Thursday, May 26, 2016

Send VA's McDonald on Permanent Vacation

Send VA’s McDonald on Permanent Vacation
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
May 26, 2016

Comparing the wait time for medical services at VA facilities to that of the lengthy lines at Disneyland is both insensitive and disrespectful to those who put their lives on the line defending the freedoms of this great nation. For his derisive and dismissive remarks, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald should be dismissed and sent on a permanent vacation.

Thousands of American veterans, service men and women who signed a blank check for up to and including the ultimate sacrifice have actually died waiting for the medical services they have earned. Additionally, thousands of veterans have been declared deceased by the VA, thus costing them their benefits, and ultimately sending them on a trail of red tape in the attempts to reinstate both their status and those much needed benefits.

McDonald, who has oft-claimed his hands are tied and unable to fire personnel at the VA, is simply a symptom of a greater ill. That ill is governmental bureaucracy – a bureaucracy that has prevented veterans from obtaining the necessary care they earned that will improve their lives. Veterans are typically placed on lengthy waiting lists – sometimes months long for appointments. That would be unheard of in the private sector, and thanks to competition, patients are free to seek medical care elsewhere.

To that end, privatization of the medical aspect of the Veterans Administration, in a capitalist society will be the veterans’ salvation. Far too many veterans are chained to the VA for their medical care, treatment, and prescription medications. Were the VA forced to compete on the open market and patients given viable alternatives within their financial restraints, veterans could put the VA behind them. Offer tax incentives to doctors to add new veteran patients to their practices.

Illegal aliens seem to have better medical options than do veterans. Many veterans have limited incomes, which is another disgrace for another column. Veterans should be able to visit any doctor of their choosing. (Quite frankly, so should all Americans – thus the dire need to obliterate Obamacare.) Illegals get free medical care, paid for by Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer – including taxes extracted from veterans.

As for the non-medical aspects of the Department of Veterans Affairs, fire the dead weight, incompetents, and the malingerers. Replace them with veterans qualified to do those jobs. US Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), herself a veteran, are both calling for the dismissal of McDonald for his egregious and irresponsible Disneyland comments as well as the overall disastrous manner in which the Department is being managed.

Free the veterans from the government yoke and get them the medical care they need and deserve. They gave this country their all, it’s the very least that should be done for them.


Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

2 comments:

  1. I am just so disgusted. My nephew fought in Afghanistan where he was shot twice upon returning home, he was a mental and emotional mess. He listened to his family and sought counseling from the VA, they put him on a waiting list and he waited and waited, called and called. The psychological pain was so bad he turned to cocaine and that is where he is today a full blown coke addict and he has lost everything.

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  2. Every family member as well as my friends have had an unbelievable amount of trouble from them, including sending the medication that they don't need any longer and getting billed for it anyway. Besides this there exists the constant run around, whereby one is told some provision or action will be taken in the favor to their need of help , aide or assistance or even a procedure; all these mentioned either lead to a dead end, are not applicable as they had been when suggested or proposed or they are gravely postponed or delayed ... The Veteran Association is anything but and what Mr. Donald had said was not just Callous and not only a slam to the Vets but one to all of us. Getting help from the VA is not the same thing as waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland unless they are trying to convey another darker meaning ... that our Honored Vets are being taken for a ride by them. Ugh!!!

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