say any old thing to get elected, and then get to the priorities in, oh, 6-7 years.
Blame? No way did Obama create this. I totally agree with that. He did say that fixing this was going to be a priority back in 07.... The President is just like anyone else that has filled those shoes. Go ahead and say any old thing to get elected, and then get to the priorities in, oh, 6-7 years.
I never really thought about Mid-Term Elections, but it makes since. This has been going on long before Obama took office. Both Republican and Democratic Presidents have ignored it. So other than another example of “Change” being BS, there is really nothing to blame on Obama. He is just like the rest of them.
"More politics blame game will go on and eventually the story will fade away like the others." Does the phrase "mid term elections" ring any bells?
good post!
There have been problems with the VA for years and years. Its ridiculous and always has been. I hope heads (many heads) roll, from those falsified records, dirty facilities, as well as the funding (or lack of). There is lotsa blame to go around, so l say, we the people need to demand change. In unison, but we know that aint gonna happen now is it? More politics blame game will go on and eventually the story will fade away like the others.
In fact, if you wanted to solve all of the problems with the VA, make all of the senators in this country get their health care there.... I bet that **** would be a well oiled machine in just a couple of years.
The last time I was in a VA was 19 years ago. We'd gone to visit my wife's twin uncles who had both served in WWII. Both were in the VA because of advanced dementia (one also was dying of cancer). The cleanliness of the place was horrible. The quality of care was reprehensible. The amount of staff was non-existent.
How you get quality help in places like VAs? I've got a theory on that too, and it lies somewhere near addressing the fraud, have veterans take care of veterans, blah..blah..blah. The problem won't be properly addressed.
How you get quality help in places like VAs? I've got a theory on that too, and it lies somewhere near addressing the fraud, have veterans take care of veterans, blah..blah..blah. The problem won't be properly addressed.
I'd be the first to agree that most of our gov't is top heavy with paper shufflers, administrators, and administrative assistants. The problem is, that after you clean house and you have the money you need, where do you find the people to come in and do the actual work that needs doing? We expect people to acquire massive student debt to become doctors, nurses, and physical therapists. Any suggestion of providing a free education to those who want it would invoke hand wringing and cries of 'creeping socialism'. And we've reached a point of diminishing returns in expecting people from other countries to come and empty our bedpans, start IVs, and diagnose our illnesses. My neurologist back in Texas is originally from South Asia, has practiced here for many years, and is topnotch. My current neuro' is a more recent immigrant and not nearly the same caliber. We seem to be scraping the bottom of the barrel there. It's the same problem that I see us running into in universal healthcare for the rest of the country. Too many people, not enough resources.
This is why I choose to look at the VA problem from the 'supply side' of the issue. Quit putting our people in harm's way unless absolutely necessary. And certainly not just so Boeing or Halliburton can show a profit to their stockholders.
This is why I choose to look at the VA problem from the 'supply side' of the issue. Quit putting our people in harm's way unless absolutely necessary. And certainly not just so Boeing or Halliburton can show a profit to their stockholders.
The VA $ucks. Your "among other things" have as much to do with the situation as does funding. The thing is completely mismanaged from the top to the bottom.
The funding is a simple issue. American politicians feel they are far more important than our fighting men and women, that's why they cut funding to the VA and write themselves in for raises and proudly accept health care benefits that are second to none. "Serve their country"... BS. Readjust the pay scale, redistribute some of their salaries right off the top and you'll see some of the funding issues get cleared up. Secondly, clean house amongst the health care providers at the VA. Pay attention to fraud and get rid of it. The VA should only be concerned with the health of our veterans and it should NOT be a political tool, ever!
"The issue at hand would seem to be the fact that the VA is (among other things) underfunded." This was a high priority issue when it was discussed back in 07... so much of a high priority issue that we are just now getting around to it.... yeah, lets sit and discuss this, shall we?
The funding is a simple issue. American politicians feel they are far more important than our fighting men and women, that's why they cut funding to the VA and write themselves in for raises and proudly accept health care benefits that are second to none. "Serve their country"... BS. Readjust the pay scale, redistribute some of their salaries right off the top and you'll see some of the funding issues get cleared up. Secondly, clean house amongst the health care providers at the VA. Pay attention to fraud and get rid of it. The VA should only be concerned with the health of our veterans and it should NOT be a political tool, ever!
"The issue at hand would seem to be the fact that the VA is (among other things) underfunded." This was a high priority issue when it was discussed back in 07... so much of a high priority issue that we are just now getting around to it.... yeah, lets sit and discuss this, shall we?
The issue at hand would seem to be the fact that the VA is (among other things) underfunded. Discussing the reasons why there are more clients than there are funds wouldn't seem to be a terrible digression.
".... the VA is a mess and it stayed that way after Obama criticized the former president on it"
That was kind of the meat of the original subject. Then, as it normally does around here, people started blaming people about the wars and other things.....
If I had to hazard a guess, I'd bet this thread resembles DC and all of the BS that happens there. Pick a side, throw BS around, blame someone else... if you are doing all of that, you don't have any time to address the issue at hand.
The VA still $ucks. That is still an issue and it was one that we were told that would be addressed. It hasn't, until maybe now. (The President said he was getting on it.) He can still save some face IF he does something about this. But...
That was kind of the meat of the original subject. Then, as it normally does around here, people started blaming people about the wars and other things.....
If I had to hazard a guess, I'd bet this thread resembles DC and all of the BS that happens there. Pick a side, throw BS around, blame someone else... if you are doing all of that, you don't have any time to address the issue at hand.
The VA still $ucks. That is still an issue and it was one that we were told that would be addressed. It hasn't, until maybe now. (The President said he was getting on it.) He can still save some face IF he does something about this. But...
But the people who made the final decision to go to war (some Democrats included) used the same intelligence to make the decision (and not hate media).
I personally hate all hate media--- anything extremely political with a clear agenda is something I avoid. Going in either direction. So, I agree that I am not a fan of that but like ALL things, people use media to make their case (Obama being no different. He personally asked actors and entertainers to talk up his healthcare plan on twitter and things like that for him to make his case and present the information from his side . . . among many other things that are just like that. I trust very few politicians these days from either party.).
Whether the War on Iraq was right or wrong, the VA is a mess and it stayed that way after Obama criticized the former president on it. I guess whomever runs next can criticize Bush AND Obama.
I personally hate all hate media--- anything extremely political with a clear agenda is something I avoid. Going in either direction. So, I agree that I am not a fan of that but like ALL things, people use media to make their case (Obama being no different. He personally asked actors and entertainers to talk up his healthcare plan on twitter and things like that for him to make his case and present the information from his side . . . among many other things that are just like that. I trust very few politicians these days from either party.).
Whether the War on Iraq was right or wrong, the VA is a mess and it stayed that way after Obama criticized the former president on it. I guess whomever runs next can criticize Bush AND Obama.
If it was a miserable, regrettable mistake, perhaps we should have waited until we had better intelligence about the true situation before mobilizing. To me it feels as though people's fears were exploited to jump into this. Which comes back to Vance's question about "hate media".
The way I use the phrase is: any form of print, video, or audio communication that uses fear, prejudice, or ignorance to manipulate people.
The way I use the phrase is: any form of print, video, or audio communication that uses fear, prejudice, or ignorance to manipulate people.
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