GOP Senator Calls Veteran’s Care ‘Entitlement’ We ‘Can’t Afford’

[MongGrel]

Sadly the war wounded survive in greater numbers today decreasing their value as cannon fodder. What a tragedy our lives become when war is too expensive to wage. Who wants to live in a world where ones indifference to the tragedies of others is starkly self evident. We need to relearn how to let the injured die. Posthumous medals are so much cheaper.

Well said after I busted on you a bit in the other.

Cheers.

 

[JEDIYoda]

VA benefits need to re-examined because it has become far to easy to get qualified as being disabled. Far too many disabled vets are middle age men with middle age ailments that have never been anywhere close to combat. I spent 10 years as contractor for the DoD and very few of the disabled vets I meet were anywhere close to disabled.

That has no bearing on anything -- you signed up to serve......it does not matter is you served in combat or not...it does not matter if you were disabled or not...what matters is if you are a veteran!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Well said after I busted on you a bit in the other.

why would he care if you busted on him????????

 

[JEDIYoda]

And the disability program is rampant with abuse.

I believe it is abuse you posting in this thread.........you obviously do not know anything about being a vet............

 

[manimal]

Twist my words if it makes you feel better but to many, it just makes you look a fool.

What's twisted is your pretzel logic. How many vets have to suffer before conservatives stop writing checks they don't themselves pay.

The least we can do as a society is take responsibility for their actions and that includes paying for debts already occurred. That debt in this case is blood.

 

[charrison]

I believe it is abuse you posting in this thread.........you obviously do not know anything about being a vet............

I think I do. Vets deserve respect for our services. But is quite hard to call someone disabled or give them respect when they play racquetball 5 times a week, but still uses their DV plates to park front row....You really would not believe the amount of abuse in the system.

 

[manimal]

I think I do. Vets deserve respect for our services. But is quite hard to call someone disabled or give them respect when they play racquetball 5 times a week, but still uses their DV plates to park front row....You really would not believe the amount of abuse in the system.

Every incentive scheme or administration has the capacity to be abused. Doesn't mean it's not worth doing.

I am still amazed so many think that by saying a problem is too hard it can't be fixed or improved.


If everyone thought as you do we would all be driving on gravel roads

 

[JEDIYoda]

I think I do. Vets deserve respect for our services. But is quite hard to call someone disabled or give them respect when they play racquetball 5 times a week, but still uses their DV plates to park front row....You really would not believe the amount of abuse in the system.

That care that you are so against all vets being given regardless of if they are disabled or not has traditionally been given all veterans regardless of if they are disabled or not!! Just because they play racquet ball 3 times a week doesn`t give you the right to judge whether they are trulyt disabled....

One could have a proSthetic arm or even leg......another could be missing an eye......or could be deaf or unable to speak......you are rushing to judgement...not knowing a whole lot about the individual.......

In order to get a diabled license plate you just don`t go to the DMV and say I am disabled....you need a Dr. to sign off on that disability and proof of that disability. It really is not as easy as you claim...

 

[Orignal Earl]

I think I do. Vets deserve respect for our services. But is quite hard to call someone disabled or give them respect when they play racquetball 5 times a week, but still uses their DV plates to park front row....You really would not believe the amount of abuse in the system.

So you know one guy that did this?
Racketball could be could for what ails him

 

[manimal]

So you know one guy that did this?
Racketball could be could for what ails him

Two dimensional thinking at its best. I saw a guy once use food stamps to buy beer. Zomg every person on food stamps must do this


One time at band camp I saw obibble taking guns away from blind nuns

 

[Orignal Earl]

Could be could...lol
You all know what I mean

 

[Oldgamer]

Wow, the level of misinformation and exaggeration in this thread is bewildering, it truly is. People just love to make up their exaggerated, often made up claims about how so many are faking being disabled or don't deserve the veteran health care in some way. Look it doesn't matter if you volunteered to enlist as a service man/woman or were drafted, veterans are promised health care to the day they die, and health care benefits if they become disabled from active duty. That should never change in my opinion. Yes, we should take very good care of our enlisted and our retired service men/women. That should be priority. They serve this country and do what most are too afraid to do. Most of these politicians carrying on about cutting VA benefits have never served in the military, and keep their own sons and daughters safe from being sent in as well.

