Comment Here: "Crisis in Veteran's Healthcare" Broadcast Open Thread

Posted on: April 21, 2008 - 5:24pm by KPFA

Tell us what you think, ask our hosts Aimee Allison and Aaron Glantz a question, or respond to what other people are posting! You can also send our on air hosts an email at vets@kpfa.org. Click here to post a comment, or read how others have responded. Some responses may be read during the April 22nd Crisis in Veterans' Health Care broadcast on KPFA.

May 13, 2008 - 7:36am — dede (not verified)

dedec

April 23, 2008 - 10:05am — Kalonji Olusegun (not verified)

The condition of enlisted

If all these injurioes are from preexisting conditions, what soes this say about the American population in general? Are we all mentally and physically ill and still pass the recrutiment examination? Are the doctors who examine us so blind as approve our induction? Or are those who volunteer just plain invisibly sick mentally and physically deranged? If so what does that say about the type of warfare in which we will engage?
Thank you Pacifica, hjope we find a way to get this on major media outlets.
We Korean veterans have the same problem and more unfortunately for longer.

April 22, 2008 - 2:23pm — Fulani Carter (not verified)

Govt. program of population control

I've been working on a video that can best describe as a SF horror story about the govts attempts to kill off large numbers of the unwanted in this country. My story is about a vet who contracts DEPELETED URANIUM POISONING and transmits it to his wife and child.
I hope you talk more about this subject.
In the next few years I expect to see major out breaks of both individuals and groups of returning Vets venting their anger at the govt in ways that can only be describe as going postal. This will make the acts of civil strafe in the 70's look like childs play in comparsion to whats coming.
I'm also aware of the govts use of other vets to act as search and destroy operatives as these events unfold.
Like the Vets in the 50s and Vietnam we see the same old lies and disinformation used to cover up the fact of this govt murdering their own people slowly from the very weapons they've been taught to use .

April 22, 2008 - 1:12pm — Adrienne Lauby (not verified)

Accept applications, then spot check

Hi A. & A,
One of your guests said in Britain veteran claims are accepted, as IRS reporting is accepted in the U.S., and later some are picked for audit. That was an exciting audio moment, what feminists call a "light bulb moment." Of course, that's what we should have. Of course, it would save enormous money in VA staff and enormous pain for Vets.

Who were your guests? Am I missing the place to find their names and bios?

As RB alludes to below, there is an assumption of criminality and laziness deeply integrated into our culture, especially in terms of people living with disabilities, poor people and people of color. This hampers all kinds of government programs, including Social Security and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Thanks for the show.
A

"Vets Health Care Why do I feel like a freeloader when I go to the VA. I served my country for 6 years of my youth in Vietnam. I still have issues with my service. Why do I feel guilty? RB"

April 22, 2008 - 12:50pm — Anonymous (not verified)

The problems with the VA

I am a surgeon who worked full time at a VA hospital for 5 years. The problems with the VA are the result of an entrenched bureaucracy and a culture of suspicion in which everyone (patients and employees) are considered to be guilty of attempts to defraud the organization until proven otherwise. The implications are both more profound and wider than the issue of sub-standard care given to our veterans (although this is a very serious problem, which I am glad is finally getting a public airing). Is the VA a portrait of things to come if the US establishes a single-payer health care system? Michael Moore has cited the VA as a sterling example of the advantages of universal health care. I have been a long-time proponent of universal health care, but, as a result of my own experiences working within the system, I have had to reconsider my position. Although I still believe that universal health care is not only desirable, but essential, I think that the issues of bureaucratic ossification and pathologic organizational culture will have to be addressed before I can endorse such a program.

As one small example of the sort of mind-set that permeates the VA, there was a sign prominently displayed in the nurses lounge at the VA where I worked. The sign proudly proclaimed, in bold 24 point type: "The last Thursday of every month is hereby proclaimed AUTONOMY DAY!!!" One is led to the unavoidable conclusion that every other day of the month remains ABJECT SERVITUDE DAY. I know that this is a small thing, but sometimes, seemingly trivial symptoms are indicative of a mortal illness.

April 22, 2008 - 11:55am — Robert S. Nelson (not verified)

Sour Grapes?

