“And the Hits Just Keep On Coming” . . . for the VA
We all know that the VA has serious problems. But this appears to be a new – and disgusting – issue that hasn’t previously surfaced. Maybe you want to wait until well after lunch before reading the linked story from Fox.
Whistleblower: Cockroaches served in food
at Chicago-area VA hospital
In this case, the “whistleblower” is one Ms. Germaine Clarno – president of the facility’s AFGE Local.
If the name “Germaine Clarno” seems familiar, it should. Jonn’s written about her before.
In case you’re forgotten: Clarno is the same “whistleblower” that refused to discuss other issues involving patient care with Republican Members of Congress from Illinois after her preferred Democratic officials did squat when she brought those issues to their attention. Clarno herself admits that the issues were serious enough that people died needlessly.
Then again, when you’re willing to play politics when lives are literally at stake I guess you’re willing to do the same when the food is substandard or vermin-infested. And I’m guessing Clarno’s known about the food issue for a while, too – she says, “It’s been like this for years, ever since anyone can remember.”
The linked Fox article’s worth reading; so is the article Fox in turn links from Conservative Review, which gives more details. But as I said earlier: maybe you should wait an hour or so after having lunch to read either.
Sad. As well as infuriating – and absolutely inexcusable.
Category: "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Veteran Health Care, Veterans Issues, Veterans' Affairs Department, WTF?
I saw this earlier this morning. That wretched building is infested with the bugs, which is typical of stuff on the south side of Chicago. But when they spray with pesticides, the bugs ignore it because they can build resistance to any pesticide in one generation, and you know how fast they breed.
They do succumb very quickly to a degreasing household cleaner like Fantastik or 409, which softens the waxy exoskeleton and suffocates them. And someone else I know suggested using a spray deodorant because it not only cuts off air to their breathing pores, it clogs the pores permanently and they suffocate. Same principle.
This is an odd thing to read about, because the same complaints, including rat infestations, surfaced in the 1970s after the Vietnam War was over.
Not quite on point, but the building is in the Western suburbs. Otherwise, yeah it was notorious for a long time. My father spent time there and, ironically enough considering what’s said in the article, as a kid I delivered pizzas to the place. There was indeed a general atmosphere of nastiness.
Not surprised one bit, sad enough I just got selected for a position with VA in at Headquarters.
I believe Tampa had rat infested hospital a yea or so ago. Chicago serving roaches. What are chances that other major city VAs got problems like this.
Just from talking to employees, they got some serious issues going on besides this.
(20 Mule Team) Borax?
It was highly recommended when we lived in Hawaii.
Is it even still available? Living in SLC UT, (high altitude and relatively dry), cockroaches and fleas are fairly rare here.
Twenty Mule Team Borax is readily available at your local Walmart.
The stuff works great on laundry. Whitens without bleach and is a ton cheaper than Oxi-Clean.
Its also great as a fluxing agent when forge welding pieces of steel together….and now you know haha
My Grandfather (former Marine that served during WWII and fought at Tarawa) worked for U. S. Borax for years – he would get a case of 20 Mule team monthly to bring home and he would split it up. Mom always had a couple of boxes in the house. Still see it on the shelves and usually by a couple of boxes during the year.
Boric acid (white crystalline powder) works even better. Readily available, very low toxicity to pets and humans, and because of the way it works effectively zero chance of developing tolerance. Takes a few weeks to eradicate a roach infestation, and then regular applications in breeding areas to maintain. But effective as hell.
Plain old Borax… Not Laundry soap… mix it 1/1 with nestle’s Quick…. sprinkle around wall cracks and baseboard… Takes Three weeks because yuo Gotta Kill 2 -3 Generations…
Look it up at “The Straight Dope”
Borax works, but not as well as boric acid. Borax is a hydrated salt of boric acid; the boric acid part is what does the deed. The pure or partially anhydrous form of boric acid (also a powder) works better, because the active ingredient is more concentrated. The little varmints get a lethal dose quicker.
You learn a few things when you know an entomologist for several decades. (smile)
If the VA has problems now, just wait until I drop off the lawsuit at the courthouse for the botched vasectomy that changed the color of my children.
Shit’s gonna get real then.
Dammit…
Spew alert us in the future Claw…
You owe me a new laptop screen…
I’ll put in the dry white rice, it attracts the Asian guys so they can fix it…
Claw, I know. The same thing happend to a buddy of mine. He got a vasectomy and a year later his wife had a Filipino baby. The funny thing is that when he was tested later he had a ZERO sperm count. Go figure.
Well, that confirms that there are at least two of us who received the same procedure.
Where there’s two, undoubtedly there must be more.
Is it time for a class action lawsuit?
“I sure have to be careful I don’t get pregnant”
“I thought your husband got a vasectomy last winter?”
“He did…that’s why I have to be careful!”
A joke probably older than I am.
We’re getting to the point that messages need to be sent. The sort of messages that include bullets to brainpans.
It sounds like Germaine Clarno is about as intelligent and competent as Commissar.
The thing that pisses me off about the VA is that Congress and the White House will not do anything substantive with regards to that mess.
It’s all Kabuki theater.
No wonder Trump is doing so well.
I can’t lay the blame for the VA’s problems on Congress.
All Congress can do is (1) provide funds, and (2) investigate complaints via public hearings. They’ve done both, even providing more $$$ than the VA requested at times.
What Congress generally can’t do is hire good VA management, fire incompetent or corrupt VA employees, or launch criminal investigations. Those are solely Executive Branch functions – and that means the Administration in charge has to answer for those failings.
Yes, some of the issues predate the current Administration. But my perspective is they’ve gotten hugely worse over the past 7+ years. And Iraq was winding down when the current Administration came to power, so the preceding administration can’t be blamed for all of those issues.
I am so grateful for our “local” VA hospital (Bath NY) which seems to run effectively and efficiently, after it was taken over by a “local boy” a couple of decades ago. Even years after his retirement (and some still praise, and some still curse, his name) it seems to be doing at least as well as our civilian hospitals. We are truly blessed. The next “closest” to us is in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PA, and I hear incredible horror stories about it. Our experiences with the Buffalo (NY) VA hospital have been good, as well. I wish they were all so.
We visited Bath, NY last week, and in between appts., drove around the grounds and visited the cemetery, which is astounding large for such a rural hospital, and very beautiful, rolling up and down steep hills. I recommend that to anyone.
I hope someone straightens out all the things our vets need, and soon. It’s a national shame.
That is not quite right. You also have a VA facility in Syracuse.
I have several friends that are combat veterans that work there, and I would trust them with my life.
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