I imagine many who posted on this thread with made up exaggerated claims of "how many are faking disability" have never served either.

You don't have to have a missing limb to be disabled either. I personally know of a marine who served in several tours of the Iraq war, who suffers from serious PTSD. He looks and sounds normal and does all sorts of activities, and even is now going back to college, but his mental illness would keep him from these things if he didn't get the much needed help he is getting from his VA benefits. I guess its easy to point fingers and judge others when you don't know anything about them.

 

[charrison]

That care that you are so against all vets being given regardless of if they are disabled or not has traditionally been given all veterans regardless of if they are disabled or not!! Just because they play racquet ball 3 times a week doesn`t give you the right to judge whether they are trulyt disabled....

One could have a prothetic arm or even leg......another could be missing an eye......or could be deaf or unable to speak......you are rushing to judgement...not knowing a whole lot about the individual.......

In order to get a diabled license plate you just don`t go to the DMV and say I am disabled....you need a Dr. to sign off on that disability and proof of that disability. It really is not as easy as you claim...

It really is that easy. If the va labels you disabled, you are disabled and you get the plates. I saw these abuses for the 10 years I worked with these people. These are people I knew personally and worked with over a long period of time.

I have no problem giving vets what the need and deserve, but I do have issue with the current state of things.

 

[Darwin333]

It really is that easy. If the va labels you disabled, you are disabled and you get the plates. I saw these abuses for the 10 years I worked with these people. These are people I knew personally and worked with over a long period of time.

I have no problem giving vets what the need and deserve, but I do have issue with the current state of things.

What would be your estimate of the percentage of money spent on the VA is spent on fraud? Or are you more pissed off that a few people get better parking spots than you?

 

[charrison]

What would be your estimate of the percentage of money spent on the VA is spent on fraud? Or are you more pissed off that a few people get better parking spots than you?

Based on my experience, I suspect fraud is far from isolated incidents. There are very strong financial incentives in place for people to get labeled as disabled.

 

[blankslate]

Maybe if you don't want to spend more on health care that veterans need as a result of being deployed you'd consider more carefully if there is really a valid reason to send them to that war.

But no people get caught up in the jingoism of the moment without considering the people who have to get shot at. It's almost enough to make me think the U.S. made a mistake in getting rid of the draft. If politicians' children had to face the possibility of going to war there'd less wars started based of fallacious reasons.


....

 

[TerryMathews]

Maybe if you don't want to spend more on health care that veterans need as a result of being deployed you'd consider more carefully if there is really a valid reason to send them to that war.

But no people get caught up in the jingoism of the moment without considering the people who have to get shot at. It's almost enough to make me think the U.S. made a mistake in getting rid of the draft. If politicians' children had to face the possibility of going to war there'd less wars started based of fallacious reasons.


....

Don't be a fool. Politicians kids never got drafted.

 

[JEDIYoda]

It really is that easy. If the va labels you disabled, you are disabled and you get the plates. I saw these abuses for the 10 years I worked with these people. These are people I knew personally and worked with over a long period of time.

I have no problem giving vets what the need and deserve, but I do have issue with the current state of things.

I am sorry but you are blowing smoke up everybody`s rear end....
Even if the VA says you are disabled, you still need to doctor whether it be from the VA or a private doctor to sign off on your being disabled.

Your story has so many holes in it that you are quite frankly IMO are just not believable!!

Believe what you will...everybody knows that you are blowing smoke...

 

[charrison]

I am sorry but you are blowing smoke up everybody`s rear end....
Even if the VA says you are disabled, you still need to doctor whether it be from the VA or a private doctor to sign off on your being disabled.

