And they know that there are no consequences electorally.

who'd made it their lifetime mission to defund the shit out of the VA.

What? There is? Hooray!

The Stupid, it burns bright, it draws The Mass Media and most of the Social Media like moths to a Stupid candle...guess that is why all the threads about all The Stupid things People say!

Americans, though, are far more entertained by the endless freight cars of the GOP Clown Train. How could you not be?

Hint: If you ARE trying to make a joke, don't leave out the punch line.

Last edited Mon Jun 15, 2015, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

I know someone who works as a contractor to the VA.

To clarify, for those who jump to conclusions.

I have a close relative who works as a contractor for the VA offices in Washington DC.

I don't want to go into detail because the VA persecutes, fires and prosecutes whistleblowers, and this relative is afraid to lose his job because he is at the age (almost 60) where nobody will hire him if he becomes unemployed.

This person has worked there for 8 years and personally witnessed ridiculous amounts of waste. One example is a person who sits around doing nothing because they have a certain computer certification and the contracting firm can bill the VA close to a half million dollars a year for him. My relative also has seen an incompetent group of contractors that can get away with suddenly shutting down a huge database, repeatedly, without notifying other contractors who may be doing work on a tight deadline and causing them to have to re-do all their work. These are just two examples of many he has told me about.

This person is irate at the amounts of money wasted, because he feels strongly that it should be used to benefit veterans themselves instead of fattening the wallets of contractors.

So get the hell off my case, buffoons.

What 1st hand experience do you have with the VA?
My guess is none. Why bother to post 2nd hand comments?

As a 'nam vet I have been very well cared for at the VA.
I've used multiple VA facilities in many parts of the country
and have had fewer problems with the VA than with for profit hospitals.

Think before you post.

I've used VA health care for quite a while, and for the most part satisfied. The VA like all institutions has the 15% factor. 15% of the people working there are assholes, just like anywhere else. Sometimes it's your turn to deal with them. But if you keep using the same facility you learn what areas to avoid.

I am very happy you've had good care. I think they are OK for younger people (and, yeah, you are younger to me), but when it gets to chronic care of the post 70s, they're terrible. They spread out care in what seemed to me to be an intentional effort to make you not want to use their services.

I am fortunate enough to have several other options, but I have many friends who had no other alternative, and their experiences have been uniformly bad.

I do too. I'm enrolled in, and make use of Medicare from time to time.

I was fortunate enough to befriend a retired Veterans advocate and PTSD counselor about 5 years ago. He taught me everything I need to know to navigate the system. When you tell them you expect them to adhere to "Standards of Care", they have no other option. I'll ask for a supervisor or patient advocate if necessary.

The bottom line is this: Be proactive!

has worked hard for years for the VA. Criticism is ok, but people should be careful that they have facts, not fiction.

Well, isn't that special.

Your comment is nearly as offensive as this jack-ass coffman's from Colorado.

I know someone who told me about some one in Kaiser getting the wrong leg amputated. Does that make it fact?

I rely on the VA, and their attention, services and personnel are second to NONE that I've ever come across in the private sector.

Coffman's ignorance, and your post of "I know someone" is such absolute garbage. We all "know someone". To repeat that crap is just as lame and ignorant as the jack ass from CO, regardless of any service you or he may have provided in military service.

Both of you obviously don't know what you are talking about.

This is not how people should treat people on DU

The review was completed at Mon Jun 15, 2015, 07:59 PM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Hulk mad. Hulk call names. Hulk should get counseling.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: The response was out of proportion to the post he was responding to.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's rude. This poster (Hulk) was angered by the OP's harsh criticism of the VA and should have been directed at the OP, not the innocent party who said he knew a contractor, as Hulk is dependent on the VA and is satisfied and grateful.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

I think that you were in the line of fire and it was meant for the OP who got a few others angry with his trash talk of the VA..

You never commented on the contractor you know. They owe you an apology, but they were mad at the OP.... Read the threads of the guys who like and depend on the VA - I bet they were all angry with the OP...

You did nothing wrong and it's too bad. A case of bad aim.

The whole thread was pro and con and nasty here and there.

Maybe other people have thicker skin, but unfortunately I don't.

I do stupid stuff and say stupid stuff all the time, and after a day or two, nobody remembers. I remember only because my POSTS was highlighted from your reply.

Your crime(?) was a failure to recognize who he was really mad at. Some of them really love and depend on the VA, and maybe the hospitals where they receive services, they get good treatment. Always best not to generalize because the same bad conditions do not prevail in all hositals. Thank goodness for the contractor you know, who feels badly that the veterans aren't getting better care.

Hope you are not mad at me. I voted to Leave It, but thought he was a dog barking up the wrong tree. I see how you could take it personal.

Beautiful day outside today.

and Medicare all work very well at a cost the average person can afford that these anti democratic
Fascist sociopaths hate these programs . They need flushed out of our government .

Pot calling the kettle black....how hypocritical. Put the repuKKKes in charge of ISIS, is a more appropriate slam. I rely on the VA services, and I highly resent that ignorant remark.

I'm sure this coward has NEVER served in the armed forces, and I'm also rather confident he has NEVER supported those of us who have returned from a war zone with less than health than when we entered; and for him to say such an outrageous comment is beyond the pale. He needs to be openly exposed and ridiculed for this rude, arrogant and ignorant remark!

These repuKKKes just disgust me to no end. They honestly make me ashamed to be an American, and they shame me every time they open their pie hole with such "coultier remarks". Is he trying to get a gig on fox-nonsense network?

A pig! An asshole in the first degree!

of ISIS, they don't seem to get anything done. And they should have them under funded withing a few months.

Of course this post will probably get hidden for having a dissenting opinion or a sense of humor.