quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
Don't get stuck on a loop like bounty -- I conceded that point early on page 1, and altered the question to why then we're all opposing it (at the Congressional level) if in fact that's the case. Bounty is pretending that never happened to allow continually hiding behind the partisan crap in pretense of abhorring it. You are more open than that.
What aren't we funding Veterans' care?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Don't get stuck on a loop like bounty -- I conceded that point early on page 1, and altered the question to why then we're all opposing it (at the Congressional level) if in fact that's the case. Bounty is pretending that never happened to allow continually hiding behind the partisan crap in pretense of abhorring it. You are more open than that.

What aren't we funding Veterans' care?

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
Don't get stuck on a loop like bounty -- I conceded that point early on page 1, and altered the question to why then we're all opposing it (at the Congressional level) if in fact that's the case. Bounty is pretending that never happened to allow continually hiding behind the partisan crap in pretense of abhorring it. You are more open than that.
What aren't we funding Veterans' care?

I'm following my own thread line here, not Bounty's.

Congress isn't opposed to VA health care. I'm going to hazard a guess that the reason it isn't currently being funded to levels that we think are proper, is because every time it's introduced as a bill, it gets loaded down with other shit that causes it to not be passed. If it went up for a vote as a stand-alone, I wouldn't be surprised if it was passed rather easily.

Government waste is a serious thing, and I'm sure the VA system wastes money as well as any federal program. If the waste was significantly reduced, would the funding of the VA system be adequate? I doubt it, but it wouldn't be in such a bad spot as it is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyDemura

It costs money.

Billionaire's won't spare a dime on these Vets who have already served their country expecting to be taken care of unless someone makes them.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

No, the "we're stopping waste" argument isn't enough to explain it.

Nearly 42,000 VA jobs, 1 in 3 positions, are vacant (and have been), forcing veterans into more expensive private care.

Do we all sit around and shrug, or is this an issue to care about?

Do we fund VA care or not? And if not, do we fund veterans' care? And if not, why not?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

If you're not going to read the thread, and yet continue to post, I'd say you bear some responsibility. It's not like the Thread Fairy is going to come and read it to you.

Now that you DO know, you've chosen to continue to avoid the question.

Why? What's the problem with funding health care for Veterans?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

No, the "we're stopping waste" argument isn't enough to explain it.

Nearly 42,000 VA jobs, 1 in 3 positions, are vacant (and have been), forcing veterans into more expensive private care.

Do we all sit around and shrug, or is this an issue to care about?

Do we fund VA care or not? And if not, do we fund veterans' care? And if not, why not?

Dude, it is not the vacancies in the VA roster forcing vets to use more expensive private care, it is the simple fact that vets have to travel insane distances for various procedures.

For instance, when I needed the fem tib bypass, I had the choice, have the procedure done by the VA in Albuquerque NM or locally. There was no way in hell I was going to travel 5 fucking hours, spend 3 days in the hospital with no way for my family to visit while I was in there.

Fuck that.

In an effort to streamline the system, save money etc under previous administrations, they have made it so there really is no fucking choice.

Sorry, I am not spending more than a day away from my support system because some fucked up efficiency expert decided the VA needed 'regional full service surgery centers.'

What makes it worse is that the present insurance plans for active duty, vets AND their dependents is accepted at ANY hospital and doctor's offices around the country and pretty much is full coverage (makes medicare look like a fucking joke as far as copay is concerned.)

Finally, VA hospitals have, unfortunately, become the place for vets with no living relatives that give a shit to go and die and not be alone when they do.

Which goes back to this country's main problem.

They want us to serve, they want us to stand on that wall, they want us to do all the dirty, inhumane things that keep them safe to watch MTV or FOX news, but when we have been used up and done the very things they are not willing to do, they would prefer for us to go find a dark corner someplace and die.

Heinlein had it right with his idea, if you do not pull at least a minimum of 4 years military service, even if you are only fit for peeling potatoes 8 hours a day, then you should not have the right to vote, hold public office or the rights of a full citizen.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
No, the "we're stopping waste" argument isn't enough to explain it.
Nearly 42,000 VA jobs, 1 in 3 positions, are vacant (and have been), forcing veterans into more expensive private care.
Do we all sit around and shrug, or is this an issue to care about?

quote:

Do we fund VA care or not? And if not, do we fund veterans' care? And if not, why not?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Yeah, you got nothing (except attitude), I get that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961
Dude, it is not the vacancies in the VA roster forcing vets to use more expensive private care, it is the simple fact that vets have to travel insane distances for various procedures.

For instance, when I needed the fem tib bypass, I had the choice, have the procedure done by the VA in Albuquerque NM or locally. There was no way in hell I was going to travel 5 fucking hours, spend 3 days in the hospital with no way for my family to visit while I was in there.

Fuck that.

In an effort to streamline the system, save money etc under previous administrations, they have made it so there really is no fucking choice.

Sorry, I am not spending more than a day away from my support system because some fucked up efficiency expert decided the VA needed 'regional full service surgery centers.'

What makes it worse is that the present insurance plans for active duty, vets AND their dependents is accepted at ANY hospital and doctor's offices around the country and pretty much is full coverage (makes medicare look like a fucking joke as far as copay is concerned.)

Finally, VA hospitals have, unfortunately, become the place for vets with no living relatives that give a shit to go and die and not be alone when they do.

Which goes back to this country's main problem.

They want us to serve, they want us to stand on that wall, they want us to do all the dirty, inhumane things that keep them safe to watch MTV or FOX news, but when we have been used up and done the very things they are not willing to do, they would prefer for us to go find a dark corner someplace and die.

Heinlein had it right with his idea, if you do not pull at least a minimum of 4 years military service, even if you are only fit for peeling potatoes 8 hours a day, then you should not have the right to vote, hold public office or the rights of a full citizen.

OK, thanks for this, jif.

I'm not sure compulsory service would solve the problem -- that would mean universal health care, and look at the continuing fanatic resistance to that.

So how do we get to something that works?

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
Why do we need a separate hospital system for VA care?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

What do we do about veterans' health care then? Create universal health care for veterans? Pay for their Medicaid/care or Obamacare? What?

It's easy to say what we shouldn't do, but that doesn't help veterans. What's the solution?