"Republicans care more about the vets." BULL-FUCKING-SHIT!

[MrScorpio]

If I had a dollar for every time someone tried to shovel some of that crappola to me over the years, I'd be a fucking millionaire.

They need to read this puppy and seeing how it's on Military.com, maybe some of them will:

Dismantling VA
Larry Scott | September 29, 2005
The Senator's aide chuckled rather loudly and said, "What VA? By the time this administration is done there won't be a VA." Our conversation had begun with a discussion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) healthcare budget, and quickly came down to a single, simple point. VA is being dismantled.

Three reasons why the administration would want to dismantle VA immediately come to mind:

VA is a large-scale, publicly funded healthcare system that works: VA works so well it has been used as a model to push the case for nationalized healthcare; something that strikes fear in the heart of every Republican.

Recent studies by the Rand Corporation and the University of Michigan , working with UCLA, prove the point that VA is efficient and provides healthcare that meets the highest standards. If it can work for millions of veterans, it can work for millions of Americans. That concept is antithetical to current administration thinking.

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina we learned that VA was the ONLY healthcare organization that managed to save ALL patient records. This is because VA uses a computerized system that was backed-up on a regional level and put back online in a matter of hours. Now that system is under attack by Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs . Rep. Buyer wants to eliminate regional control of the system under the guise of saving money.

VA is ripe for privatization: And that spells profits for private corporations. The latest move in this direction happened last week on Capitol Hill where the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved S. 1182 (see Sec. 10) which would spend money from VA's healthcare budget to study outsourcing jobs of VA healthcare workers. The study, with VA healthcare funds going to private consultants, could cost over $140 million and lead to the loss of up to 36,000 VA jobs. Democrats opposed it, but Republicans pushed it through.

VA is part of BIG government: And that's something this administration abhors. GOP strategist Grover Norquist says he wants the government shrunk down so he can “drown it in the bathtub.” The problem with this is that smaller government means fewer services as well as the much-touted lower taxes. And the jobs that are spared are outsourced and cost more to maintain because private corporations have to build in a profit margin.

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,,77901,00.html

Military folk who support Republicans are stabbing themselves in the back.

[Deja Q]

1. Then those supporters will bleed to death like the rest of us.

First bvled of money, then bled of blood.

[RagingInMiami]

2. I hate when they say that too

Do you know how many Iraq war vets are homeless now? It's a growing number, not that you would ever read about it.

And how many vets who have lost limbs in the war are still waiting for benefits?

[WCGreen]

3. But Mr. Scorpio....

They keep telling us they take good care of the vets....

Sounds like it's time for another Bonus March......

[meganmonkey]

4. You are so right

But if folks haven't figured this out yet, how will we ever get them to? My juxtaposed stickers on my car of "Support the troops - Give them healthcare" mixed with a bunch of peace signs is my way of fucking with their heads - I get a lot of confused looks. But I feel like I should keep copies of articles like this on hand to pass out to people! Maybe I will...

[MrScorpio]

5. I love you, Sugar Pie

:hug:

Keep up the good works

[meganmonkey]

8. Love you too, fellow Scorpio!

Thanks for the ride Saturday, and the chance to get to know you a bit!

:hug:

[miss_kitty]

6. Neither side cares that much

There have been mass cuts throughout the years and administrations. Closing hospitals, Waiting lists miles long, Drives of hundreds of miles by vets to get to the nearest hospital, Denial of the existence of illness(es), Not addressing mental illness brought on by battle in an assiduous manner, Cutting back on educational grants, Not providing housing for homeless vets...

And if you want to talk about BIG government and mismanagement look no further than that steaming fucking pile of shit, 'Homeland' 'Security.'
To put shit like that in place while denying veterans care and comfort-outrageous.

[BikeWriter]

7. The bastids are changing the criteria for everything...

My Brother was pre-VietNam era Navy. The VA diagnosed him with severe hearing loss in both ears and gave him 60% disability for his hearing loss and tinnitus.
I served in VietNam. The VA diagnosed me with severe hearing loss in both ears and gave me 10% disability for my tinnitus. What's the difference? Budget cuts?

[lpbk2713]

9. The repub way is to repeat a lie often enough until it is accepted

as the truth. What do they know about vets anyway? They don't serve. All their role models either avoided the draft altogether or used their family's influence to get special assignments.

If they really wanted to know about vets they would consult vets but we all know they avoid the truth like Dracula avoids daylight.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. How about we take away the U.S. Congress Federally funded

Health care and see how they like that? Working class Americans who support republicans are stabbing themselves in the back, as they are the rest of us, too.