Heard on the radio: “Don’t worry your pretty little head about this Walter Reed situation; go out and buy another $3 “Suppport the Troops” $3 magnet–no doubt made in China–and stick it on your SUV”. Bitterly funny.

When the other choice is to send cards to the wounded soldiers wishing for their death then yes, a $3 Chinese magnetic ribbon is better. But then, they’re just mercenaries, so who really cares as long as Bush gets it in the end, right honora?

V5,

What about allowing veterans the ability to choose their own medical care? Give them vouchers equal to the level of benefits promised them as veterans.

I’m a disabled veteran… a quadriplegic with damage to my spinal cord at C5-C6. I’ve been treated at both the Washington DC VA Hospital and Walter Reed. In terms of patient care, attention to detail (by nurses, doctors and other staff), waiting times (both treatment and pharmacy), and just plain old fashioned-all around suckiness I’d much rather go Walter Reed than the VA Hospital.

Furthermore, it’s been 20 months since I submitted my packet to the VA to get my status corrected… with no end in sight! I call on a regular basis and all they will tell me is that the ‘evaluators’ have my file. The VA’s website claims that the average veteran’s packet takes six months to get through the system and be approved or disapproved. What a crock of crap!

I’ve been in contact with literally hundreds of veterans (a lot of them Desert Storm Vets with the same or similar neurological problems that I have) that have been waiting almost twice as long as me… and some longer. Can you imagine your civilian insurance and doctors taking 40 months to decide your case? You’d get a lawyer and sue… wouldn’t you?

Well guess what, there’s a little law that keeps veterans from being able to get a lawyer to do that. Even in the appeals court process the only thing you’re allowed is a Veterans Service Rep to assist you. No lawyers for the veterans!

Yes, the whole system is screwed up, but the VA is 10x worse than Walter Reed.

Here’s an example of your tax dollars at waste at the Washington DC VA Hospital. The following happened to me. It’s not a “I heard it from someone” story!

I was at the Washington DC VA Hospital on day for treatment. I had an appointment around 10 a.m. with my neurologist and then an appointment with Physical Therapy around 11:30 a.m.

After I completed both appointments my mother and I ate lunch in the hospital. At 1:30 p.m. I went to the Recreational Therapy office to try and get information on the annual disabled veterans ski trip at Snowmass, Colorado.

There were two people (‘clerks’??) sitting at separate desks in the outer office. At the rear of the outer officer was a door to the inner office (office of the head of Rec Therapy). When I rolled into the office the guy on the left was playing online computer flash games and the lady to my right was laying solitare and talking to a friend (obviousy a female from the way they talked about guys) or a family member.

I could see through the office door into the inner office and saw the head of Rec Therapy leaning back in his chair. I could hear every word he was saying too, and he was obviosly talking to his wife.

Several times I asked both of the “clerks” for help and was told that I had to wait for the “director.”

Not a single one of them greeted -or even acknowledged us- as we came in the office. We sat there from 1:30 until 3:00 while the three of them continued what they were doing. I finally became so furious that I shouted out that either someone helped me immediately or I was going to the hospital directors office to complain.

Now keep in mind that I was the only person in that office that was a veteran/client the entire time. No one else ever walked in or out.

Then, after my outburst the lady (clerk) and the Rec Therapy director came over and got really snotty with me, telling me that they were busy doing VA business and that I had to wait like everyone else. When I told them that I was paralyzed and not retarded and that I had just witnessed them waste and hour and a half of the taxpayers money I was asked to leave and not return unless I wanted to be arrested by the VA cops.

I’m so sick of the Department of Veterans Affairs and their staffers. It’s been my personal observation that 90% of them are lazy assholes with government jobs, so it’s nearly impossible to get rid of them. The other 10% are so overworked -because they have to pick up the slack for the lazy people- that they are tired and make mistakes. One of those mistakes almost killed me.

It was a simple accident by an overworked person. Fortunately I’m smart enough to read my doctors orders and prescriptions and was able to catch the accidental overdose before I swallowed the pills.

Yes, the entire military healthcare -active duty and veterans- need an over haul. But, having been treated by both systems I wish I could stay with the active duty hospitals.

Oh… and one more thing. If anyone thinks I’m Bull Shitting, I have another appointment in the VA hospital in about 30 days. They’re more than welcome to go with me and see it first hand. I can point out all kinds of crap. Sort of a tour of of the abuse and waste of your taxpayers dollars!

