Shulkin blasts 'toxic, chaotic, disrespectful' Washington in farewell op-ed

[billh58]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin used an op-ed late Wednesday to blast "the environment in Washington" that "has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work" of his job.

"As I prepare to leave government," he wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times, "I am struck by a reoccurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country."

In the piece, which came hours after President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he would replace his VA secretary, Shulkin claimed he was "falsely accused of things by people who wanted me out of the way," even though he wrote that he acted with "the utmost integrity."

He listed what he said were accomplishments during his time as VA secretary. But, he claimed, "these successes within the department have intensified the ambitions of people who want to put VA health care in the hands of the private sector."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/29/politics/david-shulkin-oped/index.html

[Girard442]

1. If only there was some way to find the source of this toxicity and chaos.

[pangaia]

3. LOL...

[hibbing]

2. You lay with dogs...n/t

[Maxheader]

8. Eat fried chicken..

your hands will get greasy...

[Me.]

4. Cheating Taxpayers

simply adds to the toxicity...you're just mad you got caught

[elleng]

5. David J. Shulkin: Privatizing the V.A. Will Hurt Veterans.

'It has been my greatest professional honor to serve our country’s more than 20 million veterans. Almost three years ago, I left my private sector job running hospitals and came to Washington to repay my gratitude to the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country.

I believe strongly in the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and nothing about my political experience in Washington could ever change that. I also believe that maintaining a strong V.A. is an essential piece of the puzzle that is the United States’ national security system: We can only expect our sons and daughters to risk their lives and fight for our freedom if we can keep our promise to care for them when they return home broken, injured or traumatized. There is no excuse for not holding up our end of the bargain. The mission set forth by President Abraham Lincoln to care for those who have “borne the battle” is a sacred duty that I will remain committed to always.

During my tenure at the department, we have accomplished a tremendous amount. We passed critical legislation that improved the appeals process for veterans seeking disability benefits, enacted a new G.I. Bill and helped ensure that we employ the right people to work at the department. We have expanded access to health care by reducing wait times, increasing productivity and working more closely with the private sector. We have put in place more and better mental health services for those suffering from the invisible wounds of war. We are now processing more disability claims and appeals than ever before and, for the first time, allowing veterans to see the status of their appeals by simply logging on to their accounts. Unemployment among veterans is near its lowest level in years, at 3.5 percent, and the percent of veterans who have regained trust in V.A. services has risen to 70 percent, from 46 percent four years ago.

It seems that these successes within the department have intensified the ambitions of people who want to put V.A. health care in the hands of the private sector. I believe differences in philosophy deserve robust debate, and solutions should be determined based on the merits of the arguments. The advocates within the administration for privatizing V.A. health services, however, reject this approach. They saw me as an obstacle to privatization who had to be removed. That is because I am convinced that privatization is a political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with profits, even if it undermines care for veterans.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/opinion/shulkin-veterans-affairs-privatization.html?

[jimmil]

6. The Koch brothers have poured millions into privatizing the VA.

The VA has the second largest budget in the government. There are billions to be made for some unscrupulous greed grabbing slime balls who don't care about anyone but themselves. The Koch brothers will fit the bill nicely.

[not fooled]

10. Bingo

That's the real reason behind the firing of Shulkin.

dump's new appointee is just the kind of ignorant tool (ignorant of running a large organization) who can be easily rolled by the privatizers.

Dems in Congress better be on this after Nov. Unless the kook brothers get their wish and cheat democracy once again.

#Trillions at stake

[mr_lebowski]

7. There's NO WAY to 'profit' from vets health care that's WHY the VA exists ... much like why Medicare

... exists.

I take that back ... no way to provide them with anything approaching QUALITY care at rates that the average veteran can afford.

'Privatizing' the VA is a terrible, terrible idea (just as it is for SS & Medicare). All three of these government-run systems were put in place because people that are roughly 1,000,000X smarter and more decent human beings than Trump and the current GOP congresscritters ... figured that fact out many decades ago.

Privatization of the VA will mean one thing: Vets will pay way more money out of pocket ... for way shittier care. PERIOD.

So, FUCK YOU TRUMP, and FUCK YOU REPUBLICANS.

[Grins]

9. "(a) Washington...turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive..." Heh-heh-heh....

&quot an) environment in Washington...turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive..."

Hey Dr. Shulkin! Guess who spawned, nurtured and now owns that toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive environment you bitch about, and has so since they took the House and Senate in 2010...?

Do you need an even bigger effing hint?

[Honeycombe8]

11. You lie down with dogs, you get fleas. I do think Shulkin did something inappropriate re money....

I forget what it is, now, but when I read it, it was a cut and dried thing that could be objectively proven. BUT...Trump uses such things as an excuse to get rid of people. Trump is as corrupt as they come, and he's on the take, as well. So he understands others being on the take.

He just wanted to get his guy in..maybe someone more loyal and eager to privatize the VA.

I wonder what Veterans will think about privatizing the VA? What will it cost the taxpayer? Will it be just a huge giveaway to insurance companies? Having ins cos involved increases the cost of medical care a lot, because we have to add on top of the real cost, the PROFIT for the ins. cos.