Posted on 01/23/2016 8:24:44 AM PST by darkwing104
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Congressmen Jeff Miller (R-FL) wrote an OP-ED for the Wall Street Journal high-lighting the depraved indifference and arrogance which have taken hold at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, during his senate confirmation hearing in 2014, promised to transform the VA. He would become Secretary of the agency that was entrenched in scandals of wait time manipulation and cover-ups that resulted in the death of veterans at VA medical facilities. These practices were common at VA medical facilities across the country. The American VA people were properly outraged at the mistreatment of veterans who needed the medical care that was promised to them for their service. The VA lost the trust of the American people and has done nothing to restore their faith.
Secretary McDonald promised that the employees who violated the trust of the nation and of veterans would be held accountable. Yet sixteen months after his appointment by a Senate vote of 97-0, Mr. McDonald has failed to hold anyone accountable for the unethical behavior which has enabled the "VA's culture of indifference" to continue to this day. Even CNN reported of "Veterans still facing major medical delays at VA hospitals." It has also been reported that "Appointment wait times at the Department of Veterans Affairs are not getting better"
The “depraved indifference and arrogance” are just acts.
The real problems are the thievery and laziness and politics.
Congress just needs to give the VA another $50,000,000,000 and start construction on another 100 VA hospitals which will be completed in 2060. New laptops, tablets and iPhone 6+s for everybody and monthly progress conventions in Haiwaii for all VA employees and immediate family members is also a must. Year beginning in addition to year ending bonuses will encourage morale. Adding another week of all expenses paid vacation is bound to increase performance. Another two weeks of paid sick days should also help the Vets immensely. Just some good old common sense reforms are all that is needed.
Yes and its called Middle Management. That is where directives from above either get implemented or not. Mid management in every agency of govt is who really runs the show. That is where the changes need to occur or nothing will ever change.
Good people, doing their best every day.
Timely, accurate, compassionate.
I get my care at the Mather, CA facility.
The doctors from UW cancer research facility....those who teach and write books, perform world-leading research...are the VA doctors.
The finest equipment.
My dad died of pancreatic cancer in their care though they made a valiant and concerted effort to save him.
I know there are horror stories from other regions, but there are also very good facilities led by excellent people.
Those administrate models developed by the excellent regions could be expanded to encompass every facility.
The problem is the regional fiefdoms. They get carte blanche as to how their region is run. Some very good, some very bad.
When you hate the military .. like the current President and his admin, then the likely thing to do is make it so bad to be a veteran, nobody will join.
Bad for America ..?? Absolutely. Tends to make our enemies believe that America doesn’t support them.
And .. it also has the effect of keeping a lot of young able-bodied young men from joining the military .. especially since it’s so difficult to find a job.
And .. with all the push to make everything that’s MANLY .. become GIRLY .. a lot of America’s natural warriors will not join in such a mess.
The only solution .. A WARRIOR PRESIDENT.
The military is not to start a war .. it’s to prevent our enemies from believing they could win against us.
I prefer the VA hospital over “civilian” hospitals too.
I get my care at the Long Beach VA Hospital and have no complaints except the phone system. Once you have the correct extension number though it’s a breeze.
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