Live blogging Winter Soldier II (Part II)

| March 14, 2008

The second part of the program this morning (you can get the names and personal info from TSO) is on veterans’ healthcare. The complaints are systemic of a large government bureaucracies running healthcare. Long waits between visits, difficulty in getting adequate diagnosis in a timely manner. Of course, what the panelists missed is that it’s always the same – their solutions are always more money.

Cost to veterans and military members went on the rise in 1992 when Congress mandated higher co-pays for veterans and active duty soldiers who didn’t use the military system and instead used CHAMPUS (usually because of geographic location). Then in 1993 military retirees were forced off of the military and into Social Security at the age of 65. President Bush reinstated care for retirees, but the co-pays have remained.

The most applause from the audience were calls for free government healthcare for all Americans avoiding the fact that the entire problem with the military system is the fact that it’s a bureaucracy run by politicians and administrators instead of a private system managed by real doctors.

One of the panelists, Eli Wright, claimed that he couldn’t get treatment because Walter Reed only treats combat casualties. That’s complete horseshit – I had my gall bladder removed there just a few years ago – I had a private recovery room. They treated me for pneumonia just a few weeks with the usual long wait – but the guy claimed he was on active duty and they wouldn’t treat his injury (shoulder injury playing football in his stateside unit) because it wasn’t combat related. Please.

OK, for some reason I’m listening to some guy who committed suicide playing guitar so I’m going to drift off here.

The second guy from the end in the picture above just said Congress needs to get control of the Veterans health sytem – just spit all over poor TSO. Yeah, the answer is Congressional involvement – they do so well at everything else. Ask the troops if they want Congress involved.

Category: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Walter Reed, Winter Soldier II Live blogging

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GI JANE

Well, so far we’ve witnessed a small panel of disgruntled, ex-military miscreants, who regurgitate shit that proves a: They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, and b: Most of the shit is exagerated or just plain made up.

Michell Malkin posted a video-link confrontation between Young Americans for Freedom representative Jason Mattera, and John Kerry. Jason cornered the bastard and called him on his troop-smearing crap when he lied in front of Congress in 1971. Kerry still lies about it, so at least he’s consistent.

GI JANE

Well, so far we’ve witnessed a small panel of disgruntled, ex-military miscreants, who regurgitate shit that proves a: They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, and b: Most of the shit is exagerated or just plain made up.

Michelle Malkin posted a video-link confrontation between Young Americans for Freedom representative Jason Mattera, and John Kerry. Jason cornered the bastard and called him on his troop-smearing crap when he lied in front of Congress in 1971. Kerry still lies about it, so at least he’s consistent.

defendusa

Yep, horseshit special served up all the time. It is hard to believe that THEY really know what they say. That WRAMC only treats combat injuries is complete HS as you said. Been there, done that. And the answer sure as hell isn’t more money. It is taking out the politicians and letting businessmen line it up and adding competition to the mix. Kinda like the postal service…I digress. Nice Job and thanks.

El Coqui

Agreed, work at WRAMC. Statement is pure BS. We even treat civilian emergencies. But them truth is not their primary objective, right?

El Coqui

And one more thing. They complain about the system but wants all Americans subjected to a similar version. I wonder if they actually think about what they riling against.