WHY Do We Treat Wounded Soldiers So Badly?

Question

How did our VA hospitals get in such terrible shape—and WHY did this happen?
Walter Reed Army Hospital, where investigators found rodent infested facilities with holes in the ceilings and paint peeling off the walls, is less than six miles from the White House. The extreme tax cuts at top income levels that this administration has pushed through congress have only have helped to create a situation where people at the top, who influence government policy, are almost entirely estranged from the middle class.

Answer 1

There are dozens of military hospital across the country yet no other bad reports from them. And you can be assured the local media has already investigated them as soon has that story broke. The maintenance deficiencies at Walter Reed's out patient housing was probably a failure of the local command and not a failure of the system. That said , it never should have happened and careers we ended because of it. The bureaucratic red tape with disabilities, councilors and physical therapists is a systematic problem that has been around for decades, Ask any WW2, Korean, or Vietnam vet. These are not issues that were caused by the current administration, just inattentiveness over an extended period.

Answer 2

The question should be, why do we treat the military so badly?

Why? They wanted to outsource the jobs to private industry even though they didn't win the contract, the government did! Private industry cares about profits not people! Once the contract was won, the US Senate (Republican) forced the award to a private contractor!

The military is partly to blame! They won't talk to VA or give them the records they need! Some of this is the new Veteran Affairs commissioner, appointed by Bush, who let the program to interface with the military 2 years ago be shelved! When asked about it yesterday, he was clueless there was even such a program!

The biggest problem is George Bush! In his budget for FY 2006 was a 100 BILLION dollar cur to the Veterans hospital, even though they have been flatlined for his whole administration. The rich got their tax cut though!

The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans’ health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system. Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012. … Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter.” February 12, 2007 10:08 pm

32,000 wounded in Iraq, most by IED's! Those all are all combat related (WIA's). The actual total is over 50,000!

In 2003, the Bush Administration threatened to veto the entire defense authorization bill if it included a provision to end the “Disabled Veterans Tax,” which has forced disabled military retirees to lose one dollar of their military retirement pay for each dollar of VA service-connected compensation for a service-connected disability. The Administration also opposed ending the “Widow’s Tax,” which cut benefits to the survivors of military retirees age 62 and older.

Bush's current budget has another cut for VA Hospital;s, and another tax cut for the rich!

If I were rich I would donate mine to the VA Hospitals!

The "extreme levels" do not pay 96% of income taxes as the person above suggests! Ninety percent of the taxes are paid by the top 50%, which is anyone making over $30,000!

Like leona Helmsly said "The rich don't pay taxes. just the little people do"

Answer 3

You are confusing VA hospitals with Army hospitals. VA health care is for former members of the armed forces. Walter Reed is for active members.

Actually, the VA has high marks for patient care in recent years. It could be used as a model for public health care in the US.

Update:
You have asked this question and others several times. Why?

The news article below points out problems with the VA hospital, but the satisfaction is above the private sector. This is probably because the news focus on the VA (and military hospitals) instead of the private sector.

Answer 4

Why do we ask the same questions over and over....

Have you ever visted a VA Hospital? Does thsi represent the majority of them? There is too much red-tape to go through to getting aid a tthe VA I agree. We had a few soldiers that were injured in Iraq sent to Walter Reed and never heard of a bad experience. I hope that we can quickly rememdy the situation, our wounded should have nothing but the best.
I honestly wish that some lesser wounds would be treated at civilian facilities under TriCare, especially for the reserve components. The tax cuts to upper level incomes is not extreme, the tax rates they were paying is. The top 10% of wage earners still pay for 70% of the government. This is just another case that government cannot do as good a job as the private sector and another case for smaller government.
I hate seeing that my fellow troops and OIF vets are getting bad care in some cases. But I know that this doesn;t represent the majority and has been used for political reasons. It should never have happened and steps have been taken to ensure it doesn't...but this has been a probelm for years if not decades - if only to a lesser degree.

Answer 5

under funded VA hospitals and people that don't care. when my bro was sick we had to go through a field of red tape and travel to four different hospitals to get treated. by the way this happened while he was at drill. they are supposedly responsible for the soldiers during this time but again due to the all mighty dollar getting help is a royal pain. The military is got to be the greatest institution around but damn the red tape is hitting a major boiling point.

Answer 6

Because the government doesn't see the military service members as real people, just a bottom line. Its shameful!

PS: I have been to several VA facilities and found that most are the same.

Answer 7

Tax cuts at the extreme levels have nothing to do with it! In fact, the extreme levels pay 96 percent of all taxes. How about the little guy start paying more of their share?

Veterans have always been treated like second class citizens, especially if you have something blown off. No one wants to see a reminder of the sacrifices it takes for our freedom.

The treatment is a classic example of how poor government is in handling anything, especially MORE TAX MONEY!!!

Answer 8

In my opinion, it is due to lack of funds and the generals not going to Capital Hill and showing our elected officials the truth. They just want to try to downplay everything so they won't be "disgraced" by having to retire. Oh the shame of retiring with a inflation adjustable 50-75% pension(depending on how long you served) and health care for life.
It is a failure on many levels, but I start with the generals at Walter Reed.

Answer 9

The government treats veterans so badly because they are no longer useful to further its military objectives and have now become a liability, and also because the citizens of the U.S. are putting up with what the government does.

Answer 10

The intentions are good, however the quality of the providers are unfortunately not high.
The best of the medically trained work in high paying jobs. Those who are borderline and some minorities, go into the military and other Government institutions where they are not as heavily scrutinized.

Sad but true.