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.
