I think this toon is geared towards Obama spiking the ball about how well our government-run healthcare system is working. And Old1953, instead of stealing from future generations to pay for VA benefits (aka running up a debt), why don’t we cut duplicative programs, just as a start… somewhere around $200 billion a year in duplicated work just at the federal level. And that’s not even the money that just “disappears” into the ether. I have to laugh that government is allowed to just … lose money. If the government were a business, every accountant from top to bottom would have been fired for how poor of a job they’ve done keeping track of money. It’s ridiculous.
I don’t want to deny the men and women who served in our military proper health care for injuries received while in the military, but HOLY $HIT! An AVERAGE expenditure of one half to three quarters of a million dollars per year per veteran!!! Are all these people total invalids?!? Even top-of-the-line nursing homes don’t cost that much. How much of this expenditure is overhead?
When it comes to health care from VA, there are 8 (eight) PRIORITY GROUPS, under which veterans MAY qualify for VA health care. NOT EVERY VET QUALIFIES!
From Group one; veterans with 50% or higher service connected disabilities, all care is free, and they have PRIORITY FOR TREATMENT, as in appointments, level of care, etc.
Down in Group Eight, there are economic requirements, as in several other groups, that allow those who can’t get or afford other coverage or care through “the outside world of medicine”.
The wonder years of the Reagan through “W” administrations, with a pause actually under Clinton, have seen continual increases in needs of COMBAT CASUALTIES, as well as the influx of older vets who now look to the agency, as they can’t afford the geriatric (among others) care they need in old age, and don’t have the incomes to match. Even Social Security and Medicaid have passed these folks off to the VA.
I totally support, obviously as a permanently and totally disabled veteran myself, providing care for ALL VETERANS who need help. But an offshoot it seem of the “me generations” is that an awful lot of those stressing the system, and trying to con their way in, are those citing the positive aspects of “Reaganomics”, while calling for the “government” to support them. For example, folks trying to get diagnosed with PTSD so they can get the money, not treatment, even though they never left the states of Qatar or other non-contact locations, or MOS.
On our local news, I did see a guy, retired law enforcement with PTSD from service, who pointed out he wants psychiatric therapy, NOT JUST DRUGS OR MONEy, and he’s had trouble with VA. I’m sympathetic to him, because just as I found in over 30 years of “private practice” medicine, I was also just given more drugs, rather than other therapies. VA did provide me with outpatient (fee basis) visits to a psychologist on contract, and in my time with her, I went from 50-80 “flashbacks” a WEEK, to one or two a month. BIG improvement over drugs because she was good and knew PTSD well! Other practitioners may indeed NOT have the experience or skill to accurately treat PTSD, and it does often require some searching for the right practitioner.
The points being of course, the situation is a LOT more complex than people, or ’toonists, realize!
colinmichaeljames almost 10 years ago
The reflexive lie. Yes. Obama had deliberately and maliciously wrought suffering personally. Summers idiocy in it’s usual poorly pencilled display.
moosemin almost 10 years ago
This constant dis-information is getting boring.
Wraithkin almost 10 years ago
I think this toon is geared towards Obama spiking the ball about how well our government-run healthcare system is working. And Old1953, instead of stealing from future generations to pay for VA benefits (aka running up a debt), why don’t we cut duplicative programs, just as a start… somewhere around $200 billion a year in duplicated work just at the federal level. And that’s not even the money that just “disappears” into the ether. I have to laugh that government is allowed to just … lose money. If the government were a business, every accountant from top to bottom would have been fired for how poor of a job they’ve done keeping track of money. It’s ridiculous.
alex Coke Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Less wars, less vets.
oneoldhat almost 10 years ago
moose if you are tired of This constant dis-information is getting boring stop reading radish
Snarky almost 10 years ago
I don’t want to deny the men and women who served in our military proper health care for injuries received while in the military, but HOLY $HIT! An AVERAGE expenditure of one half to three quarters of a million dollars per year per veteran!!! Are all these people total invalids?!? Even top-of-the-line nursing homes don’t cost that much. How much of this expenditure is overhead?
Michael Peterson Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Well said, wbr.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
A note of clarity?:
When it comes to health care from VA, there are 8 (eight) PRIORITY GROUPS, under which veterans MAY qualify for VA health care. NOT EVERY VET QUALIFIES!
From Group one; veterans with 50% or higher service connected disabilities, all care is free, and they have PRIORITY FOR TREATMENT, as in appointments, level of care, etc.
Down in Group Eight, there are economic requirements, as in several other groups, that allow those who can’t get or afford other coverage or care through “the outside world of medicine”.
The wonder years of the Reagan through “W” administrations, with a pause actually under Clinton, have seen continual increases in needs of COMBAT CASUALTIES, as well as the influx of older vets who now look to the agency, as they can’t afford the geriatric (among others) care they need in old age, and don’t have the incomes to match. Even Social Security and Medicaid have passed these folks off to the VA.
I totally support, obviously as a permanently and totally disabled veteran myself, providing care for ALL VETERANS who need help. But an offshoot it seem of the “me generations” is that an awful lot of those stressing the system, and trying to con their way in, are those citing the positive aspects of “Reaganomics”, while calling for the “government” to support them. For example, folks trying to get diagnosed with PTSD so they can get the money, not treatment, even though they never left the states of Qatar or other non-contact locations, or MOS.
On our local news, I did see a guy, retired law enforcement with PTSD from service, who pointed out he wants psychiatric therapy, NOT JUST DRUGS OR MONEy, and he’s had trouble with VA. I’m sympathetic to him, because just as I found in over 30 years of “private practice” medicine, I was also just given more drugs, rather than other therapies. VA did provide me with outpatient (fee basis) visits to a psychologist on contract, and in my time with her, I went from 50-80 “flashbacks” a WEEK, to one or two a month. BIG improvement over drugs because she was good and knew PTSD well! Other practitioners may indeed NOT have the experience or skill to accurately treat PTSD, and it does often require some searching for the right practitioner.
The points being of course, the situation is a LOT more complex than people, or ’toonists, realize!