Your coverage of this important veterans affairs story is timely, inspiring, and excellent, as was your recent Winter Soldier effort. The deplorable military action in Iraq (and Afghanistan too, as far as I'm concerned) should be the #1 public issue on Americans' minds... I'm using this comment to confess some shameful thoughts I'm having in response to what I'm hearing about the VA's treatment of war-damaged veterans. Part of me feels that these veterans are criminals who willingly volunteered to assist in what are arguably unlawful actions committed by the US Government. Are they getting the cold shoulder that they deserve? Will their distress and often tragic demise serve to discourage potential future recruits from joining the US military? Please don't misunderstand me. I think the VA should provide proper treatment and counseling even for the horribly damaged veterans who made some bad choices. All Americans should assist vets as much as possible... In the meantime, I hope that the ongoing reality of the VA's shabby response to veterans' mental and physical injuries will become common knowledge and will serve to discourage people from joining the US military...

April 22, 2008 - 11:47am — Julie Motz (not verified)

Healing for PTSD

I've wanted to start a free healing group for veterans with PTSD using techniques I've developed as a healer in surgery and working with other severely traumatized patients. I've gotten NOWHERE with the VA in spite of the fact that their own treatment is way below sub-standard. Does anyone have any ideas of how I might organize this? I contacted the one organization that the chief mental health officer at the SF VA facility suggested and they never got back to me.

Julie Motz
415 256-2528

juliemotz@fourenergies.com

April 22, 2008 - 11:44am — Anonymous (not verified)

I'm going to save your life. That's what I do. You know me.

Great broadblast!
Can you please name names in this lawsuit? Who is who? Who are the PEOPLE legally responsible? How does a civil suit against a government body work? Who is really being sued here? Who's paying for the defense, and how much? After all's said and done after appeals, will it still be taxpayers that pay for the defense? Who are the DOCTORS on the front lines of the VA and what do they have to say?

Waiting around for lawyers and appeals doesn't give a suffering vet much more hope, but this broadcast is awesome. I want to hear more fearless vets. I want to know that the "victim" vets are hearing an alternative way of approaching their future... fearless, courageous leadership - despite EVERYTHING, all the senseless death and criminality. Being a victim is a state of mind. Shit happens. It doesn't happen "to you."

You gave to your country. Shit happened. It's NOT YOUR FAULT. Stand proud and stand strong for the future kids coming home! I just sat on a plane next to 2 kids coming from boot camp and going off to Florida, fresh tats on their shoulders. Of course killing yourself and giving up is an option... but it's only an option because you add it to your list. Strike it off the list, and add EFT.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_Freedom_Technique

We're here listening! We've turned off FOX news. We're volunteering to give you support! There are lots of therapies, and alternatives to mind altering drugs. Get the drugs and store them, don't use them. Research them. They are EVIDENCE! Keep them locked up.

Soldier, you are a leader! Man, you are alive! You are so important for our future to prevent this from continuing. Only you know what happened? Brothers and sisters, check this out:
I love you and I know of something that can help you. I urge you to get into beekeeping, now. (Ha! I heard that laugh...) There's a powerful force in honeybees. It's magical, it's peaceful, it's peace on earth to be among them. They are all females, except some drones who do nothing but wait to fly and mate and die - IN FLIGHT. They're whole life is about serving the species. And we DESPERATELY need beekeepers throughout this country. There is an emergency and I'm calling upon you well-trained, committed people. We need you!! Re-enlist your commitment to your life and the beautiful parts of being a human, being alive. Do it now. Right now. Snap your fingers. Beekeeping.

I don't know you, but I swear to God that your life is so important.
Re-direct your anger, your self-loathing, your guilt, your feeling of failure, and look for the opposite. Everything has an opposite. Ying and Yang. Light and Dark. You are reading the force of light workers right now.

You need only see the rest of your life as a powerful light force -- as powerful as you now experience the darkness. Imagine that for a moment. Your power manifested in the opposite force of your current misery. It's the way of the universe. Know it. Knowing it is the door to freedom from your suffering.

Remember, my son: you are not only who you were in the past, you are also your dreams, aspirations, the man and woman you want to be (not "wanted to be."). You are your future, too. Taste that want. Look at yourself and choose life. By becoming a beekeeper, you are literally saving the human species from starvation. You honor, your self-respect, your love will magically return. It's a solitary activity, sometimes. But that's what beekeeping clubs are for. It's nice to just be with your bees understanding the service to life you are providing, service to nature's work, pollinating flowers and food. Honey is the most magical substance.

