Comments on: Panel Fears Problems Go Beyond Walter Reed

Chair Of House Subcommittee Says Similar Problems Are Likely At Other Military Hospitals

[superrat2]

Just imagine, an employee of a Chevrolet truck assembly plant driving a Ford F150 to work! Most veterans employed by the VA do not use the VA for their medical care!

[j0hnwi11iams]

The problems with Walter Reed were PRIVATIZATION. Some greedy former Haliburton Exec with connections figured out a way to spin off part of the government for profit. As soon as the contract was awarded, he externalized the patients to boost profits. Simple as THAT.

The idiots trying to call this socialized medicine haven't got a CLUE as to what really happened there. Were did you study economics? You studied it up your ***, I would say.

[bildooreilly]

Widespread problem huh... gee who woulda thunk it... I guess that movie someone posted on video.google of interviews with a bunch of the vets getting screwed a few weeks ago really got the ball rolling.

[lars008-2009]

i agree the vets deserve the best care that the usa can provide........ the money collected after 911 should also go to the vets that are getting pay back for the victims.....

I'm shocked, shocked to find such conditions.....
yeahhhhhh rightttttttttt

it is well known to both political parties and all news media that the va/military hospitals have been c r a p..... they always have been c r a p...... but then what do you expect from socialized medicine...... and that is what you will get when the demonic-rats try to force socialized medicine on the usa..... all the hospitals will be c r a p like the va/military hospitals....

reminds me of casablanca.......
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/quotes

[freespeech3]

Craig, I dig any dig at the lamebrain administration.

They sure knew how to get elected but like so many examples in both the public and private sectors, eventually their antics and "eat their own" tactics catch up to them. They just don't know how to actually run things. After a time it always falls apart with people like we have in this administration.
In the private sector employees and stockholders pay. In the public sector all of us pay (except maybe the top 2%)
So just this week we have our "strong economy and record stock market take a dive because of our short sighted economic policies and lack of a plan to compete with the Chinese unless you call letting Walmart buy everything they sell from the slave laborer companies in China a plan. And then this reality check on "supporting our men and women in uniform."

God, it's just so sick.....

[craigc2664]

I emailed one of Iowa's state Senator's this evening with my thoughts...


Dear Senator Grassley,

I trust that you and your collegues are looking into the deplorable and despicable conditions that are surfacing at Walter Reed and many other Veteran's Administration facilities throughout the United States. I trust also, that definitive action will be taken and these problems rectified immediately.

You know just a thought. War is not without injury and death, history has taught at least some of us that. One would think that since we are several years into a war in Iraq and currently in the process of sending another 21,000 of our troops into harms way, maybe, just maybe, we should have adequate, acceptable medical facilities currently in place to render appropriate medical care to those injured in the line of duty...????

From all appearances back here in Iowa, it seems that our country could use a leader like General George S. Patton Jr. in our government somewhere. A man that had some real guts, spoke what he felt regardless of the political ramifications and knew how to kick some butt's when they needed to be kicked! And I think in this latest scandal, our injured veteran's deserve and need more than a token head or two to roll. Some butt's definately need to be kicked and kicked hard!

Thank you for your time.

Craigxxxxxxxx

[nmsuip]

Why doesn't Bush resign? He's the Commander in Chief. The "decision-maker" (by his own assertion, no less). The top of the military "food chain." The commander is responsible for everything that happens or fails to happen within his unit; his subordinates' failures are also his own.

Of course that won't happen. He's not a leader. Strip away the "Commander in Chief" veneer and he's just another career politician.

I'm a vet. After seeing this, I can guarantee that my son won't be one. There's no excuse for this whatsoever.

[craigc2664]

Sorry freespeach, just couldn't resist that dig at the administration.

[freespeech3]

Lars, where are you? Or is it past Lock-Down time in the mental ward at that prison you live in?

[j-whitman]

Cheney would have been Euthanized at Walter Reed --- He put them on the Base Closure List --- Cheney & Bush insistance on privatizing our military -- it hasn't helped our troops in Iraq either.

[freespeech3]

Good question Craig - except that Cheney doesn't qualify for VA "Care." He didn't have the b*lls to joint any branch of the service.