Your story has so many holes in it that you are quite frankly IMO are just not believable!!

Believe what you will...everybody knows that you are blowing smoke...

Right. That is exactly what happens, the VA is signing off on it all. Middle age men with middle age ailments are being classified as disabled, when they are from it and it is damn shame.

 

[dmcowen674]

GOP Senator Calls Veteran’s Care ‘Entitlement’ We ‘Can’t Afford’

The next time any Republican accuses President Obama or the Democrats of not supporting our veterans, please point them in the direction of Republican senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama who, along with only two other Senators – both Republican – voted against the bi-partisan veterans bill which aimed to ease the healthcare delays for veterans by giving them more access to private care and allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs the funds to open more clinics and hire more medical staff. It passed the House of Representatives unanimously.

But Sessions wasn’t feeling that bi-partisan “support the troops” facade that the GOP loves to paint:

“I feel strongly we’ve got to do the right thing for our veterans. But I don’t think we should create a blank check, an unlimited entitlement program, now.”

This, coming from the party who charged America 24 billion dollars for an immigrant to read Green Eggs and Ham on the Senate floor.

And does Sessions really see this as an entitlement? After you and your entire party blasted President Obama and Veteran’s Affairs secretary Shinseki for being incompetent, you call this an entitlement? I would think our veterans receiving the healthcare they deserve, and not being placed on a 2+ month waiting list would be a priority, not an entitlement. However, it should be noted that “entitlement” (something you are entitled to) has taken on a different and very negative meaning in recent years because Republicans would like to demonize anyone, including veterans, who receive monetary benefits.

The bill would require an emergency supplemental appropriation mainly for the opening of the 26 clinics.

Sessions served in the Army reserve from 1973-1986. He is now a United States Senator, and has been one since 1997. He has his healthcare, and quite a good plan. He doesn’t have to wait 2+ months to see a doctor. He can see one right in the Capitol building if he really wanted to. If anything, Sessions is the one taking the entitlement.

Hey Senator Chickenhawk, those veterans offered you a blank check with their lives. Cut some funding in corporate subsidies them maybe you can talk about “entitlements.” Soldiers are Probably Slightly Less Boring Than Working at election time when Republicans need votes. Between elections, not so much. With that in mind, I guess someone forgot to tell Sessions that there’s an election this year. Maybe he’s not up until 2016?

------------------------------------------------

This is the GOP we know and love right? I mean seriously, these f**kers give billions to their millionaire corporate friends and cozy with the likes of the "Cock" brothers but think that our American Vets don't deserve health care, and consider it an "entitlement" that can't be afforded.

This Congressman and others in his "gang" are all living off the Government "tit" big time, and feel that they are entitled to just about everything, all the while not doing their damn job. This just makes me sick to see this and I hope like hell folks vote them out quickly. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE VETERAN'S CARE, THEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE WAR!

Link

What?

You don't support the Red State Republican way of having their cake and eating it too?

What's the matter with you man???

 

[JEDIYoda]

Right. That is exactly what happens, the VA is signing off on it all. Middle age men with middle age ailments are being classified as disabled, when they are from it and it is damn shame.

You have no proof other than your own word......links please......

 

[blankslate]

Don't be a fool. Politicians kids never got drafted.

No doubt at least you can admit that about Bush the W.

but if in some weird alternate world they did... it would raise the bar for actually convincing people that a war is absolutely necessary. Maybe even most of the population considering the possibility of their children dying in the desert might be enough...


....

 

[rpanic]

I have met so many people that are frauding the system and they flat out say it and have no shame about it. The VA disability system encourages vets to fraud once they start collecting money they never get better only worse to get more money as they figure out ways to increase their rating.

PTSD really opened the flood gates to fraud. I know that people really suffer from it but there is no way to tell if somebody is just making stuff up. If we went by the way the VA works, every person that has ever seen someone die would be disabled.

