Happy Independence Day -- July 4th, 2012 !!
We went to the Iron Mtn.,MI., Parade this morning in the hot, super sunny day @ 0900, but had a good time! It lasted about 2 hours and glad that I always pack some small bottles of water and Schwepps Ginger Ale in the back seat of the Dodge Ram 4 by 4. Even the local news paper said that we would experience record heat today! I feel rich because I won't live in a house that doesn't have a good A/C system...Ha! We are truly blessed U.P. here. After the parade, we went to a different, better, cooler Chinese restaurant with a great food selection banquet style. Eat the best fresh food in cool comfort! That will be my new regular place to eat lunch, for sure... and reasonable price too.
And today's subject is: the Gov't's attack on Veterans' Health Ins --TriCare-- the VA hospitals... and what a sorry story. The illegal aliens get everything -- but the Veterans who gave their all for Amerika get stink on a stick!! And yes, I do have an axe to grind, personally.
Two years ago, I was at the end of my rope with real arthritic pain in my knees and allowed the Milwaukee VA operate/ replace my knees with bionic steel and plastic, and they REALLY MESSED ME UP!! The pain was surreal, over the top, and the total, constant, physical and mental abuse by the VA staff, especially the black RN's and staff on the 3rd shift. I was never bathed or cleaned for the 5 days I was there, and they treated me worse than a POW or a criminal!! I did not deserve that, and they actually ganged up on me and lied about me, that I wanted to start trouble.....Ha! But what do you expect from that 'sort'. Don't believe me. Many other Veterans have their own horror stories about the VA hospitals all over the USA, but especially the Milwaukee VA hospital. North Chicago VAMC used to be horrible, but they were forced to clean up their act.. finally. Feel free to email, or just post your own story. I told the doctors that I would NEVER, EVER let them touch me again -- that I would rather be DEAD, than allow them to "treat me."
The reason I know so much is because I decided to have my other [Left] knee replace 6 months latter at a good civilian hospital in Kenosha, WI. The doctors and staff treated me like a prince, and the pain and recovery was half as bad as the other knee-- messed up by the VA system, 'doctors' and staff. I kept a good journal at both places to keep track of things. Also, Bro. Bill Tippett, my close fellow Vet friend was my Patient Advocate, and Power of Attorney, while I was in the other, good hospital [Kenosha Memorial Hosp...in Wisconsin, down by Lake Michigan]. The civilian surgeon, doctor James Shapiro, was a talented, grand master in my case, and said it was simple, child's play, to do a replacement on me, even as I refused to take blood, for personal reasons, and he grumbled a little bit about that... but it all turned out fine, and my recovery was better too... PTL. You be the judge...
Budget Cutters Renew Attack on Tricare Medical Insurance
No one would ever believe that the current administration wants to increase U.S. military veterans medical fees after hearing President Obama say on Memorial Day during a thoughtful speech at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., “Let’s resolve to take care of our veterans as well as they’ve taken care of us – not just talk, but actions. Not just in the first five years after a war, but the first five decades.”Based upon President Obama’s own words, this Memorial Day message exemplifies a hypocritical and misleading statement. It clearly implies our veterans are going to be cared for under this administration. His feel good statement on such a symbolic day of remembrance, dedicated to those who have sacrificed their lives for our country, is insulting to surviving veterans who trust our Commander in Chief has their best interests at heart.
Here is the evidence that demonstrates the contrary:
Earlier this year, Pentagon budget officials came under fire for their efforts to hike medical insurance (Tricare) fees on U.S. military veterans. Fortunately, Congressional committees in the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate blocked those fee increases while considering defense appropriations bills.
However, if you thought that debate was over, the Obama administration hasn’t given up in their efforts to demand more from our veterans’ wallets. From the Washington Free Beacon:
The Obama administration on Friday threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military.There’s no question the explosion of federal spending over the last decade is completely unsustainable. What’s alarming is that the Obama administration thinks it’s appropriate to demand that veterans pay more for their care, while ignoring the much larger programs that are driving the growth in federal spending.
“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested
TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill, which the House approved in May.
President Obama’s most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE, the military health care system, and is part of the administration’s plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagon’s budget.
While the effort to demand higher fees from Tricare beneficiaries continues, no effort is being made to reform spending in Social Security or Medicare, both of which are orders of magnitude larger than veterans’ benefits. Indeed, under the president’s controversial health care reform law, Medicaid spending, another gigantic spending program, is slated to expand costs dramatically.
What’s needed is a smart, comprehensive plan to cut spending throughout government programs—but officials in Washington lack the willingness or ability to deliver that plan. The insane spending demonstrates what is quickly becoming an entitlement society, fueled by our Congressional leaders’ addiction to handicap tax paying citizens with unsustainable federal programs. Unfortunately, leading the charge now is an administration that is willing to use this country’s military veterans as another source of revenue to continue with its excessive spending.
Our military personnel and veterans have struggled and sacrificed; they do not want to see all they defended jeopardized by an irresponsible government’s addiction to debt and spending. As we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence this week, it’s unconscionable that the administration should be targeting the men and women who have fought and served to ensure our freedoms.
Make sure, as President Obama stated just a few weeks ago, that our government truly works, “to take care of our veterans as well as they’ve taken care of us”.
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