On April, CNN reported that at least forty veterans had died at the Phoenix, NM V.A. Facility because of delayed healthcare. (Wikipedia)
This scandal triggered investigations at several levels and numerous locations and charges of a cover up by V.A. managers to feed their greed for bonuses by hiding the delays with secret lists for appointments. The investigations were asking people that had a vested interest in keeping the facts hidden. The one level that seemed to be missing from the investigations was the veterans themselves.
A month ago, I emailed Congressman Bill Flores (R- TX, CD17), my congressman, suggesting the V.A. ask veterans their opinion of how their healthcare was being provided by the V. A. Imagine my surprise when a survey appeared in my mail three days ago. I’m not conceited enough that I think that the Veterans Affairs Committee, on which Flores is a member, sent the survey at my suggestion, but its nice to think the V.A. finally got around to asking the people directly affected, how their healthcare was perceived.
I go to two V.A. facilities, an out patient clinic in College Station, TX and the big hospital in Temple, TX, near Ft. Hood. I, personally, have few complaints about either. I have only gone to the College Station clinic for general healthcare and Temple for tests. I have not had to be an in patient so I can’t speak to the hospital’s patient care.
There have been horror stories about V.A. hospitals but not from me. There have been no complaints about the College Station clinic, that I’m aware of, but the Temple hospital has been tarred with the same brush as the others. Complaints of delays in getting healthcare and corruption have been alleged against the hospital management. The times I have had to go to the emergency room, I had to call the V.A. within three days and the V.A. paid for it. Once, I had cracked ribs and the V.A. paid an $8000 bill.
Obviously, according to all reports, veterans are not getting the treatment they deserve. Is it fair to spend so much money on illegal aliens when so many of the men and women who have given so much to our country are suffering? Somehow, we have allowed our priorities to be corrupted by the politician’s desire to further their political agenda. Maybe, the light of publicity will change the way veterans are treated. At least, I hope so.
* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
* You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
* You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
* You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
* You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
* You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
* You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
* You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
* You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative
and independence.
* You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and
should do for themselves.
— The Rev. William John Henry Boetcker – 1916
Image: http://groundreport.com/scandal-at-phoenix-va-may-be-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-said-rep-yoder-of-kansas/