Heal thyself. Thank you Pacifica. Thank you KPFA. Thank you C-SPAN.

http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2008/04/video-healing-power-of-honey.html

April 22, 2008 - 10:46am — Anonymous (not verified)

"Article 99" film remembered

Your fantastic journalism today jogged my memory of a film I saw on cable many years ago during a marathon movie run during the holidays. I always wondered who and how the playlist of movies is chosen for Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, etc... There appears to be intentional showing of certain themes based on current events...
-D
-----
Article 99 (1992)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101371/usercomments?start=10

Doctors Try to Save the World and it Almost Works, 30 April 2003
Author: mycar2002 from USA

`Article 99' is a movie from director Howard Deutch (`Pretty in Pink', `The Replacements'). This movie aspired to be `The Mash of Veteran's Administration Hospital films', but never quite reached that height. It does, however, come up with a few funny one liners. The title refers to a loophole which legalizes denial of medical treatment to veterans unless their medical condition is directly caused by their military service.

Dr. Richard Sturgess (Ray Liotta) is a rebellious doctor. He is the leader of a group of vigilante doctors who are trying their hardest to conjure up nonessential surgeries just so they can get patients on the operating table. This is a method seldom seen in the medical profession nowadays. A group of doctors break into a medical laboratory and steal necessary tools which are being used for research, instead of used for people who need them and they get caught. Will they surrender at this point? Watch and find out. A new and eager Dr. Peter Morgan (Keifer Sutherland) starts his first day off not so great. Besides almost killing a man, and falling in with Dr. Sturgess and the other rebellious doctors he realizes it is hard work being a doctor in a VA Hospital. He soon adapts to the turfing of patients. Dr. Morgan Grows attached to an older male patient who knows about turfing and helps Dr. Morgan turf him to get testing. Co stars include Lea Thompson as Dr. Robin Van Dorn and Kathy Baker as Dr. Diana Walton.

We watch this movie waiting for surprise, and while this happens, it isn't what we expect, and this kind of disappoints us. Yes, we know the good guy always succeed in making the bad guy lose. This was is all this movie seemed to prove. I liked this movie. I feel though there could have been more of a plot. I think since the characters and actual problems were documented well for the time period. I would rate this movie one thumb up.

2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
good without being exploitative, 16 June 2005
8/10
Author: metalrox_2000 from United States

It's amazing how this movie came and went, and it hasn't gotten the praise it richly deserves. Ray Liotta turns in one of his best performances, somewhat aping his own performance of Henry Hill in Goodfellas, yet outshines his work in Field of Dreams. A subject that could have easily been exploited is actually treated perfectly. Lea Thompson is believable as a doctor, and Keifer Sutherland started out quite arrogant, and somewhat naive, but turns out to be the most likable of the group. Towards the end, the viewer almost wants to rally around him as much as Liotta's Dr. Sturgis character. The movie is haunting, cause in reality, the way some veterans are treated when they need medical treatment is much different. More VA hospitals have been closed in the past two years then in the past ten, and funding for VA's is continuously chopped in half. A great movie, great cast, and excellent performances in bit roles by Randy Quiad as Shooter, and the late Noble Willingham.

9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
When truth is stranger than fiction . . ., 22 June 2001
8/10
Author: vepope

the greatest casualty may be due to Red Tape. Not only does this film benefit from some true TALENT in the acting department, but Howard Deutch does a great job of portraying the sad state of Veteran's Care in the US. No, this does not appear to be "based on a true story," but it is typical of what goes on in the VA Hospitals; as a former Army Medic (now a Service Connected Disabled Vet) I know whereof I speak. I highly recommend this film!

April 22, 2008 - 9:50am — Anonymous (not verified)

Vets Health Care

Why do I feel like a freeloader when I go to the VA. I served my country for 6 years of my youth in Vietnam. I still have issues with my service. Why do I feel guilty?

April 22, 2008 - 7:03am — The Reverend Larry D Fagre (not verified)

Truth

The now infamous Katz/Chasen email and the documents and arguments by government lawyers are very telling. They tell a very clear and unambiguous tale of how very uncaring the government actually is. The Katz/Chasen email is a picture perfect insight into how the VA propaganda machine works. The VA propaganda machine is on par with that of the former CCCP. Hopefully this lawsuit will spur people to act. A big thank you to KPFA and Swords to Plowshares for dedicating time and space to this issue.

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