I know people that have never seen active duty that are collecting. I will give you guys some examples of people that are working the system.

Friend collecting for stress from STD caught from chick on base, never went overseas he is 40 and as he has more health problems in life his rating will go up.

Coworker just started collecting for some hearing loss at age 65, he laughs about it all the time and is always looking for a way to raise his rating.

Family member at age 55 after being laid off is told by a buddy at VFW about collecting for disability. He started off at a rating of 30%, but with his horrible life style and some spinal damage from a motorcycle accident he is now at a 100% collecting twice as much money (netting over 3k month) than he ever made working, constantly brags about it as he buys about $500-1000 in lottery tickets every month.

Went to my dad’s military reunion, all of his buddies are collecting and they all brag about it and laugh.

I think a lot of the problem comes from the VA basically just writing checks out to people. Seems like every government program that just hands out money for a problem becomes
rife with fraud.

On the other side of the coin dealing with the VA as an advocate for my dad I have seen how the VA screws vets. After they pulled my dad’s teeth he had to wait for a year to get false teeth. He has been waiting over a year to have his cataracts on his eyes removed. His appointments are always being canceled which causes conflicts with other appointments. I have seen the VA delay care as if they are hoping people will die off before they can get to an appointment. I have seen patients being told that they will have to wait months for a life saving surgery, then a family member that is more coherent than the poor drugged vet in the hospital bed gets involved it turns into days.

The whole VA system is a screwed up and inconsistent.

 

[Orignal Earl]

I have met so many people that are frauding the system and they flat out say it and have no shame about it. The VA disability system encourages vets to fraud once they start collecting money they never get better only worse to get more money as they figure out ways to increase their rating.

PTSD really opened the flood gates to fraud. I know that people really suffer from it but there is no way to tell if somebody is just making stuff up. If we went by the way the VA works, every person that has ever seen someone die would be disabled.

I know people that have never seen active duty that are collecting. I will give you guys some examples of people that are working the system.

Friend collecting for stress from STD caught from chick on base, never went overseas he is 40 and as he has more health problems in life his rating will go up.

Coworker just started collecting for some hearing loss at age 65, he laughs about it all the time and is always looking for a way to raise his rating.

Family member at age 55 after being laid off is told by a buddy at VFW about collecting for disability. He started off at a rating of 30%, but with his horrible life style and some spinal damage from a motorcycle accident he is now at a 100% collecting twice as much money (netting over 3k month) than he ever made working, constantly brags about it as he buys about $500-1000 in lottery tickets every month.

Went to my dad’s military reunion, all of his buddies are collecting and they all brag about it and laugh.

I think a lot of the problem comes from the VA basically just writing checks out to people. Seems like every government program that just hands out money for a problem becomes
rife with fraud.

On the other side of the coin dealing with the VA as an advocate for my dad I have seen how the VA screws vets. After they pulled my dad’s teeth he had to wait for a year to get false teeth. He has been waiting over a year to have his cataracts on his eyes removed. His appointments are always being canceled which causes conflicts with other appointments. I have seen the VA delay care as if they are hoping people will die off before they can get to an appointment. I have seen patients being told that they will have to wait months for a life saving surgery, then a family member that is more coherent than the poor drugged vet in the hospital bed gets involved it turns into days.

The whole VA system is a screwed up and inconsistent.

Wtf..why didn't you buy your dad teeth?
You let him sit for a year, gumming his meals?
Wtf Dentist went ahead and pulled the teeth without the dentures lined up

The whole American system is screwed up.

 

[rpanic]

Orignal Earl;36452435]Wtf..why didn't you buy your dad teeth?
You let him sit for a year, gumming his meals?
Wtf Dentist went ahead and pulled the teeth without the dentures lined up

The whole American system is screwed up.[/QUOTE]

He has plenty of money for the teeth, but they kept moving his appointment telling him they will take care of it.