Paul Giorgio: We Owe Our Veterans Nothing but the Best Healthcare
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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Paul Giorgio, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™
This past Monday we celebrated Memorial Day, a holiday created during the Civil War to honor the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending our nation. This holiday has been marred by the
growing problems in the Veterans Administration. In several hospitals across the country, mostly in areas where large numbers of veterans have retired, we find care slipping to unacceptable levels and the wait time for care far too long.
I am the son of a 100% disabled veteran of World War II, so I grew up with first-hand knowledge of the VA. My father was under their care for over 40 years. From what I saw and remembered, he was treated well.
The problem with the VA rises and falls with the tides of war. We created the modern system at the end of World War I and have improved upon it since. The Veterans Administration, now called the Department of Veterans Affairs, has grown from its original size to where it now has 152 Hospitals, 800 Community Clinics and 126 Nursing Homes. As World War II veterans dwindled in number, the healthcare system for retired vets was downsized. But with the current world situation, the system is now unprepared for the number of veterans who need care. Add the aging population of Vietnam era veterans who increasingly need care and you can see how the current healthcare crisis has arisen.
The GOP's False Concern
Republicans have seized upon the recent deaths in some VA hospitals as an election year issue. But I fear that they have false concern. Back in February, a bill filed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to improve the VA including the construction of 27 new clinics was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 56 to 41. Only 2 Republicans joined the Democrats in voting for the bill. The other Republican Senators claimed the legislation was “too expensive.”
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, one of the Republican frontrunners for President attacked the Obama Administration on this issue. How do you think Rubio voted when the Sanders bill was before the Senate? He voted with his Republican colleagues to block the bill.
The Republican playbook is becoming abundantly clear: block expansion of a program designed to help people, then when problems arise, blame the president.
Most veterans organizations, not exactly Democratic-leaning have begun to attack the Republicans for the current crisis of long waiting lists to receive treatment.
The head of the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) issued a press release, personally attacking Republican Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina on the issue stating, “Regrettably, Senator Burr shows no interest in pursuing serious policy solutions, preferring instead to launch cheap political attacks on the integrity of leaders of veterans organizations that do not agree with him, all of whom served honorably to defend this nation and then devoted all or most of their lives to serving their fellow veterans.”
Problem Needs Fixing
The President needs to fix this problem at once. If that means firing obstructionist bureaucrats who work in the VA, then that must be done. If that means exposing obstructionists in the US Senate, then that too must be done.
We have a solemn duty to our veterans who have served our country, who have fought in wars and who have come home needing our help. That duty is to provide them with the services they need.
So this week, let us remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice by working for those who need our help and our care. We owe them nothing less.
Paul Giorgio is a longtime Democratic Party Activist who has worked on numerous campaigns. He was a Lead Advance Person for President Clinton & Vice President Gore. He was Deputy Director of Special Events for President Clinton’s first Inauguration. He has been elected a delegate to numerous Democratic National Conventions and recently served as one of President Obama’s representatives on the Platform Committee. In 2013 he was chosen as a Presidential Elector. He is the President of Pagio, Inc., publishers of Pulse Magazine, Vitality Magazine and Worcester Medicine.
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