[Vision2020] Our Troops Deserve Better Support When They Come

[Tom Hansen]

Again, Arnold has absolutely NO CLUE.

I am a lifetime member of Disabled American Vets (membership which 
requires considerably more than a regular fee) and have been in regular 
contact with its regional representative in Lewiston, as well as 
monitoring various VA activities.

"Arnold" stated:

"The biggest problem with VA hospitals is that they are not in enough 
locations and that they do not service all Veterans."

HUH?!?!?!?

Although I know the answers to these questions, I will ask "Arnold" just 
the same.

Since the "biggest problem with VA hospitals is that they are not in 
enough locations", why are more and more of them being closed down . . .  
like the one that used to be located in the Tri-cities area?

Why is the VA hospital in Spokane considered for termination almost on an 
annual basis, as they reduce the number of available programs?

When I first moved to Moscow, back in 1992, the number of physicians that 
accepted Tri-Care (health insurance provider for active duty and retired 
military personnel) could be counted on one hand (and they were primarily 
general practitioners).  Today, a considerably larger percentage of 
physicians in Moscow accept Tri-Care.

Yes.  I realize that I am talking about retirees.  But, these same 
resources must be available to ALL veterans.

The primary reason why there are fewer and fewer VA hospitals available to 
all veterans has to do with the federal budget.  As more and more tax cuts 
are introduced and made permanent, the smaller the federal budget.  The 
smaller the federal budget, the less money there is to subsidize various 
departments.  The less money there is to subsidize departments (i.e. the 
Department of Veterans Afairs - www.va.org), the more those departments 
must redefine their programs (trim here, trim there, eliminate this, 
eliminate that).

"Arnold" goes on to utter:

"I frankly, don't believe we should have VA Hospitals. Instead, any US 
Veteran should be able to walk into any clinic or hospital, and visit any
doctor and get any necessary treatment they need. The hospital and doctor
should gladly take any insurance payment the veteran is able to offer,
whether it be Blue Shield Plus or the last piece of gum melted in the
bottom of his pocket."

The veteran NEEDS VA hospitals!  There are many, MANY veterans that simply 
cannot afford insurance, or haven't any of those "many veterans", that you 
take to private hospitals, mentioned that to you?

And don't even get me started on the ever-increasing number of homeless 
veterans.

Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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