The invitation is extended to anyone… Dem or Repub that wants to see it. Any takers? Malkin? AllaPundit? Congressman? Senator? 60 Minutes? Anyone…?

~V5

it completely depends on where you are I guess

I don’t doubt that at all.

As another poster already noted, this isn’t a VA hospital.

Ever been in a VA hospital? I have, several times.

by RedinBlueCounty

My father has and it completely depends on where you are I guess. He likes the one in Washington State..actually prefers it over others in the area.

I do know that the VA system has been a real success story in recent years, a major turnaround.

Ever been in a VA hospital? I have, several times. They are over-crowded, under-staffed, it takes a week or more for medications to arrive in the mail and very few VA hospitals will accept emergency patients, instead they are sent to the nearest civilian hospital as most VA hospitals do not have the staff or equipment necessary for emergency care.

The VA system is a mess. Yes, it is an improvement from your would find 40 years ago, but all those improvement occurred in the mid to late 80′s and little improvements have been made since then.

I’m surprised that’s the first time you heard that. The anti-war crowd has been using that line (just go get another ribbon magnet) in one form or another for quite a while now.

Isn’t the VA just the real-life version of HILLARYCARE?

naliaka on February 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM

I don’t really know what you mean. I do know that the VA system has been a real success story in recent years, a major turnaround. Who or what is behind this? I really have no idea.

Yes honora, I am blaming the clinton admin.

shooter on February 21, 2007 at 9:53 PM

I think we have a winner….

Heard on the radio: “Don’t worry your pretty little head about this Walter Reed situation; go out and buy another $3 “Suppport the Troops” $3 magnet–no doubt made in China–and stick it on your SUV”. Bitterly funny.

Having one caseworker assigned to every 125 cases is really beyond the pale though. And mold??? Supporting the troops indeed.

Tommy

I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:

O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins,” when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mr. Atkins,” when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.

Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy how’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;

While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind,”
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.

For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool – you bet that Tommy sees!

This is where things stand now.

Does it seem odd to anyone else that she called it the “crown jewel” of the Army hospitals?

If Walter Reed is on a list of places to close down, I doubt it’s the crown jewel.

JadeNYU on February 21, 2007 at 8:30 PM

Maybe it was a statement on the condition of other Army hospitals.

I was stationed at Lowry a LONG time ago and thought it was a great place. Glad to hear it is doing well. I also had surgery at Fitz in 93. Very poor facilities but some of the best personnel I have ever come across. They did some great work despite the aging buildings they worked in.

You know, at first I had the same reaction as you did. But then I started thinking about it. Who better to fix the problems than the NCOs? If we want the responsibilities of leadership we had better be ready to take the blame if we screw up. We are the backbone of the Army, after all
JasonG on February 21, 2007 at 12:32 PM

WTF?

Can you name for me one garrison in the US military in which an NCO is garrison commander?

…or a hospital commander?

I understand NCO’s are very good at their jobs, and at getting things done, but certain tasks require leadership from those in a commanders position.

Isn’t the VA just the real-life version of HILLARYCARE?
naliaka on February 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM

I said throughout the ’90′s that anyone supporting HillaryCare should be required to volunteer and seek medical care solely at a VA hospital for a month.

Bush is proposing cutting the VA budget after he leaves office. This is not the place to start exercising fiscal responsibility. Once again, the private sector trumps big government with the Center for the Intrepid. Donate here to the Fallen Heroes Fund.

Valiant on February 21, 2007 at 11:08 AM

I read the article, it was either rather sloppily written, or intentionally written to be misleading.

Nowhere does it show comparisons to previous budgets to clearly show huge increases over recent years.

The AP writer throws in a bit of editorializing:

The proposed cuts are unrealistic in light of recent VA budget trends — its medical care budget has risen every year for two decades and 83 percent in the six years since Bush took office — sowing suspicion that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better.

It would have been nice to see more balanced quotes rather than only attacks from defeatocrats. Some of these same indignant democrats had no problem with Clenis’ flatlined budgets.

The whole article reminds me of Rockefeller when he chaired the Senate VA Committee years ago. He never voiced any concern about the Clenis’ budgets, but then stated the VA treated less than 1% of the nations 26 million veterans in an attempt to attack Republicans when he lost his chairmanship.

The Washington Post has a shocking report about the condition of Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, particularly Building 18: The Post series documented tattered conditions at Building 18, including mold,……

I’m shocked, shocked that honora hasn’t chimed in on this thread yet.

I really like HA….. you all are classic!