[davidsjones-2009]

Here is the reality of it all. The US Govt., especially the Republicans, will go ballistic when it comes for the latest & greatest war weapon. They would rather spend "our" money for these war trophies that only satisfies the military establishment & the stockholders. When they cannot have their toys, they blame. Oh, like a billion dollar aircraft carrier or a $45 million F-22 has done any good to repel Osama. Can't people figure it out that if its not in the best interest of the lobbyists employers its not *** enough to warrant any attention. Walter Reed & the lack of training, spare parts have all been the direct result of all the war profiteers. This makes the Teapot Dome Scandal look like a Sunday school picnics. We are actually seeing stealing Peter to pay Paul in a scale that is the worst that America has ever done to its own. Its like Stalin is in control. This is a national disgrace & Bush had to read about it the Post. Oh yeah, the drive-by-media according to Mr. Limp *** Who they hell is in charge. According to Tony Snow it%u2019s not Bush.

[freespeech3]

Lars: What inbred, facist, skinhead moron subhuman sissyboy club do you belong to?

[craigc2664]

I wonder why Vice President Cheney didn't choose to go to Walter Reed to have his blood clots treated??

[biddys]

I have been a military dependent for nearly 40 years and have received all my medical care from the military hospital system. I have no complaints, but I do understand and know the conditions the veterans speak of is true. and for the non military person remember what you are reading about the conditions of the faciltiy as well as the mediocre care....this is an excellent example of of socialized medicine! Medical care provided by the goverment. So let this be a warning to those that think goverment managed medical care is the answer for the masses.
J

[mikegeorge24]

The VA hospital scandal is but a reflection of our society; suddenly there is outrage, while countless Viet Nam era vets, living under the bridges and squatting at the freeway off ramps, have begged change in every city across this nation; turned away from mental hospitals decades ago by Reaganomics.

Today we're content to send our sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters off to war and an uncertain future . . .as we look the other way, to our burgers, fries, cokes and tax cuts.

[searingtruth]

To every American Veteran on this forum.

I could never have imagined that you weren't being taken care of, above and beyond any medical science available, by any administration.

However, after investigation I've found that administrations for the last 30 years have used veterans medical care as an "invisible" way to cut federal budgets, and the Bush administration has made them look altruistic.

I just don't know what to say. And I am rarely at a loss for words.

I can tell you this though. The crimes perpetrated against you will not stand, and every veteran will be paid, generously, for every wound or hardship incurred in defense of our country.

Further, every veteran denied or delayed treatment will be paid retroactively for all injuries.

I am so angry I could spit, and I am spitting right now. Disgusting. Disgusting to the point of irrational anger.

And for all of the Bush haters out there, like me, look at history. While Bush has certainly been worse than all others, as he has been at everything American, he has simply continued and amplified something that has been going on for decades.

No one can blame this travesty of justice on anyone other than ourselves, and we had better all be on the phones, and out in the streets if necessary, demanding that our veterans be treated justly, immediately.
ST

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[ohioangel]

This makes me sick, but its been going on for a long time. We expect these men and women who have put their lives on the line , to come back to the country they defended so bravely and have to beg for medical care ?!
They are treated like dogs, get care that is below the level of care a dog might receive in the dog pound.

Shame on Walter Reed Hospital, and all the VA organizations , this is not how our heroes should be treated

[lmanetl]

an addition to my posted comment:


Then, at a later time, the vet can flip the disability from military to VA disability. Active duty military has the supportive staff that can accomplish this task, that would STOP this BACKLASH,& hold those who are accountable.
Not ALL VA's are the same. Each state & VA provide different services to its' vets.
Because of the current concern of substandard care this is what is happening to the VA SYSTEM;
ALL CLAIMS for vets OTHER THAN OIF/OEF vets have STOPPED being Processed. This means our WWII will die before their aid & attendance claims can be proceesed, & our VN vets & exposed to Agent Orange with cancers caused by this toxin will met the same fate.


As for General Weightman, he DID NOT APOLOGIZE, HIS COMMENT WAS ARROGANT; I APOLOGIZE FOR 'THE CARE NOT MEETING YOUR STANDARDS'.

Vietnam Era, female Veteran

[lmanetl]

Another spin on VA care
The claims form has always been approx. 21 pgs long,
every vet has to prove that their injuries were caused by active service,
every vet has to prove that there were no pre-existing conditions,
all claims take 1-2 years to process,
every vet is considered not credible.
When the VN vets returned they had the same issues, they were called "Winers". Just watch the movie Aricle 15. Also, Women vets had little to no benefits.
For the past 15 years, the VA has went through an enormous overhauling.
The claims process is to begin PRIOR TO THEIR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY, 'NOT', AFTER DISCHARGE. IT IS TAXING A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE PERSONNEL/BUDGET TO PROCESS THE OIF/EOF VETS. The VA is the usual SCAPEGOAT because the military disregards their vets traumatic injuries. The military has a disability pension in place but chooses not to use it. The monetary amount coincides with their rank/pay-grade & can be inacted while they are on still on active duty, & being treated at W Reed Hosp.