[Vision2020] Our Troops Deserve Better Support When They Come

[Tom Hansen]

I apologize to Arnold and the Vision 2020 listserve for my comment suggesting that Arnold has no clue.
 
It is simply that matters concerning veterans are extremely important and dear to me and I "flew off the handle".  I may have misinterpreted Arnold's intent of his posting.  If so, I apologize for that as well.
 
Although my responses to such matters may continue to seem heated, I will make every attempt to refrain from "attacking the messenger".
 
If any of you fine people feel that I have been unduly harsh and/or wrongly attacked a subscriber, I would sincerely appreciate off-list comments.
 
Again, my apologies to Arnold and the fine people of Vision  2020.
 
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho 



> To: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com; nickgier at adelphia.net; vision2020 at moscow.com; lfalen at turbonet.com> From: thansen at moscow.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:41:41 +0000> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Our Troops Deserve Better Support When They Come> > 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)> > > ---------------------------------------------> This message was sent by First Step Internet.> http://www.fsr.com/> > > =======================================================> List services made available by First Step Internet, > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. > http://www.fsr.net > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> =======================================================
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