in Government, Military, Public Policy, Society 296 Words

Closing Thought–05Jan17

Who will protect the veterans?  Trump?  I think not!

I have been an outspoken critic of our government for a long time about the treatment of out veterans….not much has changed from the days of the returning Viet vets to today….they, the vets, are treated like tools….used up when broken are thrown away and new ones plucked from society.

I have been concerned that the VA the one organization that looks to the needs of our vets will be privatized and then the vets will just be a way for some profiteers to make a fortune on the backs of people that need help.

At least Bernie Sanders has stepped up……

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement Friday in response to reports that President-elect Donald Trump is considering privatizing the Department of Veterans Affairs:

“Privatizing the VA would be an insult to the more than 22 million veterans who risked their lives to defend our country and it would significantly lower the quality of health care they receive. Our goal, shared by The American Legion and other major veterans’ organizations, must be to improve the VA, not destroy it. When men and women put their lives on the line to defend us, the president must listen to them, not to the Koch brothers and their extreme right-wing, anti-government ideology. We will vigorously oppose any and all efforts to privatize the VA.

Source: Sanders Statement on VA – Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Our vets have had enough lip service…time for this country to stand the fuck up and see to their needs…all their needs…..it is the least this country can do to replay them for their sacrifice and service.

36 thoughts on “Closing Thought–05Jan17”

      3. If his constituents do not have the balls to stand up to this tyrant (he is will known for seeking revenge) I shudder to think of the new America.

      4. I will hear your argument if you can show me some hard evidence that what you are saying is indeed true. Otherwise I will believe you are speculating. But I would love to hear what your speculation is based on because I am not above changing my mind when presented with evidence.

      5. If you need hard evidence that Trump is a narcissistic buffoon all you need to do is listen to his own words, take a look at his appointees, each cabinet member he has selected is in direct conflict with the ideals of his post. He has created an atmosphere of hatred and bigotry, he tells lies without batting an eye then doubles down on them. He needs a psychiatric evaluation. You need. To get off the defensive. Or are you also denying our intelligence and placing your faith in Asange and the Kremlin? The evidence is all around us you are refusing to accept it.

      6. Sounds almost like a textbook description of the Obama administration. Thanks for sharing it. It is very confirming. —- Evidence all around me? — Evidence all around me is that Truth means one thing to some people and something else entirely to other people …. Human Nature to see things as one wishes to see them … no fault in that … but it does not authenticate or disprove anybody’s opinons. — The evidence I see around me is that 8 years of failed government is about to come to an end sometime in January of this year and I am damned glad it is happening and I can’t wait for it to get settled and operative. —- We have to see the undoing of the empirical administration now passing and get back to the basics of being a democratic republic again instead of some kind of kingdom ruled by executive fiat from the closest available expensive golf course.

      7. Obama is a do nothing president. I think his policies have failed on many fronts. I think Trump is a huge and perhaps tragic mistake. Time will tell. I hope I am wrong.

      9. You are welcome, and thank you for yours. Of course “I think” and you “think” because that is all we can do at this point . As I said time will tell, come back next year, perhaps we will all be happy as larks.

  2. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    ‘Our vets have had enough lip service … time for this country to stand the fuck up and see to their needs … all their needs … it is the least this country can do to replay them for their sacrifice and service.’

    Reply

  5. There are currently several hundred thousand, if not more than a million, military personnel serving, right? So, why aren’t they putting on a bit of pressure? It seems to me, the Veterans Administration, and the American Legion, should be appealing to THEM, not to the government. If the soldiers themselves were informed and convinced they’d be abandoned after fulfilling their oaths, what might their reaction be? Perhaps, they’d think about what they’re doing in the first place…

    Just a thought; get them on the side of the VA, and there would be some leverage….

    gigoid, the dubious

    Reply

    1. Ummm … I served for 7 years and 3 months and I was never abandoned once I fulfilled my oath. In fact I still go to the VA for all my health care and have done so now ever since 1966 and so far any problems I have encountered have been minor and were resolved satisfactorily.

      Reply

      1. I know, and have known many vets, & most of them tell a different story. If you were part of the class of 72, then the reception you received when you came home was quite different from the one received by the class of 45. I know far too many who have been, relatively, ignored due to only being able to get to what was a completely overwhelmed VA outlet. Vets returning today often can’t get seen before what is wrong with them kills them. And, to get TX for PTSD? Forget it….

        You were the exception, my friend, and can consider yourself fortunate.

        gigoid

      2. Oh I do consider myself fortunate gigoid — right alongside the couple of thousand Vets just like myself who are served by our local VA Med Center! — And Oh by the way — I served at a time when we were warned not to wear our uniforms our in Public because of anti-war thugs and I wore the label “Baby Killer” for at least the second 4 years of my service … during what is now called “The Vietnam Era” and so I am aware of public perceptions about service people …. There were no parades welcoming me home … I had to sneak into town in civilian clothing!

  7. Dear Lobotero,

    I am really disappointed in Senator John McCain who is pushing for privatization. I suspect that he is frustrated with the AZ VA system which was first to have a retired doctor expose the fake appointments scandal.

    In the house it is Rep. Miller that is pushing for privatization of the VA while holding up the VA senate bill that was passed in early 2016 as requested by the VA Sec.Bob McDonald and MYVA chairman Gen. Joe Robles, so that they can go forward with reform plans. Military groups are supporting these two men who have been CEOs of Procter & Gamble and USAA respectively and both have served in the military.Military groups. are also universally opposed to privatization but the U.S. congress doesn’t seem to care..

    Thanks for blogging on this subject, Gronda .

    Reply

    1. THanx for your visit and comment…much appreciated….As much as I disagree with him McCain also has a voice for the veteran…..chuq

      Reply

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