[randita]

Defenders of socialized medicine often respond that the nation's V.A. system proves that government-provided health insurance can work. What these activists fail to acknowledge, however, is that the V.A. system is not a form of health "insurance." Rather, it is a social safety net provided by taxpayers to veterans in recognition of the great contribution that veterans have made to our nation. It is a benefit that they have earned, not a society-wide system of health insurance. Accordingly, this well-deserved reward to our nation's veterans does not provide a parallel to socialized medicine.

The first ones to advocate socialized medicine are also the first ones to decry the shabby treatment vets get at veteran's hospitals (i.e. Walter Reed, which is now closed or is closing soon). What makes socialized medicine proponents think that the government would handle health care for the average citizen any differently or better than veteran's hospitals do.

[upchuck]

Walter Reed, which is now closed or is closing soon

Really? I wonder if the patriot FReepers that have shown up every week at WRAMC for the last 118 weeks in a row know about this.

[coldoc]

Walter Reed is NOT a Veterans hospital, but is a US Army hospital for injured Active Duty troops! One of the problems at Walter Reed recently was the inability of getting their patients, who required it, discharged from active duty and transferred into the VA system. The two medical systems are NOT at all linked administratively. A person, who is legitimately discharged / retired from the military with a documented disability, can usually recieve medical care immediately, BUT it can take up to a YEAR of review and administrative busy-work before the disability level is recognized by the VA. The same thing applies to Social Security disability compensation. This means receipt of often-needed disability compensation is delayed, especially for those with serious injuries and little prospects of holding a job anytime soon (spinal injuries, loss of limbs, etc). These are the people who obviousy need it the most and soonest.

[Zon]

The first ones to advocate socialized medicine are also the first ones to decry the shabby treatment vets get at veteran's hospitals (i.e. Walter Reed, which is now closed or is closing soon). What makes socialized medicine proponents think that the government would handle health care for the average citizen any differently or better than veteran's hospitals do.

They must be freaking nuts! They point out shabby treatment at government run  veteran hospitals and then advocate more government controlled health care. Do they hypnotize the people whom they "sell" their garbage health care plan to? Because that's the only way I can see an average joe believing it.

[bioqubit]

They can’t believe such bad things could possibly happen from such a “good idea” as universal health care.