[neverdem]

The VA hospitals are not good either except for the staff who work so hard.

In general, I wouldn't doubt that. Welcome to universal health care, aka socialized medicine. Lefty WaPo, keep doing your muckraking!

[mel]

A big part of the problem is the inability to fire stupid and lazy staff

[Bernard Marx]

Welcome to universal health care, aka socialized medicine. Lefty WaPo, keep doing your muckraking!

I hope our Pubbie Congress-critters are as astute as you and will use this ironic situation to good effect in the partisan "show" hearings. VA hospitals have been a disgrace forever, but the WAPost is only interested when it thinks it can embarrass our side. Unfortunately, by firing the General in charge, the Administration has basically accepted responsibility.

[Kimmers]

Hello, I so agree.....this is a glaring example of government run health care.....I find it disgusting the elected run around acting like this is news to them. I know they have been contacted by many people trying to take care of our wounded warriors regarding the VA systems but the alarms have been ignored by the elected. Our military deserves so much more....

[I still care]

The vet across the street from me was sent home with a broken collarbone and broken ribs. They knew about them, but they said they couldn't treat them?

When home, the rib pierced his lung and it collapsed. He's been in and out of hospital ever since, and his shoulder is completely frozen.

Something is rotten.

[mortal19440]

The Lefty's always point to the VA medical system as proof that socialized medicine works. What a joke!

[EverOnward]

Why is no one identifying the contractor in charge of healthcare at Walter Reed? The contractor needs to be identified and better managed though everyone knows the bottom line is profit first and foremost NOT the welfare of our soldiers.

[RobFromGa]

Suggested Title:

Government Healthcare Is Awful

[Freedom4US]

Rush Limbaugh brought up a good point today - the politicians are posturing and acting like spectators (again) in this affair.

[Jim Noble]

I understand why this mess will never be privatized, and I'm sympathetic - but that IS the answer, above the field hospital level.

[pollyannaish]

Does Military health care and VA health care come under military spending, the VA or both? Is it the same thing? Is it considered a social service or military spending?

[William Terrell]

On the other hand, the VA hospital in Birmingham, Alabama is well stocked with all the state-of-the-art equipment, cheerful and respectful doctors and technicians and little hassle.

[AZLiberty]

I wrote a letter to Senators Feinstein and Boxer a few years ago asking why I had to wear Hospital gowns that had holes in them and torn and why some of the Vets had to ask for beds that had good mattress instead of broken and old. Wheel chairs old and tired and the list goes on and on. I never did get a response.

At least the bureaucratic problem is bipartisan.

This is still a very serious issue, receiving a remarkable amount of attention in the mass media. (Skanky celebrities must be glad that the focus has changed!). I'm having trouble seeing what the "real" problem is, however. We've always known that VA facilities were not up to Mayo standards, but the most visible problem now seems to be this backlog of 400,000 vets waiting to get care.

Waiting lists are the traditional way that socialized health care rations care -- is that what's happening here?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

In other words, VA hospitals are just like regular hospitals, except the help is better.