in Government, Military, Public Policy 474 Words

Veterans: A Perfect Example Of The What Is Wrong

I have been a staunch critic of the VA system we have in this country for the care of our vets….the system sucks….and NO one in Washington seems to give a f*ck…..this country has a horrible track record on veterans needs…..we ask them for their help and then we give them the finger when they return home and need help……something that this country should be ashamed of in all its parts……

We have all heard the horror stories of long waiting lines for care and we are well aware of the high rate of suicides among our returning vets….and there are a wealth of people willing to do say whatever it takes to get support from these vets but after that they do NOT feel they owe them anything beyond that….

I saw a piece about the VA suicide hot-line….after I finished reading it I thought that it was the perfect example of the  non-caring attitude…..

The Oscar-winning film Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 documents the counselors who man the phones for the 24-hour service, but never mentions the suicidal veterans who are put on hold or sent to voicemail, with calls never returned—a fact made public last week in a report from the Veterans Affairs inspector general, USA Today reports. The investigation also found that contracted counselors at the backup centers that took overflow calls from the Veterans Crisis Line may not have been trained to handle mental health crises, the Military Times notes. “We substantiated allegations that some calls routed to backup crisis centers were answered by voicemail, and callers did not always receive immediate assistance,” the report stated, adding that about one in every six calls gets sent to one of half a dozen backup centers when the main hotline staff based in Canandaigua, NY, is swamped.

The VA investigation began in 2015 when it started receiving complaints from those who called for help and were put in telephone limbo. In one case, a suicidal Florida vet told a local news station he was put on hold over and over, up to 10 minutes at a time, per the Military Times. Altogether, the report found the backup center had transferred nearly two dozen current service members, veterans, or family members to voicemail. And the reason calls weren’t returned? Backup center staff said they didn’t know they had voicemail. The VA has already started to remedy the issues—including more staff at peak times and upgrading its phone system—and says it will implement other suggested changes by Sept. 30. (Those who wish to use the service can call 800-273-8255 (press 1), text 838255, or go to http://www.veteranscrisisline.net. (Female veterans have an “obscenely high” suicide rate.)

Our veterans deserve so much more than this country is willing to give……it is just sad and pathetic…..

9 thoughts on “Veterans: A Perfect Example Of The What Is Wrong”

  2. But remember what the fat guys in the three piece suits say when they mount the podiums to deliver their speeches on Memorial Day, “We will never forget your sacrifices.” They may cast their votes against more funding for the VA but they “Never Forget The Sacrifices.” The funnny thing about all this tragic circumstance is that very few people remember the sacrifices unless they have a loved one laying in a grave somewhere with a Veterans’ symbol stuck in the ground or engraved on the free metal plaque provided to service members and the ones who do walk through the cemeteries tend to cast their glance in another direction if they find themselves passing a veteran’s grave.

    But there is another element to the VA health care story: If you will look at the Congressional Record you will be shocked at the number of times Conservatives have voted against increased funding for Veterans’ causes including the VA — and if you stop to think about how many wars the right wing has gotten us into … wars that keep on heaping the wounded warriors onto the already-stressed VA System …. you have to give the VA Five Stars for the efforts they do make with what limited resources they have … resources that keep getting slimmer and slimmer every time the hawks in Washington want to create more wounded Veterans to dump onto the system …. There are two sides to this story.

    Reply

      1. The American People have gotten to the point — I am afraid — when they view the people who defend the nation as little more than people who risk their lives in return for compensation in much the same vein as Law Enforcement. I think the “Sacrifice” of the Military is now being seen across much of the nation as part of the “Acceptable Risk Of The Job” and any sense of patriotism has long been stripped away. I think America takes Military sacrifice more or less for granted now.

  3. I am afraid it will mostly be lip service. If a nation calls remembrance day Memorial Day, there is no problem. However if they add Happy to it and just go for the long weekend and barbecue ….need I say more?

    Reply

Leave a Reply